The city outside was hushed, the soft hum of distant traffic bleeding through the cracks of Kai’s window. The moonlight filtered in — pale and cold — but in his hands, the glow of his phone felt warmer.

  Lila’s name sat at the top of the screen, her messages filling the space like a quiet voice in his room.

  Lila: “You’re not what I expected, you know.”

  Kai stared at the words for a moment, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. She always caught him off guard — never saying quite what he anticipated.

  Kai: “That’s either a compliment or an insult. Not sure which.”

  Her reply came fast, like she was waiting.

  Lila: “A little of both. You’re weird… but it’s a good weird.”

  Kai let out a breath — almost a laugh — soft, unforced.

  Kai: “I’ll take that.”

  There was a comfort here, he realized — simple, easy. With Lila, there were no Watchers, no missions, no games. Just… him. Talking like a normal guy.

  It was strange — the way she’d started drifting closer lately, during theater rehearsals. She didn’t push, didn’t pry. She was just… there. And somehow, he found himself wanting that — craving it, even. Someone he could talk to without calculating every word.

  For as long as he could remember, it had always been him thinking three steps ahead. Planning.Controlling.

  But with her… it was different. He didn’t have to be the mastermind here. He could just be Kai.

  The next message appeared:

  Lila: “Hey… are you free tomorrow?”

  Kai blinked, his chest tightening unexpectedly.

  Kai: “Why?”

  Lila: “There’s a city fair. Kinda dumb — rides, games, cotton candy… Thought maybe you’d come with me?”

  Kai stared at the screen, thumb hovering.

  His first instinct — say no. He always said no. There was always another mission, another secret.

  But tonight… things were quiet. The team was safe. No alarms. No calls.

  And if he was honest with himself… he wanted to go.

  Kai: “Yeah… I’ll come.”

  There was a pause — then her response.

  Lila: “Seriously?”

  Kai’s smile was small, but real.

  Kai: “Yeah. I mean it.”

  Lila: “Okay then… see you tomorrow, Kai.”

  Kai stared at that last message — just his name. No title. No weight.

  Just Kai.

  And for the first time in a long time… he liked how that sounded.

  He set the phone down gently, the smallest of smiles still lingering.

  Maybe… just this once… he could have something normal.

  The next morning —

  The sun hadn’t fully risen, but Kai was already awake — sitting at the edge of his bed, staring at the floor like the answers were hidden in the shadows.

  His room was still — the kind of silence that only came early in the morning, when the world hadn’t yet decided what it wanted to be.

  The faint sound of his mother moving in the kitchen drifted through the door — soft, ordinary.

  And for a moment, Kai let himself sink into it — into the simplicity of home. The smell of coffee, the creak of old floorboards… things that didn’t belong to the world he’d built with the Illuminatii.

  But then his eyes drifted to his phone, still sitting on the nightstand where he’d left it last night.

  He reached out, fingers brushing the phone but not picking it up. Instead, he closed his eyes and took a slow breath.

  For once, there were no watchers, no pawns…

  A knock at the door startled him — his mother’s voice, soft but firm.

  “Kai? Breakfast’s ready.”

  He blinked, pulling himself back.

  “Coming.”

  The kitchen was bathed in pale morning light when Kai sat down. His mother poured coffee without a word — the kind of ritual they both understood.

  She watched him from across the table — eyes sharp, but warm.

  “You seem… different lately.”

  Kai stiffened, forcing a smile. “Good different… or bad?”

  “Good,” she said, after a pause. “Like… lighter.”

  He said nothing, just stared at the steam rising from his cup.

  Lighter.

  What a strange thing to be.

  His phone buzzed — breaking the moment.

  Lira: “Morning, boss. Leonard has something urgent. A client came in early — says it’s important. Thought you should know.”

  Just like that, the moment was gone.

  The world… his world… pulling him back.

  Kai sighed, pushing his chair back.

  “I need to go.”

