“We don’t have a choice,” Liam interjected. “The mission’s already greenlit. Her father provided enough intel to set off alarms across six continents.”
“What’s the operation?” I asked, my jaw tightening.
Adonis moved to the center of the room and pulled up the second screen. Satellite images, redacted names, biohazard markers filled the display.
“There’s a new player in bioweapons manufacturing. Codename: Spectre. No known face, no location until recently. They’ve developed a gene-coded viral agent—weaponized to target bloodlines. Selective genetic warfare.”
Liam’s voice turned serious.
“This isn’t your average black-market hustle. We’re facing ethnic cleansing in a vial.”
Adonis tapped the screen.
“The virus was tested in a ghost town off the grid two months ago. Wiped out the population in twelve hours. Quiet. Controlled. No mess.” He paused, letting the weight of the information settle. “We didn’t find out until Virelli surfaced with real intel—stuff we couldn’t get through any of our usual channels.”
I clenched my fists.
“So Liz is supposed to walk into that? Alone?”
“She’s not alone,” Liam reminded me, nodding in my direction. “She has you.”
I shook my head firmly.
“Send me in. Just me. I’ll infiltrate, neutralize, and extract the data. Liz doesn’t need to be involved.”
Adonis gave me a look that said he’d already considered that option—and dismissed it.
“She’s the key, Noah. Her father’s files indicate the virus code is based on her own DNA signature. She was the control model. Spectre’s weapon is designed to recognize her genome.”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“They can’t trigger the virus without her.”
I staggered back, the implications hitting me like a punch to the gut.
“What the hell did they do to her?”
Adonis didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. Deep down, I already knew. She wasn’t just involved—she was the mission.
“You said yes to this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I didn’t say anything,” Adonis replied. “The order came from the top. We’re being looped in now because you are her handler. At least, that’s what you are now.”
I rubbed my hand over my face, feeling the weight of the situation.
“She doesn’t even know I know this.”
“She will,” Liam said, his tone more serious than I’d ever heard it. “Soon.”
Adonis stepped closer, fixing me with an intense gaze.
“Look, I don’t care if you’ve got feelings for her. But if you’re going to do this, you need to get your head straight. Because what we’re walking into? It’s not about pride or jealousy or whatever it is you think you’re protecting her from.
He locked eyes with me.
“It’s war. And you’d better be ready to fight it with her.”
My chest was burning.
