Chapter 18: The First Strike

The safehouse felt smaller now, the walls closing in as the weight of their decision settled over them. No turning back. No second chances. They had just declared war on a ghost.

Alex sat at the worn-down wooden table, fingers tapping rhythmically as he ran through every possible move in his head. Black Sun wasn't just an organization—they were a machine. Silent, efficient, and ruthless.

Maya leaned against the counter, flipping her knife between her fingers. "So, where do we start?"

Ellie exhaled, crossing her arms. "You want the honest answer? We don't."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Well, that's boring."

Ellie pushed off the wall. "I'm serious. We don't even know what the hell Black Sun actually is. Just a name and a reputation. And we're supposed to hit them? Based on what?"

Alex nodded. She had a point. Going in blind would get them killed.

Maya sighed. "So, we gather intel first?"

Alex smirked. "Now you're talking."

Ellie muttered, "Great. More waiting."

Maya grinned. "Patience, sweetheart. We'll get to the bloodshed soon."

Ellie groaned. "Why are we like this?"

Alex chuckled. Dark humor. A survival mechanism.

But under the banter, they all knew the truth. The real fight was about to begin.

Step One: The Leak

1:12 AM – A High-Rise in Downtown L.A.

The security firm didn't even know they'd been compromised.

Ellie sat on the rooftop across the street, scope trained on the glass windows of the 42nd floor. Lombard Global Security—a front company for government contracts, private mercenaries, and, more importantly, Black Sun connections.

Alex crouched beside her, comms in his ear. "Maya, you in?"

Maya's voice crackled through. "I was in ten minutes ago. You two are slow."

Ellie smirked. "She's enjoying this way too much."

Alex focused. "Maya, what are we looking at?"

Maya's fingers danced over her keyboard. She was parked a few blocks away in a stolen van, plugged into the building's security feeds. "We got a few emails, transaction logs… and oh, would you look at that? Black Sun has payroll records here."

Ellie's brow raised. "They're getting paid through Lombard?"

Maya grinned. "Oh yeah. Slush funds, dummy corporations. Standard shady business."

Alex's jaw tightened. This was bigger than he thought.

Maya's voice turned serious. "There's one problem. They're purging files. Somebody on the inside must've tripped an alarm."

Ellie cursed. "How long do we have?"

"Two minutes. Maybe less."

Alex made a decision. No more waiting.

"We go in."

Ellie blinked. "Excuse me?"

Maya groaned. "Oh, now we're doing the fun stuff?"

Alex checked his sidearm. "Maya, kill the cameras. Ellie, cover the exits."

Ellie sighed. "Fine. But if we die, I'm haunting you first."

Maya chuckled. "Called it."

Alex smirked. Time to move.

Inside the Lion's Den

Alex slid through the stairwell door, keeping low as the fluorescent lights flickered above. He could hear voices down the hall. Guards. Armed.

He pressed his comm. "Maya?"

"Two hostiles, hallway ahead. They don't know you're there."

Alex took a slow breath. "Ellie?"

"Already in position."

A single suppressed shot rang out.

Alex moved just in time to see one of the guards drop, a neat hole in his temple.

The second guard turned—Alex was already there. A quick strike to the throat, a knife to the ribs. Silent. Fast.

Ellie's voice was smug. "You're welcome."

Alex smirked. "Appreciate it."

Maya chimed in. "Less flirting, more stealing."

Alex pushed forward. The server room was their target.

He reached the door, swiped a stolen keycard. The lock clicked open.

Inside, rows of humming servers bathed the room in cold blue light.

Maya's voice was eager. "Plug me in, baby."

Alex rolled his eyes, connecting the drive to the main terminal. "You're live."

Maya's fingers flew over her keyboard. "Give me thirty seconds."

Alex kept watch. Ellie covered the hallway. Everything was going smooth.

Too smooth.

Then the alarms blared.

Maya cursed. "Oh, come on!"

Alex's stomach sank. "Talk to me."

"They knew we were coming. System's locking down—wait… shit."

Ellie frowned. "What?"

Maya's voice turned cold. "We just got pinged. Someone's tracking us."

Alex clenched his jaw. Black Sun was already watching.

And now?

They knew exactly where they were.