  His mother gave him a knowing look — the kind that said she’d stopped asking questions long ago.

  — At the Villa

  The villa loomed quiet as Kai pulled up — the kind of stillness that made the air feel heavier.

  He stepped inside, and immediately… everything shifted.

  The faint smell of coffee, the low hum of computer screens, the distant shuffle of cards — normal sounds, yet today they felt like background noise.

  Felix sat hunched over his monitors, eyes darting across multiple screens. Jonah was half-heartedly shuffling a deck of cards, his mind clearly somewhere else. Marcus sat beside him, quiet, watching.

  Mara lounged on the couch, while Lina leaned back, one earbud in, idly scrolling through live security feeds.

  But they all felt it too — the weight of something incoming.

  Evan appeared from the hallway, breaking the tension just enough to speak. “Morning.”

  Kai nodded, his voice low. “Morning. Where’s Lira?”

  “Inside. She’s been waiting for you.”

  With each step deeper into the villa, Kai could feel himself changing — shedding the son, the student… becoming himself again. The mastermind. The one they all followed.

  Lira stood the moment she saw him — posture straight, eyes serious. No small talk.

  “Leonard called,” she said. “Says it’s serious.”

  Kai’s jaw tensed. “Put him through.”

  Felix’s fingers flew across the keyboard, and the large screen flickered — Leonard’s worn face appeared, bleary-eyed but sharp beneath the exhaustion.

  “Kai,” Leonard rasped. “You’re gonna wanna hear this.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Leonard glanced off-screen, lowering his voice — as if even now, someone might overhear.

  “This morning… early. A woman came in — owns a gallery downtown. She’s… shaken. Says one of their centerpiece paintings — seven million dollars, Kai — gone. Vanished.”

  Kai’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing.

  Leonard continued, “No signs of forced entry. No alarms. Cameras didn’t pick up anything. It’s like it just… disappeared.”

  Felix let out a low whistle from behind. “Seven million…?”

  Leonard nodded grimly. “And that’s not the worst of it. She’s convinced it was one of her own — an inside job. But here’s the kicker — she can’t go to the cops. Says if word gets out, it’ll ruin the gallery’s reputation — her job, her life.”

  Kai’s expression stayed unreadable — the kind of calm that only came when the mind was racing.

  “She’s desperate. Told me she tried every other PI — no one picked up. I was last on her list…

  She’s offering half a million if we fix this — tonight. There’s a gala. Big donors. If that painting’s not back… she’s finished.”

  Silence fell over the room.

  Jonah dropped his cards, the game forgotten. Even Mara sat up straighter, eyes narrowing.

  Kai stared at the screen, his mind already spinning — not just on the case, but the layers behind it. The timing. The opportunity. The risk.

  A part of him — the part still clinging to Lila’s words from last night — screamed to pass this off.

  Just walk away. Say no. Go live like a normal kid for one damn day.

  But the leader in him knew better.

  The world didn’t pause because he wanted it to.

  After a long beat, Kai finally spoke — his voice softer, colder.

  “Give is ten minutes, we’ll call you back.”

  Leonard exhaled, nodding once before the screen blinked dark.

  The villa stayed silent, all eyes on Kai.

  For a moment, no one dared speak.

  Kai sat still, eyes fixed on the black screen where Leonard’s face had just been. But his mind… his mind was racing.

  His jaw tensed, fingers twitching — the only visible crack in the calm mask he wore. Because he knew what this really was: a test. From the world itself. The kind of test that revealed what kind of leader he was — what kind of organization he was building.

  What had him hesitating was the timing.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  His eyes flicked toward the clock.

  Lila was waiting.

  For once, he wasn’t chasing shadows or writing futures in his head. It was supposed to be normal. A normal day.

  And yet… here he was. Right back where he belonged.

  He breathed out slow, almost bitter. Did I really think I’d get a break?

  Evan cleared his throat — nervous. “What do we do, boss?”

  The word boss felt heavier than usual.

