“That’s my target,” Elena said. “Once I confirm Webb has the WATCHDOG access codes, I need fifteen minutes alone with that system to plant a virus that will corrupt everything.”
Reed was quiet for a moment. “And Webb himself?”
“We extract him alive, if possible,” Elena said, though her tone suggested she didn’t think it would be possible. “If not...”
She didn’t need to finish. They all understood Plan B.
Reed’s phone buzzed with an urgent notification from his company’s security division. He glanced at it, then went still.
“What is it?” Elena asked, noticing the change in his expression.
Reed’s jaw tightened as he read. “Webb has put out a hit on Elena Vasquez. Half a million dollars, dead or alive. It’s gone out through multiple channels.”
Elena felt the room start to spin around her. She sat down heavily in the nearest chair, the implications crashing over her like a wave.
Terrel looked up from his laptop. “They must know she’s not dead.”
James made a face. “Really, Captain Obvious? We didn’t realize that.”
But Elena was paralyzed, barely hearing the exchange. A public contract meant Webb wasn’t just hunting her anymore—he was mobilizing every criminal with access to the dark web. Assassins, bounty hunters, mercenaries. People who wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who got in their way.
Then Reed was beside her, taking her hand. “It’s okay.”
Walker let out a sarcastic growl. “It’s not okay. People are already reaching out to me, asking if I know anything about this.”
Reed winced, understanding the implication.
“That’s it,” Elena said, standing abruptly. “I’m leaving.”
She rushed from the room before anyone could stop her, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the guest room. Her hands shook as she threw her few belongings into her travel bag. She’d been naive to think she could involve Reed and his brothers in this without consequences. Now Webb knew she was alive, and everyone around her had become a target.
There was a knock at the door. Elena opened it to find all four Star brothers standing in the hallway.
Walker stepped forward, frowning. “You can’t leave.”
“Yeah,” James agreed. “Just because someone threatens you, you don’t back away.”
“Because someone threatens you,” James continued with a grunt, “you don’t run. You do what you wanted to do—you get them first.”
Elena felt overwhelmed by their unified presence, by the certainty in their voices. “You guys... thank you, but I can’t. This contract changes everything. Webb will send people after me, and they won’t care who gets caught in the crossfire.”
Reed stepped into the room, his expression determined. “You’re not leaving. You came to us. We’re in this.”
Elena hesitated, looking at these four men who were willing to risk their lives for her mission. “Reed?—”
Reed held out his hand. “Promise me you won’t leave. You won’t fake your death again. Promise me we’ll see this through together.”
The request hung between them, loaded with meaning that went far beyond the current mission.
Walker laughed, breaking the tension slightly. “Sheesh, the things Star men have to say to women.”
His brothers chuckled, but Elena kept her eyes locked on Reed’s face. She could see the fear there, carefully hidden beneath his calm exterior. Fear that she would disappear again, that she would choose to protect him by cutting him out.
Finally, she took his hand. “I promise.”
“Thank you,” Reed said quietly.
“But we need to understand what we’re facing,” Elena continued, her mind still working through the implications.
