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CHAPTER 99
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2025-01-09 02:25:40The early morning light painted the quiet street in pale hues, but the tension between Zane and the operatives at Elena’s doorstep was anything but calm. Zane’s silver eyes burned with barely restrained fury as he stepped closer to the men, his gun steady in his hand.
“Who sent you?” he demanded again, his voice cold and commanding.
The smirking operative held Zane’s gaze, defiance flickering in his dark eyes. “You think you’ve won, Moretti? This is far from over.”
Zane’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t in the mood for games. “Wrong answer.”
Alex moved swiftly, disarming the second man and pinning him against the wall. “Your friend over there may want to play hero,” Alex growled, his voice low and threatening, “but I’m not nearly as patient as he is. Start talking.”
The pinned man’s bravado faltered, sweat beading on his brow. “We… we were hired to watch her,” he stammered, his eyes darting toward Elena’s building.
“By who?” Zane snapped.
“I don’t know the name,” the man said quickly. “We get our orders from a handler. We’re just supposed to report on her movements.”
---
An Escalating Threat
Inside the apartment, Maya and Elena watched the confrontation unfold from the window. Maya’s hand rested protectively on her bump, her green eyes narrowed with concern.
“They’re after me because of you,” Elena whispered, guilt evident in her voice.
Maya shook her head, her voice firm. “They’re after you because you’re part of Zane’s family. This isn’t your fault, Elena. And you’re not alone in this.”
Elena’s eyes welled with tears, but she nodded, her posture straightening. “Thank you, Maya.”
Outside, Zane and Alex dragged the two operatives to the car, forcing them inside.
“We’ll take them somewhere quiet,” Alex said, his tone grim. “Get the rest of the answers we need.”
Zane nodded, his silver eyes flicking to the apartment window where Maya and Elena stood watching. “Stay here,” he called to them. “We’ll handle this.”
---
A Dark Interrogation
At an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Verona, Zane and Alex secured the operatives to chairs under the harsh glare of a single overhead light.
“Let’s try this again,” Zane said, his voice low and deadly. “Who sent you?”
The smirking man was silent, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Alex stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. “Maybe I should ask. My way tends to get better results.”
The other operative swallowed hard. “We don’t know his name,” he admitted. “We only know the code: Shadow.”
Zane’s brows furrowed. “Shadow? What does that mean?”
“It’s a name he uses,” the operative said. “He’s been building his own network since Helena went down. He wants revenge for her—and for himself.”
---
A New Enemy Revealed
Back at the villa, Camilla reviewed the information Zane had relayed to her. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she cross-referenced the code name with known operatives from Helena’s network.
She froze when a match appeared on the screen. “Shadow,” she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“What is it?” Maya asked, stepping into the room.
Camilla’s face was pale as she turned the screen toward Maya. “Shadow isn’t just an operative. He’s someone who worked directly under Helena for years. He disappeared after her arrest, and no one’s seen him since—until now.”
Maya’s heart sank. “Do you think he’s behind this?”
Camilla nodded grimly. “If anyone has the resources to pick up where Helena left off, it’s him.”
---
Regrouping
When Zane and Alex returned to the villa, their expressions were grim.
“We have a name,” Zane said, his voice sharp. “Shadow. One of Helena’s top lieutenants.”
Camilla nodded. “I’ve been digging into his background. He’s dangerous, Zane. Intelligent, resourceful, and loyal to Helena to a fault. If he’s targeting Elena, it’s because he sees her as a way to hurt you.”
Zane’s fists clenched at his sides. “Then we take him out before he gets the chance.”
“Easier said than done,” Alex said. “This guy is a ghost. If he’s resurfacing now, it’s because he’s confident we can’t touch him.”
Maya stepped forward, her green eyes blazing. “We’ve faced worse. We can handle this too.”
Zane’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “I don’t want you involved in this, Maya. Not with the baby so close.”
“I’m already involved, Zane,” she said firmly. “And so is Elena. We’re a family. We face this together.”
---
A Plan in Motion
As night fell, the team gathered around the dining table, maps and laptops spread before them.
“Shadow has been using shell companies to fund his operations,” Camilla explained. “I’ve traced a few of them to properties across Europe. If we hit these locations, we might be able to cut him off at the knees.”
Zane nodded. “Alex and I will handle the fieldwork. Camilla, you stay here with Maya and Elena. Keep digging into his network.”
Maya frowned. “And what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait?”
Zane reached for her hand, his silver eyes filled with determination. “You keep Elena safe. That’s the most important thing right now.”
Maya’s jaw tightened, but she nodded. “Fine. But promise me you’ll come back.”
Zane kissed her forehead, his voice soft. “Always.”
---
A Quiet Warning
Later that night, Maya found herself unable to sleep. She wandered out to the terrace, where Elena stood staring at the sea.
“This is all because of me,” Elena said quietly, her arms wrapped around herself.
“No,” Maya said, her voice firm. “This is because of Helena. And because Shadow is trying to finish what she started.”
Elena turned to her, tears glistening in her eyes. “What if we can’t stop him?”
“We will,” Maya said, her green eyes fierce. “Because we have Zane. And because we’re stronger together.”
Elena nodded slowly, drawing strength from Maya’s resolve.
---
The Fight Ahead
As the sun rose, Zane and Alex prepared to leave, their determination palpable.
“This ends now,” Zane said, his silver eyes cold and sharp. “No more threats, no more games. We find Shadow, and we finish this.”
Maya watched him go, her heart heavy but her resolve unshaken.
The fight was far from over, but one thing was certain: they wouldn’t back down.
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Bound by the Billionaire's Claim CHAPTER 99
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The suite was quieter than usual, the team absorbing the gravity of Jeremy’s confession. Alex sat in the corner, cross-referencing the information Jeremy had given with Camilla’s data, while Reese paced near the window, her brows furrowed in thought.Maya sat on the couch, her legs curled beneath her, watching Zane. His silver eyes were focused as he reviewed the layout of the east-side warehouse, a plan forming in his mind.“You’re going after her, aren’t you?” Maya asked softly.Zane looked up, his expression softening when he met her gaze. “It’s the only way to stop this.”Maya’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I want to come with you.”“No,” Zane said immediately, his voice firm. “It’s too dangerous.”“You can’t keep shielding me from everything,” Maya said, her green eyes flashing. “This fight involves me, Zane. Helena’s targeting me because she thinks I’m your weakness. Let me prove her wrong.”Zane hesitated, torn between his instinct to protect her and the respect he had for h