  Kai stayed quiet, staring at the wall like he could see the decision already written there.

  He thought about the woman at the gallery — desperate, clinging to Leonard like a drowning person reaching for a floating piece of debris.

  He thought about his team — watching him now, trusting him to choose the right path.

  And he thought about Lila — her laugh over the phone, the way she made him feel… human.

  Could he really balance both worlds?

  Or was this who he was now — a king on a chessboard no one else could see?

  Finally, Kai moved — slow, controlled.

  “We’re taking the job.”

  The words dropped like a stone into still water — ripples spreading fast.

  Felix blinked. “You sure? The time frame—”

  “I know,” Kai cut him off. “That’s why I’m not handling it.”

  They all looked at him then — even more surprised.

  Kai stood, stretching his shoulders — shedding the weight of the decision like a cloak. “You are.”

  Jonah sat up. “Wait — what?”

  Kai’s gaze sharpened. “This is your test now. I trust you.

  Kai turned to Iris first. “You’re leading.”

  Iris blinked, but something lit in her eyes — pride… and maybe fear. “Understood.”

  “Mara, Jonah, Evan — you’re her team.” He glanced at Lina. “You stay here, monitor everything. Felix, you guide them remotely. I want eyes everywhere.”

  They nodded, the weight settling on them — the realization that for the first time… Kai wasn’t involved.

  “I have my own task,” Kai added quietly.

  And with that, he turned — leaving the room full of eyes that no longer saw him as just their leader…

  …but the kind of man they could follow into the dark.

  The sun outside was starting to creep higher, streaking through the villa windows — golden, too bright for the weight of the conversation.

  Kai stayed near the door, half-turned like he might vanish at any second. But his eyes… his eyes were locked on Iris.

  “You sure you’re good?” he asked, voice low but steady.

  Iris blinked, then smirked — that same sharp glint she had when pulling secrets out of people’s souls. “What? Scared we’ll embarrass you?”

  Jonah snorted, “Please… Kai doesn’t get scared.”

  Iris crossed her arms. “We’ve got this. Besides… it’s just a missing painting, right?”

  Kai’s jaw clenched, but he forced a nod. “Not just a missing painting but someone needs our help.”

  Everyone went quiet.

  Because they knew what he meant.

  Kai sighed — deep, from the chest. “Listen. No heroics. If it feels off, call me immediately.

  Evan grinned, “Will do.”

  Kai’s hand drifted toward the door — but not yet. His eyes fell on Mara and Lina, watching quietly from the side.

  “Mara — trust your instincts. You see something the others miss, speak up. Lina — Help Felix, he’s been working too much lately he may need some rest.”

  Lina flashed a grin. “I’ll try my best sir.”

  Felix groaned. “Don’t worry about me boss, I’ll be fine.”

  The room cracked — tension breaking for just a breath. And Kai let it happen. Because they needed this — the reminder that they were still people, not just tools.

  Kai exhaled. “Alright… I’m gone.”

  He pushed open the door, but his voice lingered — low, almost fond. “Don’t call me unless it’s urgent.”

  “You’ll miss us in an hour,” Iris shot back.

  Kai smiled — small, private.

  Maybe.

  Kai walked down the villa’s long driveway, the city’s noise slowly bleeding back into his world. For once, the weight of the Illuminatii didn’t feel like it was chained to his shoulders.

  Today… he had something else.

  Lila.

  The thought made his stomach twist — foreign, almost fragile. He wasn’t used to this… liking someone.

  Not as a tool. Not as a pawn.

  Just… a girl who smiled at him like he was normal.

  Kai checked his phone — a message from Lila.

  Lila: “Still on for today?”

  His lips curled, a rare warmth sneaking in.

  Kai: “Yeah. See you soon.”

  For a moment, he let himself imagine it — the fair, the food, the stupid games.

  What if I could have both?

  He exhaled, shoving the thought deep. Later. First… let’s see if they can handle it without me.

