The phone in Daniel's tuxedo pocket vibrated against his ribs like a panicked heartbeat. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
TARGET PROXIMITY: 0 METERS.
Daniel's grip on Elena's hand tightened to the point of pain. His eyes darted around the ballroom, scanning faces. He wasn't seeing guests anymore. He was seeing targets. Vectors. Threats. Where is she?
"Daniel?" Elena whispered, wincing. "You're hurting me."
Daniel snapped back. He loosened his grip instantly, but he didn't let go. He pulled her closer, his body becoming a living shield. "We're leaving," he said. His voice was jagged. "Now."
"But the dessert—"
"Forget the dessert. Move."
He began to guide her toward the exit. He moved with a stiff, military cadence. He was calculating lines of sight. He looked like a wolf trying to guide a lamb through a slaughterhouse.
They made it halfway across the marble floor when a wall of black suits blocked their path.
It was Richard Gable. The sweaty real estate developer had returned. And he had brought the Country Club's private security detail—three large men who looked like they enjoyed hurting people.
"Going somewhere, Mr. Reed?" Richard sneered. His tie was loosened. He looked desperate. "My accountant just called. He says someone accessed my private files. Someone in this room."
The music stopped. The chatter died down. The entire gala turned to watch. Smartphones came out. Flashes went off.
Daniel didn't look at Richard. He was looking over Richard's shoulder, scanning for a sniper. "Get out of my way, Richard," Daniel said. "I don't have time for this."
"You're a fraud!" Richard shouted. He pointed a shaking finger at Daniel. "You're just a glorified delivery boy! You hacked me! I want him detained!"
The lead security guard stepped forward. He reached for Daniel's shoulder.
Mistake.
Daniel didn't think. He reacted. His arm moved in a blur. He didn't punch the guard. He slapped the hand away, grabbed the wrist, and twisted. Pop. The guard yelped, dropping to one knee. Daniel didn't stop. He stepped in, checking the room for the real threat, treating the guard like a piece of furniture in his way.
"Don't touch me," Daniel growled.
The crowd gasped.
Elena watched her husband. He's wired tight, she realized. He's shaking. He's expecting an attack. But Richard is just a gnat. If Daniel escalates this, he'll blow his cover. The Ghost doesn't beat up mall cops.
She had to intervene. She had to end this. Queen Style.
Elena stepped out from behind Daniel. She didn't look scared. She looked radiant. She walked right up to Richard. She was three inches shorter than him, but she made him look small.
"Richard," she said. Her voice was calm. It projected perfectly to the back of the room. "You're making a scene."
"Your husband is a criminal!" Richard spat. "He's trying to ruin me!"
Elena laughed. It was a dark, rich sound. It disarmed everyone.
"Ruin you?" Elena asked, tilting her head. "Richard, you did that yourself when you used your charity foundation to launder money for your construction projects."
Silence. Absolute, dead silence.
Richard froze. "That's... that's a lie!"
Elena turned to the crowd. She spotted the Mayor. She spotted the local press. She smiled. "Is it?" she asked. "I wonder why your wife, Cynthia, isn't here right now? Is it because she's currently on the phone with her divorce lawyer?"
She took a step closer to Richard. She lowered her voice so only he—and the nearest camera phones—could hear. "Everyone knows about the apartment in the city, Richard. Everyone knows about the 'consultant' you pay twenty grand a month. And now..." Elena gestured to the room, "Everyone knows you're broke."
Richard turned purple. The veins in his neck bulged. He raised his hand. His fist clenched. He was going to hit her.
The Ghost snapped.
Daniel didn't calculate this time. He didn't check for snipers. He saw a threat to his wife. He moved.
He caught Richard's wrist in mid-air. There was a sickening, dry CRACK.
Richard screamed. It was a high, thin sound. He dropped to his knees, clutching his broken wrist.
Daniel stood over him. The tuxedo strained against his back muscles. He looked like a demon in formal wear. "I told you," Daniel whispered, his voice vibrating with a terrifying calm. "Logistics is a dangerous business."
The crowd erupted. Not in horror. In applause.
Someone in the back started clapping. Then the Mayor. Then the whole room. Flashes popped. Videos were being uploaded.
Elena took Daniel's arm. She could feel him vibrating with adrenaline. He was ready to kill everyone in the room. "We're leaving now," she announced to the security guards, who were backing away in fear.
They walked out. Like royalty leaving a burning castle.
IN THE CAR
The valet brought the car around. Daniel shoved a hundred-dollar bill into the kid's hand and peeled out of the driveway. He drove fast. Too fast. He kept checking the rearview mirror.
"Daniel," Elena said softly. She reached over and touched his hand on the gearshift. His knuckles were white. "Slow down. It's over."
Daniel looked at the phone in the cup holder. The screen was dark. TARGET SIGNAL LOST.
He let out a breath he had been holding for twenty minutes. The Red Queen wasn't following them. They had escaped.
"I broke his wrist," Daniel said. His voice sounded distant. "I shouldn't have done that. It draws attention."
"He was going to hit me," Elena said. She stroked his thumb with her own. "You protected me."
Daniel glanced at her. He saw the way the streetlights washed over her face. He saw the "Black King" necklace resting against her throat.
"I will always protect you," he said. The words were heavy. A vow. "Even if I have to break every wrist in this city."
Elena smiled. She leaned back in the seat, watching the city blur by. She touched the necklace.
You protected me from a bully, my love, she thought. But who is going to protect you from the woman sitting next to you?
She pulled out her phone. She opened a secure app. She tapped a button. UPLOAD VIDEO: GABLE TAKEDOWN. CAPTION: My husband <3
It was viral in seconds.
Author Note: Elena used words. Daniel used bone-breaking force. They are the definition of a Power Couple. But the signal "Lost" because they are in the same car... Daniel is so close to the truth! Drop a Power Stone if you want to see Elena hack the necklace in Chapter 13! 💻👑