–Livana–
I invited them—the leaders across the world who once planned to terminate . But even if they wanted dead, the device they were hunting would remain... feeding them small rewards while slowly leading them to their own destruction.
"My love," Damon looked down at as I prepared. "I won’t let you go there alone."
"Of course," I smiled up at him.
He bent and kissed the space between my brows. I placed my toric contact lenses on—not masking my distinct eyes. But to see clearer vision.
They arrived one by one. I monitored each of their private planes carefully. We were not on any nation’s soil, but on a private island. Just downstairs, a grand ballroom had been prepared—tables and chairs arranged with precision by my staff, the Pawns.
I put on the protective suit next, with my husband assisting . Then ca the gown—a turtleneck dress with long sleeves. Damon stood behind , braiding my hair as he helped fix it.
It was... oddly endearing. He had learned it from Laura while she braided Zendaya’s long hair.
He often spoke about having a baby girl—how he would fix her hair when she started going to school.
Instinctively, my hand moved to my abdon.
I turned to my double—the one who mirrored my complexion and almost shared my features. One of my King’s n. Loyal. Undisposable.
She would be my reflection. Ready to serve . Ready to die for .
I entered another room while my double stepped into the ballroom. She remained silent as Logan and Jane stood beside her.
The leaders’ bodyguards had no weapons.
She took her seat on the throne at the head. Each leader occupied their designated place, along with their guards. Only those who had once plotted against arrived in person. So remained in their respective countries but joined through the screen.
Those were the ones I could rely on.
I had already secured their allegiance—exchanged for my protection.
And there—
My pawn.
The President of the Philippines, seated with two security guards.
I remained behind the screen with my husband as won in black suits distributed the docunts. If signed, it ant they would cease all operations and withdraw their n.
It had been a month and a half.
I missed Sky.
I wanted this to end.
Then—
I froze.
A red laser dot rested on my double’s forehead.
"My hand is half an inch away from the keyboard," I spoke through the speaker that made all of them puzzled.
The room was sealed but with glass windows and we are in the middle of nowhere. I made sure of that.
So where did that laser co from?
I scanned the room, then cut the lights.
From the glass window—
There it was.
I checked the surveillance. A helicopter hovered steadily outside.
Of course.
I had left the windows clear with no curtains—to make them feel at ease.
A calculated oversight.
Everyone went still, their attention fixed on my double. Murmurs filled the room.
I activated the window seals.
Locked.
Panic followed imdiately.
I turned the lights back on.
"Now, sign," I commanded. "You will return safely to your countries and your families. Even here... soone else is trying to kill ."
My pawn—the President of the Philippines—signed the contract without hesitation.
Others hesitated.
"But you may take your ti reading it," I murmured. "This is cooperation."
They began discussing among themselves, one by one. Their eyes drifted toward the President of the Philippines... and the Pri Minister of Japan.
Their expressions were unreadable—just as intended.
They assud I had leverage over them.
That was enough.
I turned off the microphone and looked up at my husband, who placed his hand over my shoulder.
Caine moved through the ballroom, retrieving signed docunts and handing out copies. Lawyers stood nearby, sealing each one and distributing them accordingly. Every contract was translated—adapted to their languages, their alphabets—ensuring clarity.
No room for misinterpretation.
No escape.
This plan was never mine.
It was always my mother’s.
I simply executed it...
Because she was supposed to be dead.
********
–Lore–
I erase Kelly.
Not just her files—her.
Line by line, record by record, I purge her existence from every system that matters. What remains is a clean, clinical verdict: Deceased. Official. Irrefutable.
Her body will be delivered here. No family to claim her. No history to dispute it. Just a funeral—small, controlled—for the few who knew her na.
David leaves for the panic room, shoulders rigid, silence clinging to him like smoke. No words. Just... gone.
I stay.
With her.
Alyssa moves around like a constant—quiet, precise. She prepares everything. My als, my clothes... even the small things I don’t notice until they’re already done.
And when her hands press into my shoulders, easing tension I didn’t realize I carried—
Yeah. I got lucky.
But I don’t let myself drift.
Not now.
The monitors flood my vision—feeds layered over feeds. The island breathes through data: thermal signatures, motion tracking, aerial sweeps.
The helicopter circling the mansion cuts through the night sky like a predator. It was sent to kill Livana.
Except—
She’s not there.
The woman inside doesn’t move. Just sits, perfectly still. A decoy with discipline.
Good.
All physical docunts are locked inside a briefcase—sealed, stamped, verified. The electronic copies are already archived.
And ?
I keep another version.
Separate drive. Isolated. Untouchable.
Insurance.
"Is it done?" Alyssa asks softly.
I glance up at her, the glow of the screens catching in her eyes. "Yeah. They stamped their country’s seal on it. We’re clear."