  The chessboard was set.

  The pieces were moving.

  The door shut behind Kai — a soft click that felt… heavier than it should’ve.

  For a moment, no one moved.

  Then Felix cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably at the monitors. “So… this is it, huh? Our first run without him.”

  Iris smiled faintly — though there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes. “Yeah. Feels… weird.”

  Jonah let out a breath and leaned back, arms stretched. “I mean… it’s not like he left us in a burning building. It’s a stolen painting.”

  Mara spoke up — her voice low, thoughtful. “Except… people don’t steal seven million-dollar paintings without a plan. There’s something here… I can feel it.”

  Lina, arms crossed, nodded. “Mara’s right. And let’s not forget — whoever did this knew the cameras, knew the codes. That’s not petty theft… that’s someone inside.”

  Iris clapped her hands once — sharp, pulling their attention. “Alright — focus. We’re not here to guess. We have a client, a timeline, and a job.”

  She turned toward Felix. “Call Leonard. Tell him we’re coming.”

  Felix smirked, tapping at the keyboard. “Already done.”

  Lina grinned, pulling her bag over her shoulder. “Let’s crack a million-dollar mystery.”

  Jonah stood, rolling his neck. “Hope you all brought your A-game. ‘Cause Kai’s watching… even if he’s not here.”

  The group shared a look — that silent understanding passing between them.

  The group stepped out, Evan driving — focused.

  Iris next to him, already scrolling through the case file Leonard sent.

  Mara and Lina in the back, leaning forward, scanning over her shoulder.

  Jonah let out a low whistle. “How does a painting worth this much disappears with no sign?”

  Iris didn’t look up. “Yeah. Seven million… and she’s suspicious of her own staff.”

  Mara’s eyes narrowed. “Because that’s who did it. Has to be. You don’t just walk out with a painting like that.”

  Evan chuckled darkly. “Unless you know the locks, the cameras… unless you’ve done it before.”

  Somewhere, blocks away… Kai stood at a crosswalk, staring down at his phone.

  The screen was black. No messages.

  No need.

  For the first time… he wasn’t needed.

  And that terrified him… just a little.

  But then — a small, honest smile.

  “Prove me right, guys.”

  The light changed.

  Kai walked on — toward something… different.

  And the team?

  They drove straight toward their first mission alone.

  The car rolled to a stop outside the gallery — a tall, modern building of glass and metal gleaming under the afternoon sun. The kind of place where art wasn’t just displayed… it was priced.

  Evan killed the engine, glancing at Iris. “We ready?”

  Iris nodded, her expression calm — but focused. “Let’s go.”

  Jonah adjusted his sleeves. “Feels weird without Kai.”

  Iris glanced at him. “We’re not here to feel anything. We’re here to solve this.”

  Mara stayed quiet — eyes scanning the building, her instincts already on edge. “Big place… lot of exits.”

  Evan gave a small nod. “We stay together. Until we figure out who’s lying.”

  They pushed through the heavy glass doors — the cool air inside brushing against their skin.

  The gallery smelled like expensive wood, oil paint.

  A middle-aged man in a suit approached immediately — face flushed with stress. “You must be… Leonard’s people?”

  Iris stepped forward. “That’s right. We’re here for the painting.”

  The man nodded quickly, lowering his voice. “I’m Daniel. I manage security here… what’s left of it.”

  His eyes darted nervously. “She’s waiting in the office.”

  They followed Daniel through winding hallways lined with empty display cases — the center stage glaringly bare where the missing painting should have been.

  Mara muttered under her breath. “Left it right in the open… brave.”

  Daniel’s shoulders tensed, but he said nothing.

  Inside the office, a woman sat — mid-30s, dressed sharp but pale with worry. She stood the moment they entered.

  “You’re… the team?”

  Iris nodded once. “Yes. Start talking.”

  The woman’s voice trembled. “I—I don’t know how it happened. It was there last night… this morning… gone.”

