I Am Fed Up With This

The night was cold, and Matthew Hesh stood by the large window of his study, staring out at the dimly lit cityscape of Tokyo. A thin layer of fog rolled over the rooftops, and beyond the embassy walls, he could see the flickering lanterns of guards patrolling the streets.

His hands were clasped behind his back, his mind burdened by what had unfolded over the past few days. The attack on the succession ceremony, the capture of Orlov, and now, the chilling warning that they were already too late.

He had played this game before—facing unseen enemies, dealing with conspiracies that festered in the dark. And he had barely survived.

This time, though, it was different.

Amber and his children were here.

That changed everything.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Collins entered, looking just as exhausted as he felt. He didn't need to say anything—they were both thinking the same thing.