Ethan sighed, still twisting Jake's cryptic words around in his mind. He retreated to his post near the main entrance, the silence of the late hour settling over him.
For hours, he paced the threshold—a rhythmic patrol between the glass doors and the lobby. He was a man of duty, but a part of him remained restless, waiting for Jake's return.
At 1:00 AM, the hotel remained a hive of quiet activity. Suddenly, the static of his comms unit chirped, followed by Julian's steady voice. "Ethan, call it a night. Go get some rest; we've got the floor covered."
"Copy that, Sir," Ethan replied, the fatigue finally hitting his bones.
"Head to Room 4951," Julian added.
"On my way."
In the parking garage, a black Mercedes S-Class glided into a spot, flanked by a phalanx of G-Wagons. A woman stepped out, shielded by a wall of private security. She was breathtaking—radiant in a deep cobalt V-neck dress with a high, structured collar.
Nearby, two men walked: Henry and Beast. Both were clad in sharp black business suits, though the clothes struggled to contain Beast's massive frame. Henry was looking at his phone, thumbs flying across the screen.
"Henry, my kid... I'm exhausted," Beast groaned, stretching his neck. "Tell me you booked a cozy room."
Henry didn't look up.
"Busy man."
"Hey, Henry," Beast said.
Henry finally glanced over, his expression flat.
"What?"
"Remind me—what's the mission?"
"We don't have a mission," Henry muttered.
Beast stopped dead. "What? Then why am I standing in a damp garage at one in the morning?"
"We're here to observe," Henry clarified, returning to his phone. "Keep your eyes open and stay low."
Beast puffed out his chest, a smirk playing on his lips. "Stealth is my specialty."
In the very next second, Beast's caught his foot on a concrete pillar, and slammed into a parked sedan. A sickening crunch echoed through the garage as the car's alarm began to wail.
Henry smacked his forehead with a palm.
The woman and her guards snapped their heads toward the noise.
"Oops," Beast whispered.
"Stealth is my specialty," Henry mocked, perfectly mimicking Beast's gravelly tone. He began walking toward the elevators without looking back.
"Henry! Come on, man. My shoulders are killing me—give 'em a rub?" Beast called out, trotting to catch up.
The woman in blue let out a soft, musical giggle. She lowered her sunglasses, revealing piercing blue eyes. "It's true what they say," she whispered to herself. "Men make much better friends than women."
The woman reached the lift just as a bodyguard pressed the call button. The doors slid open, and she stepped inside with her detail. Just as the doors began to shut, a hand shot between them.
Henry and Beast squeezed into the crowded space. The guards shifted, hands hovering near their holsters, eyeing the newcomers with cold suspicion.
Henry stared blankly at the floor numbers. Beast, however, was sizing them up. These guys... he thought, a dark glimmer in his eyes. Should I kill them now or later?
The bell dinged.
Henry and Beast stepped out into the hallway, while the elevator continued its ascent toward the penthouses.
"Alright, Henry. What's the real job?" Beast asked, his playful demeanor vanishing.
"That woman," Henry said, his voice dropping an octave.
"We're her shadow security."
"Why? She's got a small army with her." Beast said.
Henry's mind raced. He had seen the way the guards positioned themselves—not to protect her, but to box her in.
"Before dawn, someone is going to move against her." Henry spoke.
"Who? Like I said, she's got an army."
"Exactly," Henry said.
Beast's eyes widened as the realization hit. "You think her own people are the ones holding the knife?"
Henry nodded grimly. "It's the only thing that fits."
Henry pulled out his phone, showing Beast the encrypted thread with a contact saved only as '9921'. Beast saw old messages from little earlier.
9921: I have reached the parking lot.
Henry: We are near, Madam. Do not fear.
9921: Where are you?
Henry: Checking the perimeter now.
Suddenly another message came.
9921: Meet me on the rooftop after you check in.
"I'll go to her," Henry said. "You know your role."
Beast flashed a jagged smile. "Go book the room, Henry. I'm going to start my... ritual."
Henry headed for the stairs—he needed the burn in his legs to sharpen his focus. When he burst onto the rooftop, the scene was a picture of high-society elegance. The woman sat at a table surrounded by elites. Henry caught her eye and pulled out his phone. A second later, her device buzzed on the table.
She stood up gracefully. "Excuse me, everyone. I'll be right back."
She met Henry in the shadows of a large decorative planter. "I am Henry. My associate is Beast," he said quietly.
"We are sent by..."
She cut him off with a nod.
"I know who sent you. But what can two men do? I'm receiving death threats every hour. I didn't want to come to this summit, but I didn't have any choice."
"Madam," Henry said, his eyes scanning the rooftop. "The guards you brought with you are your greatest threat."
Her face went pale. At that exact moment, the elevator doors at the far end of the roof hissed open.
Her security detail stepped out, their eyes locking onto Henry.
"It's starting", She murmured.
Henry whispered. "Trust me."
The head guard, a burly bald man, began barking orders, telling the other guests the woman was in danger and needed to be evacuated.
The rooftop cleared in a panicked blur. When the bald man reached the corner where they had been standing, he stopped.
The space was empty. "Where are they?" the man roared.
"Sir, they were right here!" "Search every inch of this building!"
Down in the parking lot, Beast was still waiting by the elevators. His phone vibrated.
Henry: They know. Secure the exit.
Beast chuckled to himself. "You always were a comedian, Henry."
He tucked the phone away, his calm expression never wavering. As he stepped out into the cool night air, he could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Behind him, in the shadows of the concrete pillars, an army of men began to move, following him into the dark.
They thought they were the hunters. Beast knew better.