  Evan crossed his arms. “No alarms?”

  She shook her head quickly. “Nothing. No broken locks. Nothing on the cameras.”

  Jonah leaned forward, quiet but firm. “Which means whoever took it… had access.”

  The woman flinched. “I… I know. But I can’t accuse my own people… I need proof.”

  Iris studied her — eyes sharp. “I need a list. Everyone who had access. Staff. Security. Cleaners. Anyone.”

  Daniel nodded, already pulling out his phone.

  Mara added softly, “And their routines. Where they were. What time.”

  The woman hesitated. “Do you really think… it was one of us?”

  Iris’s voice was calm — cold. “Ma’am… seven million doesn’t disappear by accident.”

  Back at the Villa

  Lina sat in front of the screens — fingers adjusting the audio feeds. Her eyes sharp, focused. Felix leaned beside her, watching.

  On screen, they watched as Iris handled the conversation, smooth… professional.

  Lina muttered — almost to herself, but Felix heard.

  “She’s good… scary good.”

  Felix’s lips twitched. “Kai knew what he was doing… leaving her in charge.”

  Iris stood, her voice cutting through the tension. “We start with interviews. One by one.”

  She turned to Evan and Jonah. “Split up. Watch their faces… listen to what they don’t say.”

  Mara’s eyes gleamed. “And me?”

  Iris smirked slightly. “Stick close to the display. If anyone’s gonna slip… it’ll be around there.”

  Evan gave a nod, Jonah cracked his knuckles, and Mara simply melted back toward the gallery floor — already blending in.

  Iris watched them go — her jaw tight.

  “Let’s see if we’re really ready without him.”

  She pulled out her phone — one last glance at Kai’s number.

  But she didn’t press call.

  Not yet.

  The group split, moving through the gallery like shadows. The grand hall felt colder now — the missing painting casting a silent, heavy absence over the space.

  Iris moved with purpose, her eyes scanning every face — every nervous tick. The staff was gathered awkwardly, whispering among themselves.

  She singled out a young man first — early twenties, wearing a black polo with the gallery logo. He stiffened as Iris approached.

  “You were here last night?” Iris asked, voice calm but firm.

  The man nodded quickly. “Yeah… I locked up.”

  “Anyone else?”

  “Just me and Daniel.” His eyes darted. “I swear… I didn’t see anything.”

  Iris tilted her head, reading him. “Strange. Seven million gone, and you didn’t see anything?”

  His throat bobbed — sweat beading at his temple. “It… it wasn’t me.”

  Iris leaned in, lowering her voice. “Listen, you don’t strike me as the type who’d pull this off. But someone did… and if you’re covering for them, you’ll go down with them. Think about that.”

  The kid’s face paled.

  Iris smiled faintly “Good.”

  Meanwhile, Jonah leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching a middle-aged woman nervously fiddle with her bracelet.

  “You clean here?” Jonah asked casually.

  She jumped. “Y-yes. Every morning.”

  Jonah nodded. “And this morning? Same time?”

  The woman bit her lip. “Yes… I… I didn’t touch anything.”

  “Did you see the painting?” he asked, staring straight at her.

  She hesitated… too long.

  “I… I don’t know. I wasn’t looking.”

  Jonah’s eyes narrowed. “You weren’t looking… at a seven-million-dollar painting in the middle of the room?”

  Her mouth opened, then closed.

  Jonah smirked slightly, leaning closer. “Lady… you’re looking at jail time if you lie to me. Just saying.”

  The cleaner wilted.

  Mara stayed quiet — eyes sharp as she roamed the gallery floor. She wasn’t there to ask questions. She was there to see.

  And she saw plenty.

  Fresh scuff marks near the baseboards… a half-torn fiber snagged on a corner of the display.

  She crouched, slipping the thread into her pocket.

  Her lips curved slightly. “Got you…”

  She turned — catching a young man watching her.

  Their eyes locked — he looked away fast.

