Chapter 68: A Warning Unheeded

The night breeze carried a heavy silence as Chris stood on the balcony of Blackwood Estate, his thoughts far from the glittering cityscape before him. Zayne was out there, lurking in the shadows. Waiting.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered immediately.

"Speak."

Ethan's voice came through, steady but laced with urgency. "We've got a lead. Someone matching Zayne's description was spotted near the outskirts, but he's keeping a low profile. No traceable movements."

Chris's fingers tapped lightly against the railing. "He's waiting for the right moment."

"Exactly," Ethan agreed. "And we both know who his first target will be."

Chris's expression hardened. Skylar.

Zayne wasn't the type to let things go. His grudge ran deep, and revenge was inevitable.

"I want surveillance on Skylar at all times," Chris ordered. "She mustn't suspect anything."

Ethan hesitated. "And if she does?"

Chris exhaled slowly. "I'll handle it."

A brief silence. Then Ethan's voice dropped lower. "Chris, this isn't like before. Zayne isn't just after power. This time, he'll go straight for what you can't afford to lose."

Chris's gaze darkened. "Let him try."

Ethan sighed. "You always say that."

Chris said nothing. Because this time, he wasn't sure if saying it would be enough.

A storm was brewing. And when it hit,

there would be no turning back.