31. A warning to Phantom Syndicate

A few days later, Emma was nearly ready to be discharged from the hospital. However, on the other side of town, Ethan Hamilton was deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the dossier his subordinate had handed him. As he read through the details, listening to the briefing from his operative, his expression darkened, and his brow furrowed.

"How did Emma manage to get tangled up with the Phantom Syndicate?" Ethan muttered to himself, his tone laced with both frustration and concern. The Phantom Syndicate was their sworn enemy, a group known for its ruthlessness and utter disregard for morality. They would do anything for the right price, and their specialty was making assassinations look like accidents—something that had become their infamous trademark. As the head of the Nightfall Alliance, Ethan had clashed with them more times than he could count, but this time, it was personal.

He considered the possibility that this attack on Emma was an attempt to get to him, a form of retaliation. After all, he had been a thorn in the Phantom Syndicate's side for years, disrupting their operations and undermining their influence. But as he thought about it more, Ethan shook his head slightly. The world already knew that Emma wasn't biologically related to him; she was adopted. The Phantom Syndicate wouldn't target her just to get to him unless there was money involved. Someone had to have ordered this hit.

Ethan's jaw tightened as he gave a terse order to his subordinates. "Drop everything else. I want all our resources focused on finding out who's behind this. Anyone not tied up in a top-tier mission is to prioritize this. This is our number one priority."

His men nodded, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation. Ethan rarely showed this level of urgency unless it was something of critical importance.

As Ethan flipped to the last page of the dossier, he paused, his eyes narrowing as they landed on a name circled in red. The dossier suggested a possible link between the attack and someone close to the family—a name that had come up more than once in suspicious circumstances: the impostor daughter, the false heiress. His anger simmered, bubbling up into a dangerous mix of fury and dark amusement. A chilling smile curled his lips as he murmured to himself, "This just got a lot more interesting."

His smile faded quickly as he slammed the dossier shut and barked another order. "Initiate an offensive against the Phantom Syndicate. Target their Delta and Gamma operatives. If we can take out a few Beta-ranked members in the process, all the better. But leave the Alpha-levels untouched. We're not declaring war—yet. Just make sure they feel the pain. This will be a warning."

His second-in-command stepped forward, hesitating slightly before speaking. "Sir, are you certain about this? Attacking the Delta and Gamma ranks will severely cripple them, but it might provoke a larger response."

Ethan's eyes glinted with cold determination. "That's precisely the point. They need to know who they're dealing with. But I won't risk an all-out war… not until I know exactly who ordered this hit. The Alphas are off-limits for now."

His subordinate nodded and left the room to carry out the orders. As Ethan watched him go, he began to contemplate his next move. The idea of informing his third brother, Logan, crossed his mind. Logan's network of underworld contacts and his own formidable reputation would certainly be an asset in dealing with this situation. But Ethan hesitated. Logan was a loose cannon, and if he got involved too early, he might escalate things beyond control.

After a moment of contemplation, Ethan dismissed the idea, at least for now. "No," he muttered to himself. "Logan's my last resort. If things get worse, I'll bring him in. But not yet. This is my game for now."

Just as he was about to leave the room, he heard a soft knock on the door. It was one of his most trusted aides, entering with a sense of urgency. "Sir, there's something else… A few of our informants have reported unusual movements within the Phantom Syndicate. It seems they're also mobilizing, but not against us. They're closing ranks, reinforcing their defenses."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Reinforcing? Against who?"

"We're not entirely sure yet, sir, but it appears they're also dealing with an internal threat. Something big."

Ethan's expression shifted as he considered the implications. "Interesting. Keep me updated on any developments. If they're distracted, it could give us the perfect opportunity to strike harder."

His aide nodded and quickly left to carry out his orders.

As Ethan exited the building and stepped into his car, his mind was already racing through possibilities, plotting his next move. The game had just become infinitely more complex, and Ethan relished the challenge. But beneath his calm exterior, there was a storm brewing—a determination to protect his sister and ensure that whoever dared to target her would pay dearly.

As the car pulled away, Ethan's thoughts momentarily drifted back to Emma. He would need to be careful how much she knew, at least until the situation was under control. For now, she needed to focus on recovery, unaware of the dark storm gathering around her.