Allies in the Shadows

Location: Tavara – Kane Estate: Sublevel War Room

The war room buzzed with hushed urgency. Beneath the Kane estate, an elite unit had already assembled—silent warriors clad in matte black, their faces partially concealed. Each one had once vanished from public life, presumed dead, imprisoned, or disavowed. Yet here they were—handpicked by Victor Kane from the ashes of betrayal and war.

Damien scanned the group.

He recognized three immediately.

Lara Cross – former MI6 strategist, known for dismantling cartel empires using only intelligence leaks and shadow diplomacy. Her sharp gray eyes met Damien's, her nod brief but confident.

Kaito "Phantom" Ren – a deadly infiltrator and tactician from East Asia. Rumors said he could disappear in plain sight. The faint scar on his jaw remained his only signature.

Marcus Wolfe – once Damien's own protégé in covert ops, left behind after an extraction went south. The two exchanged a heavy look—regret and understanding bundled in one.

Victor stood at the head of the command table.

"Each of you was chosen for a reason," he said. "The Obsidian Circle has revived their old web. Tavara is only the beginning. London. Hong Kong. Montreal. We're going to dismantle them cell by cell."

Damien's voice cut through the room. "You all know what's at stake. This isn't about revenge. It's about legacy. About rewriting what they destroyed."

Victor tapped a button. The holographic table lit up with a glowing world map. Several cities blinked in red, while encrypted routes showed movement—covert arms, offshore transfers, illegal biotech labs.

"This is the Shadow Grid," Victor explained. "They're everywhere. Even embedded in governments. But we now hold their blueprint."

Lara stepped forward. "What's the first target?"

Victor looked at Damien.

Damien stared at the map for a beat, then pointed.

"Zurich. That's where they're holding Ava Li."

A wave of shock rolled through the room.

"You're sure she's alive?" Marcus asked.

"She was taken during the Jakarta siege. They've been experimenting on her mind, trying to create loyal tacticians through forced memory suppression," Damien replied.

Victor nodded grimly. "Then that's our first mission. Zurich. No survivors."

The team saluted in silence, the room absorbing the gravity of what was now in motion. Plans were made. Roles were assigned. Within 48 hours, the first strike would begin.

As the lights dimmed, Damien glanced at Victor.

"After Zurich… we take Tavara back. From the inside."

Victor smirked. "Brother, we never lost it. We just let them think we did."