  Mara’s smile grew.

  Mara paused, feeling the weight of someone’s stare. Slowly, casually, she glanced over her shoulder — catching the maintenance guy watching her a second too long before he looked away.

  Her eyes narrowed.

  She tapped her earpiece. “Felix… there’s a guy. Maintenance uniform, brown hair — keeps watching me. Can you check him out?”

  Felix straightened at his desk, fingers already flying across the keyboard. “Got it. Give me a sec.”

  Lina glanced over, intrigued, but stayed quiet — watching Felix work.

  Moments later, Felix’s screen flashed. “Name’s Corey… low-level maintenance. Huh… interesting.”

  “What?” Mara’s voice came through the comms, low.

  Felix smirked. “He’s got gambling debts… a lot of ‘em. Owes money to some people.”

  Mara’s lips curled into a slow smile..“I knew it.”

  Felix’s voice dropped. “Your call, boss. You want us to focus on him?”

  Mara’s eyes stayed locked on Corey from across the room. “Not yet… let him sweat.”

  Iris spoke softly but firmly through the comms, “No one moves until we’re sure. If we scare him, we may lose everything.”

  Mara’s voice crackled through the comms, tense. “Felix… he’s on the phone. Can you get anything?”

  Felix leaned forward, eyes sharp. “Give me a second.” His fingers flew across the keyboard. “I’m tapping into the building’s Wi-Fi… most employees auto-connect. If his phone’s hooked — I’ll catch it.”

  The room went quiet, everyone watching as lines of code scrolled across Felix’s screens.

  Lina muttered, “Come on… come on…”

  Then — a soft beep. Felix smirked. “Got him. He’s connected.”

  “What now?” Jonah whispered.

  Felix’s eyes gleamed. “Now… we listen.” He bypassed the phone’s weak firewalls, slipping through until the live audio feed lit up on his screen.

  Static crackled — then a voice. Corey.

  “I told you, it’s done. The painting’s moved. Just… be ready. We’ll get it out before the show.”

  Mara’s jaw clenched. “Son of a… He’s the one.”

  Iris stayed calm, her gaze fixed on the screen. “Can you trace who he’s talking to?”

  Felix’s hands flew. “Trying… rerouting through the call logs… damn — number’s bouncing. But it’s local. I’ll narrow it down.”

  Jonah exhaled, tension bleeding out. “This just got serious.”

  Felix leaned back, eyes still locked on the screen. “We finish this. No need to bother Kai… we handle it from here.”

  Evan eyes burned with focus. “What’s the play?”

  Iris straightened. “We wait. He’s going to move. When he does… we follow.”

  Mara’s voice came through steady now. “He’s on the move. Leaving the maintenance door, east side. Iris, you see him?”

  At the Villa

  Felix’s screen glowed, tracking the blip that was Corey’s phone signal. Lina sat beside him, hands hovering, monitoring audio.

  Felix muttered, “He’s heading toward the back lot. Might be meeting someone.”

  Lina leaned in. “Signal’s bouncing — he made a call. Short. Maybe a check-in.”

  Felix nodded. “Stay sharp.”

  At the Gallery — Outside

  Iris whispered, “I see him. He’s stopping… there’s a car.”

  From her angle, she watched Corey shuffle nervously near a beat-up sedan.

  Mara, moving like a shadow, positioned herself close enough to observe but stayed out of sight.

  The sedan’s door creaked open — a man stepped out. Mid-40s, rough face, cheap suit. He passed Corey an envelope.

  Jonah cursed under his breath. “That’s a payout.”

  Lina chimed in, “Or the next set of instructions.”

  Iris steadied her breathing. “Felix, audio?”

  Felix worked fast — patches of conversation filled their earpieces.

  ”…once this is done, you disappear. The painting goes to the warehouse, no detours.”

  ”…you said after tonight, I’m clear.”

  “Yeah, if you don’t screw this up.”

  Mara’s eyes narrowed. “Warehouse. Did you get that?”

