Yuri entered the room, nodding a greeting to the two delegates already seated. As she took her place, Ethan moved silently to stand behind her. One by one, the rest of the dignitaries arrived, each taking a seat as their respective bodyguards filed in to stand behind them like silent shadows.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Talia walked in, followed closely by Henry. As Talia claimed her chair, Henry took his position behind her—and his gaze immediately locked onto Ethan.
Ethan's eyes narrowed behind his mask. Henry was masked too, but the recognition was instant and mutual.
Ethan? What the hell are you doing here? Henry thought.
Behind his own mask, Ethan's expression remained stoic. Mr. Henry. I can't say I'm surprised to see you. You were suspicious from the very start.
Once everyone had arrived, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Every guard stood at attention, their faces hidden behind identical masks. Only the seat at the head of the table remained empty.
The heavy double doors opened again. A man in a pristine military uniform strode in, the word GENERAL embroidered sharply on his right chest. Another soldier followed a half-step behind him. Henry's eyes darted to the second man's wrist, catching a strange, distinct mark on his watch.
The General took his place at the head of the table. Unlike the others, his face was bare, while his companion remained masked.
"Greetings to my colleagues from across the globe," the General began, his voice echoing in the grand room. "I trust you are all well. The primary purpose of this summit is to solidify our international relations, though you are welcome to discuss private business matters as well."
The delegates nodded in approval.
"Let the summit begin," the General announced. Beside him, the masked soldier stood perfectly still, but the long minute hand of his watch was ticking steadily toward a sharp red dot on the dial.
While Ethan stood calmly, he felt a sudden weight on him. Aside from Henry, another pair of eyes in the room was fixed on him, burning with an unreadable intensity.
Out in the hallway, Yuri's security detail kept watch.
"Let's see how Ethan stays in this situation," Noah murmured, leaning against the wall.
"He'll handle it fine," Julian replied smoothly.
Ben frowned. "Why do you trust him so much?"
"Because he looks highly trained to me," Julian said.
Antonio nodded in agreement. "I get the same vibe."
Nearby sat a massive man. Henry left me out here all by himself, Beast grumbled to himself behind his mask. But his ears perked up when he overheard Antonio's comment.
"Ethan feels like someone trained."
Beast glanced over at the group.
"Even Jake recommended him," Noah added with a nod.
Behind his mask, a grin spread across Beast's face. So the kid is here. And Jake vouched for him.
"Hi," a voice whispered next to him.
Beast glanced over. "Hi, Victor, Big fan."
"Sir Beast, Mr.—"
"Sshhh," Beast interrupted, pressing a finger to his lips. "I want to hear what they're saying about my friend's son."
Victor shook his head in disbelief. "Sir, how did you even recognize me?"
"I don't know. Just a gut feeling when I saw you," Beast said lightly. Then, his eyes sharpened. "But if you're here, that means..."
Victor nodded grimly. "Yes, sir. He is here."
Beast's smile widened. "That guy will never change."
Back at the summit, the atmosphere was a mask of normalcy. The delegates, including Yuri, discussed trade and alliances, while Ethan, Henry, and the rest of the security detail remained on high alert.
Henry's eyes never left the masked soldier's wrist. The minute hand was agonizingly close to the red mark. Henry's eyes narrowed.
Something is about to happen.
The minute hand clicked onto the red dot.
Instantly, the room plunged into pitch blackness.
"What happened?"
Voices erupted in a tense buzz.
Out in the hallway, the atmosphere shattered. The security guards threw themselves into defensive positions, staring at the rival bodyguards with sudden malice. Everyone could feel the trap springing.
"Oh! The lights went out. How strange," Beast said, his voice dripping with mock innocence.
Suddenly, the deafening roar of gunfire erupted from the courtyard. Before the guards could rush the summit doors, the hallway windows shattered inward into a million pieces. Men dressed in tactical black gear rappelled down from helicopters, crashing through the glass and immediately opening fire on the bodyguards.
"Noah, stay with me! The rest of you, protect Ms. Yuri!" Julian shouted over the chaos.
Noah moved to his side while Ben and Antonio charged toward the main doors. A rival tycoon's guard lunged out, kicking Ben squarely in the chest. Ben absorbed the blow, grunted, and countered with a brutal punch to the man's gut, dropping him.
Just then, a single, distinct gunshot echoed from inside the summit room.
Antonio didn't hesitate. He kicked the heavy doors off their hinges, breaking into the room. But as he stepped inside, the sight made him freeze in his tracks.
The military General lay dead on the floor in a pool of spreading blood. Standing over him was his masked companion, a wisp of grey smoke still curling lazily from the barrel of his gun. Around the table, the world's most powerful people sat frozen in sheer, unadulterated shock.
Except for one man.
Elsewhere,
Across the city, Jake sat in the familiar silence of his library. A soft knock broke the quiet, making him smile.
The door opened to reveal a masked boy—the very same youth who had rescued Sophia and Daisy in the forest. He stepped inside and sat across from Jake.
"Ethan has successfully entered the summit with Ms. Yuri," the boy reported.
Jake simply nodded. His eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Are you worried about him?" the boy asked, tilting his head.
Jake chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Worrying about him would be like worrying about you."