CHAPTER 76

The message lingered on Marcus’s screen like a challenge carved in stone.

Meet me in 24 hours. Alone.

Fiona read it twice, then a third time. Silas Grayson never did anything without reason. If he was offering a meeting, it wasn’t out of desperation—it was a calculated move.

Darwin frowned as he paced behind her. “This could be a trap.”

Bella crossed her arms. “Could be? It is a trap.”

Fiona exhaled slowly. “I know.”

Marcus was already running a trace on the message, but his face told her everything. “It’s bouncing through too many relays. I can’t track the origin.”

Fiona nodded, already making up her mind. “I’m going.”

Darwin stopped pacing. “Alone? No way.”

Bella scoffed. “You’ve lost it, haven’t you? Grayson’s pissed. We just tore his empire apart. You think he’s going to let you walk out of there?”

Fiona turned to them, her gaze steady. “That’s exactly why I have to go. We didn’t just take Overwatch—we’ve crippled his network. That means he has fewer pieces left to play. He wouldn’t risk this unless he had no other choice.”

Darwin clenched his jaw. “Or unless he wants to get rid of you personally.”

Fiona gave him a small, humorless smile. “That’s always been the risk, hasn’t it?”

The silence stretched between them.

Then Marcus’s voice broke through. “I might not be able to trace him, but I can confirm where he wants to meet.”

He tapped a few keys and brought up a satellite image of a remote estate, nestled deep in the Swiss Alps. “It’s one of Grayson’s private retreats. No known security staff on-site, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Fiona studied the screen. “What’s the terrain like?”

“Steep cliffs, limited access roads. It’s isolated. Perfect for a quiet conversation… or an ambush.”

Bella shook her head. “I still don’t like this.”

Darwin sighed. “Neither do I. But we need to end this.” He turned to Fiona. “If you’re going, we’re backing you up.”

Fiona met his gaze. “I’m not going in blind. But if this is my play, I make the rules.”

Darwin didn’t like it, but he nodded.

Fiona looked at Marcus. “Get me the fastest way in—and the fastest way out.”

---

The Meeting

The Alpine air was crisp, biting against Fiona’s skin as she stepped out of the sleek black SUV. The estate loomed ahead, its dark glass windows reflecting the dying light of dusk.

Grayson was waiting.

He stood near the edge of the terrace, dressed in a tailored suit, his silver hair neatly combed back. His expression was calm, unreadable.

No guards. No weapons in sight.

But Fiona knew better.

She approached with measured steps, stopping just short of him. The wind howled between them.

Grayson smiled faintly. “Punctual. I respect that.”

Fiona didn’t return the smile. “You wanted to talk. So talk.”

Grayson turned, gazing out at the mountains. “You’ve done something I didn’t think possible, Fiona. You took away my control.” He glanced at her. “I assume you’re expecting me to beg for my empire back?”

Fiona kept her voice level. “I expect you to tell me why you called me here.”

Grayson chuckled. “Straight to the point. I admire that.” He turned to face her fully. “I’m not here to negotiate, Fiona. I’m here to offer you something.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not interested.”

“You haven’t heard it yet.”

She folded her arms. “Fine. Enlighten me.”

Grayson’s expression remained calm. “You think you’ve won, but you haven’t. You broke Overwatch, yes. You tore down the framework I spent years building. But what you don’t understand is that power doesn’t just disappear. It moves.”

Fiona clenched her jaw.

Grayson stepped closer. “Right now, the remnants of my empire are looking for a new leader. Someone to step in and restore order. If you don’t take control of it, someone worse will.”

She stiffened. “You’re asking me to replace you.”

Grayson smiled. “I’m offering you a throne.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then Fiona let out a cold laugh. “You must be desperate.”

Grayson shook his head. “I’m a realist. And so are you. You can burn everything down, but that won’t make the world safer. The Echelon exists because the world needs control.” He tilted his head. “Imagine what you could do with that kind of power.”

Fiona met his gaze. “You really think I’d become you?”

Grayson’s eyes gleamed. “I think you already have.”

She clenched her fists. “I’m nothing like you.”

Grayson’s smirk widened. “Aren’t you? You outmaneuvered William. You outplayed Cain. You took Overwatch from me. You’ve manipulated, lied, and killed to get here.” He stepped even closer. “Tell me, Fiona—if you’re not like me, then what are you?”

Fiona’s pulse pounded in her ears.

She had done all those things. She had played the game to survive.

But that didn’t mean she was him.

She exhaled slowly. “I’m someone who doesn’t need a system like yours to win.”

Grayson studied her for a long moment. Then he sighed. “Pity.”

A flicker of movement caught Fiona’s eye—

She moved instinctively.

The bullet whizzed past her shoulder, embedding into the stone wall behind her.

She dove behind cover as gunfire erupted.

Grayson had never intended to let her walk away.

---

The Escape

Marcus’s voice crackled in her earpiece. “Fiona! You good?”

She pressed against the cold stone, catching her breath. “He had a sniper. I’m pinned.”

Darwin’s voice came next. “Hold tight. We’re moving in.”

Fiona peeked out, spotting Grayson slipping through a side door.

She couldn’t let him escape.

Adrenaline surged through her as she moved, ducking low and sprinting for cover. Another shot rang out, missing her by inches.

She reached the door, kicking it open.

The hallway inside was dark, the sound of Grayson’s footsteps echoing ahead.

Fiona chased after him.

He wasn’t running away.

He was leading her somewhere.

Her instincts screamed a warning, but she had no choice.

She rounded a corner—

And found herself staring down the barrel of Grayson’s gun.

His expression was unreadable. “You should’ve taken my offer.”

Fiona’s fingers tensed around her weapon.

Then—

A shot rang out.

Grayson’s eyes widened.

Blood blossomed across his chest.

He staggered—

Then collapsed.

Fiona turned sharply.

Bella stood at the end of the hall, gun smoking. “Took you long enough.”

Fiona let out a breath. “You had a clear shot the whole time?”

Bella smirked. “Wanted to see how you’d handle it.”

Darwin jogged up behind her. “We need to move. Now.”

Marcus’s voice crackled in their ears. “Security’s inbound. You have about thirty seconds before this place is swarming.”

Fiona nodded.

It was over.

Grayson was dead.

And the Echelon?

It was theirs to shape—or destroy.

She wasn’t sure which path they would take.

But for the first time, the choice was theirs.