The morning started like any other in Lagos—but Arden and Ife both knew it was a lie. Julian didn't move quietly. He didn't leave a day unplanned. Every whisper, every distraction was calculated to make them bleed emotionally, strategically, and physically.
Victor burst in, voice clipped and urgent. "He's gone public."
Ife's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
"Times Square," Victor said, and Arden blinked. "No, Lagos—he's taken a financial building downtown. He's holding hostages. And he left a message for you."
Ife's hand shook as she held her phone. A single video file played. Julian, calm and sinister, standing behind a row of hostages—civilians, people who had no part in this fight. "I've played in the shadows long enough. Let's see what courage looks like in the open. Arden Blackwood, Ife Adeyemi… come to me, or I start with them."
Ife froze. Arden's jaw clenched. Rage flared, white-hot and precise.
"We don't negotiate with monsters," Arden growled.
Victor shook his head. "He's forcing your hand. He's trying to make a hero of you, Arden, and a pawn of Ife. Public humiliation, pressure, chaos. It's his favorite game."
Ife stepped forward, eyes burning. "Then we don't play by his rules. We go on our own."
Arden's gaze softened for a moment. "I won't let him hurt you. Not you, not your mother, not anyone. This ends today."
By the time they reached the downtown building, chaos had already taken over. Roads blocked. Police overwhelmed. Media vans filming every move. Julian's plan was unfolding perfectly: fear, spectacle, panic.
They approached from the back, following Daniel's precise instructions. Victor covered communications. Arden and Ife crept through shadows, scanning each floor.
And then they heard her scream.
Ife's heart stopped. A civilian had been threatened, but in the chaos, a trap had sprung. A security door locked behind them. They were trapped with Julian's remaining men.
Julian's voice came from a speaker above. "Welcome to the show. Don't make the wrong move, or she dies."
Ife froze, recognizing the voice immediately. Her instincts screamed. Arden's hand found hers. "Listen to me," he said softly. "You're with me. We do this together."
The first shot rang out—not from Arden, but from Julian's men. Chaos erupted. Sparks flew, alarms blared, smoke filled the hallway.
Ife moved instinctively, dodging, pulling herself low, guiding Arden through cover. Every second felt like minutes.
Then she saw him—one of the men had her pinned, knife raised. Arden reacted instantly, charging forward, tackling the assailant. The knife slid, grazing Arden's arm. He roared but kept moving, dragging Ife toward a stairwell exit.
They reached the rooftop. Julian's figure appeared at the opposite edge, the skyline behind him, confident, terrifying.
"You made it," he said. "Impressive. But impressive doesn't save anyone. Not now."
Arden gritted his teeth. "Let them go, Julian. It ends tonight."
Julian tilted his head. "End? Oh no. It's only just beginning."
The wind whipped across the rooftop, carrying with it the sound of distant sirens, shouting, and chaos below. Julian's hand dropped to reveal a detonator.
Ife's heart stopped. "No…"
Arden moved in front of her, shielding her. "Stay back!"
Julian's smirk widened. "Choose wisely, Arden. One move, one mistake, and she—"
Arden lunged. Not recklessly, but with precise calculation. He knocked the detonator out of Julian's hand. Julian cursed, slipping back, grabbing the ledge.
Ife watched, heart hammering. Arden's face was white, fury blazing in his eyes, but also fear. Fear not for himself—but for her, for the people below.
Arden extended a hand. "Come down now, Julian. We end this."
Julian laughed, high-pitched, unhinged. "You think this ends with me? No… it ends when I say it does."
Then, in a swift motion, Arden tackled Julian, both of them sliding dangerously close to the edge. Ife lunged, grabbing Arden, holding him back from falling.
They struggled, inches from death. Hearts pounding, lungs burning, chaos below.
Finally, with sheer force and timing, Arden shoved Julian back toward the rooftop safely, but pinned. The detonator shattered on impact, sparks flying. Julian lay there, furious, trapped but alive.
Ife grabbed Arden, pressing close. "Are you okay?"
He exhaled, chest heaving. "I am now. Thanks to you."
She smiled weakly, exhausted, terrified, relieved. "We did it… together."
From the distance, the crowd below erupted, unaware of how close death had come. The war was far from over—but for tonight, they had survived.