The first blow didn't come with sirens.
It came with silence.
Kiera woke to the soft vibration of her phone against the nightstand. For a moment she thought she'd imagined it — exhaustion had been dragging at her bones after the docks and the long hours of strategizing.
Then it buzzed again.
And again.
Dozens of notifications stacked across the screen.
Her stomach tightened.
She sat up, heart already racing before she even read them.
Emails. Alerts. News headlines.
VALE FOUNDATION UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FINANCIAL FRAUD
LEAKED DOCUMENTS TIE KIERA VALE'S FAMILY TO ILLEGAL FUNDS
DONORS PULL OUT AS SCANDAL ERUPTS
"No… no, no, no…"
Kade was awake instantly.
"What is it?"
She handed him the phone with shaking fingers.
His face darkened with every headline.
"Victor," he said quietly.
"He's starting," she whispered.
They moved fast.
By the time they reached the command center, the screens were already flooded.
News networks replayed documents stamped CONFIDENTIAL.