  Felix grinned, “Got it. Pulling location options now.”

  Back at the Villa

  Lina’s fingers flew. “I’m cross-checking warehouses where his phone localization history has been. Found it, it’s registered under a shell company.”

  Jonah’s voice came cold, “What’s the move, Iris?”

  Iris exhaled, slow and deliberate. “We let him go… follow him. We’re not screwing this up.”

  Meanwhile — Kai’s Date

  Kai’s phone vibrated once — a message from Felix:

  “I think we may have found it.”

  Kai read it, smiled faintly, and slipped his phone back in his pocket without missing a beat.

  For once… he let them handle it.

  Felix’s voice buzzed in their earpieces. “Corey’s heading out. Car’s rolling — plates match one of the shell company’s vehicles. I’m tagging it now.”

  Lina added, “I’ve got the route mapped. He’s going toward the industrial sector. Evan, you ready?”

  Evan flexed his hands on the steering wheel of the car. “Tell me when.”

  Iris, calm but focused: “Don’t spook him.”

  Felix’s voice crackled through the earpiece, sharp and urgent:

  “Corey’s on the move. He’s got the painting.”

  Iris’s eyes narrowed. “Evan — you’re up.”

  Evan’s jaw clenched. “On it.”

  He revved the car, pulling out onto the industrial road. In the distance, Corey’s van sped off — reckless, weaving through empty streets.

  Lina’s voice stayed steady, feeding him updates.

  “I’m pinging his location. He’s heading toward the old shipping district… probably the warehouse.”

  Evan’s knuckles tightened on the wheel as he tailed Corey’s van through the industrial outskirts. Dust kicked up behind the van, tires screeching against the cracked pavement.

  Lina’s voice buzzed in his ear:

  “He’s heading east — old shipping yards. You’re closing in.”

  “Yeah, I see him,” Evan muttered, eyes locked forward. “Bastard’s fast… desperate.”

  The van swerved wildly, nearly clipping a parked truck. Evan followed — smooth, calculated — weaving through obstacles like he’d done this a hundred times before.

  The road ahead narrowed — towering metal containers creating a canyon of rust and shadow. Corey floored it, engine roaring as he dove between the gaps.

  The sedan roared to life, engine growling as Evan matched Corey’s speed. He drifted clean around a corner — tires skimming the edge of a puddle — water spraying like a silver arc behind him.

  A delivery truck barreled out of nowhere — Corey swerved hard, nearly losing control. Evan reacted fast — downshifting, jerking the wheel — the car sliding clean around the truck’s rear bumper with inches to spare.

  “Whew—” Jonah exhaled. “Alright… that was sick.”

  Evan didn’t answer. He was locked in — tunnel vision.

  Corey pushed forward — a dead-end looming. But just before slamming into the barriers, Corey spotted a side ramp — sketchy, half-collapsed.

  He took it.

  “Shit,” Evan growled. “He’s gonna kill himself.”

  Corey’s van bounced violently as it hit the ramp — the back end fishtailing, nearly tipping — but somehow, he made it over.

  Evan had seconds to decide.

  He hit the gas — engine screaming as the sedan flew up the ramp.

  Suddenly —

  A violent gust swept through the lot, tearing loose a heavy tarp that had been barely hanging off a nearby container.

  The faded green sheet flapped once, twice — then SNAPPED free like a released sail.

  It whipped through the air — fast, heavy — and slammed right against Corey’s windshield.

  “What the hell—!” Corey panicked, yanking the wheel.

  The van skidded sideways, tires shrieking against the cracked asphalt. Metal groaned as Corey lost control, the van slamming head-first into a stack of rusted shipping crates.

  The impact sent debris flying.

  “Got him!” Evan barked, slamming his car into a controlled skid and stopping just short of the wreck.

  The world went still — just the hiss of the damaged engine and the distant clatter of settling metal.

  “Corey’s down,” Evan confirmed. “He’s not going anywhere.”