She exhales—then wraps her arms around . Tight. Warm. Real.
And God—
She slls good. No perfu. Just her.
"Let’s make love later," she murmurs against .
I swallow, clearing my throat as I gently push her back.
"Don’t tempt , Aly."
She laughs—light, effortless—before stepping away.
"I’ll go to the main and grab us so food."
I smirk faintly. "Can’t you cook?"
"Food’s here."
The hidden door slides open with a quiet chanical hiss.
David steps in, carrying a tray. He sets it down carefully—too carefully. Controlled movents.
Then his gaze lifts.
Locks.
On the docunt.
Kelly.
Deceased.
He goes still.
"That’s not true," he hisses, the words scraping out of him.
"David," I say, keeping my tone steady, even. "Calm down. Her body will be here in a few days. She doesn’t have a family... so Livana wants to give her a proper funeral."
The words feel heavy. Necessary.
Even if they cut.
Even if they break sothing in him.
Because this—
This is the only version that can exist now.
Alyssa shifts beside . I don’t need to look to know—she regrets it.
So do I.
We set them up.
And this...
This is the aftermath.
But sothing doesn’t sit right.
Kelly could’ve taken him down. Easily. Disabled him. Escaped.
She had the skill. The opportunity.
So why didn’t she?
I tilt my head slightly, eyes drifting back to the screen as the final download completes—progress bars filling, systems locking in place.
"Why..." I murmur under my breath.
Strategy?
Or sothing else?
David moves again, like he’s running on instinct alone. He opens the drawer, takes out clean dishes—busywork. Sothing to hold onto.
"I’m going back," he says flatly.
No eye contact. No hesitation.
He turns—
And disappears behind the door.
Back into the bunker.
*******
–Sophia–
I helped my husband stand, guiding him gently as he tried to straighten his back.
Slowly... carefully...
He moved.
It still felt like a miracle—watching him regain even the smallest motions, like life was being stitched back into him thread by thread.
I didn’t fully understand what they had done. So kind of serum... sothing beyond ordinary dicine.
But he was here.
He was moving.
And that was enough.
I eased him back into place before sitting down on the swivel chair, my eyes drifting toward the monitors—toward the quiet storm unfolding across them.
Livana was ruling the world.
Not figuratively.
Literally.
Nations moved. Systems bent. Power shifted—all under her command. And no one had a choice.
There would still be assassins, of course. There always were. Shadows never truly disappeared.
But Damon...
He was erasing us from them.
From every target list. Every record. Every whispered contract.
In just a few days, he had taken control of that hidden society—cutting off every blade aid at our throats.
He ruled that world now.
And Livana ruled the rest.
Together...
They were untouchable.
"What about you?" I asked, turning to Aunt Ines.
She only smiled.
That sa knowing smile.
Cold. Elegant. Certain.
I didn’t need her to answer.
I already knew.
Her half sister.
And the man tied to her—husband... or ex-husband, depending on whether the dead could still claim titles.
There would be no rcy there.
"I will remain in the background," Ines said smoothly. "There are still... pieces that require my attention."
Her gaze flickered briefly toward the screens before returning to .
"Livana will need rest," she added. "Especially now that she is carrying triplets."
Kai nearly choked beside .
"Triplets?" he rasped.
I blinked, stunned.
"Didn’t Damon tell you?" Ines let out a soft, amused laugh.
Kai shifted—and imdiately winced, his hand flying to his back.
"But damn..." he muttered. "Your bloodline is sothing else. Triplets? Is that even normal for you?"
I let out a small chuckle despite everything.
"Oh, it is," I said. "My aunt had twins... and her twin brother had triplets."
Kai raised a brow. "Where are they now?"
That made pause too.
Ines answered for us, her tone light—almost playful.
"Our family does not... indulge in frequent reunions," she said. "They are abroad. Handling perfectly legal business."
Her lips curved into that smile again—beautiful... and just a little unhinged.
"But you will et them soon," she added. "Once I am finished with Casey."
A soft, almost fond sigh escaped her.
"I do miss that woman."
"Sure... sure," Kai muttered, nodding slowly. "Ma, you’re scaring ."
Ines laughed—soft, musical—and reached out to gently pat his arm.
"Recover well, Kai," she said warmly. "Sophia’s belly grows more radiant with each passing week."
Her words made my hand instinctively drift to my stomach.
A quiet, protective warmth settled in my chest.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"The controls are stable now," she replied. "I must attend to other matters."
She turned slightly, already preparing to leave.
"I will be taking Commander White with ."
Sothing in tightened.
A quiet unease curled beneath my ribs.
I watched her—
The calm in her posture.
The elegance in her steps.
The effortless grace of soone who had already decided soone else’s fate.
She smiled faintly, as if sensing my thoughts.
As if reassuring without words: Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to off soone.
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