  Iris’s voice came sharp. “Get the painting.”

  Evan jumped out, running fast — boots pounding against concrete.

  Corey groaned, slumped over the wheel — dazed but alive. In the back of the van, the stolen paintingpeeked out from under a tarp of its own.

  Evan ripped it free, heart racing. “Got it.”

  Felix’s voice cracked over comms. “Cops are ten minutes out. You need to move.”

  Evan grinned — adrenaline still surging. “Already on it.”

  With the painting strapped safely in the back, Evan floored it — the engine roaring as he tore through the industrial zone.

  Traffic loomed ahead — packed, unmoving.

  He spun the car left — cutting through an alley too narrow for most — scraping metal, dodging dumpsters, barely avoiding a stray pedestrian.

  Jonah’s voice cheered in his ear, “Now that’s driving!”

  Evan shot out the other side, dodging onto a side street and merging back toward the main road — the city skyline looming.

  “We’re on track,” Evan panted, a grin splitting his face.

  Iris’s voice came softer. “Good work… bring it home.”

  As the gallery loomed in the distance, the sun dipped lower — painting the sky gold.

  Evan smirked, adrenaline pumping. “Let’s finish this.”

  The sun was setting, casting long golden streaks through the city as Evan’s car screeched to a stop at the gallery’s rear loading dock.

  The team rushed out — Evan still catching his breath, painting clutched in his hands like it was life itself.

  “Move, move,” Iris ordered sharply, cracking open the back door.

  Iris, Evan, Jonah, and Mara stood before the anxious woman who had hired them — Ms. Delacroix — her eyes darting between them and the empty pedestal.

  Then — Evan held it out.

  The painting.

  Pristine. Untouched. Home.

  Her breath caught. “I… You found it?”

  Jonah smirked. “We said we would.”

  Mara added softly, “It’s back. Just like it never left.”

  Tears shimmered in Ms. Delacroix’s eyes as she carefully took the painting, hands trembling.

  She swallowed hard. “You saved me… my job, my life.”

  They watched as she hurried away, tears threatening — the painting cradled like a lifeline.

  The team stood in the middle of the empty hall — the weight of success settling in.

  Jonah grinned wide. “Guys… that was clean. Almost too clean.”

  Mara nodded slowly. “Yeah… too perfect.”

  They exchanged a look — a flicker of suspicion. But none dared say it out loud.

  — At The Restaurant

  The soft clink of silverware and quiet chatter filled the restaurant, but for Kai, it all blurred into background noise.

  Lila sat across from him, laughing softly at something she’d just said — her eyes bright, carefree. For once, everything felt… normal.

  Kai smiled, nodding along — but his mind had already drifted.

  How are they doing?

  Were they struggling? Was the mission falling apart without him there?

  The weight of leadership tugged at him — that familiar itch to check his phone, to call, to control.

  But then — he caught himself.

  Kai exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair.

  No… there’s no need.

  Because he remembered. Before leaving the villa… he’d already seen this.

  The smoky place. The ritual. The memory he’d planted.

  Hours ago, Kai had sat alone in that dark room — candles flickering — eyes closed as he slipped out of his body and drifted into that endless gray.

  There… he imagined it all.

  The mission complete.

  The team victorious.

  The painting returned, everyone laughing — celebrating their success.

  And because he’d seen it… it was already done.

  Kai’s lips curled faintly as he looked back at Lila — truly seeing her now, the noise fading away.

  “They’re fine,” he whispered under his breath.

  Lila blinked, tilting her head. “Hmm?”

  Kai smiled — warm, easy. “Nothing… just glad to be here.”

  And for the first time… he meant it.

  Because the world — his world — was already moving exactly as he’d designed.

  If you’re enjoying the story, please consider dropping a follow, leaving a rating, or writing a quick review — it really helps more than you know!

  And hey… maybe a comment too? I read every single one.

  Thanks for being here — seriously.