Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars arrived in a steady stream, sealing off the entire government building. Sirens blared without pause, echoing down the
crowded streets.
Inside the cavernous halls, the sound of footsteps and hushed voices spread out in every direction.
Eddy’s bodyguards, blades in hand, fanned out methodically, scouring each floor Whoever dared to restrict Blanche’s freedom would not walk away unscathed
“Mr. Simmons, here’s the floor plan of the building, along with the accommodation assignments for all the foreign delegations.” The head bodyguard flipped through the documents, laying them open in front of Eddy
“Find out where Ablett is staying,” Eddy ordered, getting straight to the point.
“Eighth floor!” The answer came instantly as the bodyguard scanned the list.
“Come with me,” Eddy commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. The rest of you, keep searching.”
He couldn’t get the image of Ablett’s cold, emotionless face out of his mind. Rage burned in his dark eyes, barely contained. He didn’t care who Ablett was–if the man thought he could take Blanche from him right under his nose, he wasn’t leaving Novandria alive.
Eddy split his team in two and charged straight for the eighth floor.
The elevator rocketed upward.
As soon as the doors slid open, a sharply dressed woman burst into the hallway. her heels clicking in agitation.
“Director–General,” she said breathlessly, “Eddy’s men are searching floor by floor. Not only that, he seems to know Cipher is here–they’ve started sweeping in from both ends of the eighth floor, closing in on the center.”
Ablett’s room was, of course, right in the middle.
“They’re armed,” she added anxiously. “Director–General, I’ll call in the tactical unit to protect you-”
“Don’t.” Blanche cut her off.
Ablett was the lynchpin of this whole operation. If anyone threatened his life, the
tactical team would shoot to kill, no questions asked.
And with Eddy’s temper, he’d never surrender quietly. His bodyguards were fiercely loyal–if forced, they’d fight to the death.
Blanche couldn’t let this place become a bloodbath because of her.
“I’ll talk to him myself,” she said quietly.
All she’d wanted was to slip away from Eddy without a scene, to leave the past behind and preserve the last shreds of dignity for Healy.
But he had forced her hand, left her nowhere to retreat.
Healy’s small, delicate face flashed through Blanche’s mind.
“Director–General, Cipher is being reckless,” the woman muttered, throwing Blanche a disapproving glare before turning to Ablett. “And what if a few words from her aren’t enough to stop Eddy? We can’t even imagine the consequences.
“We should call the tactical unit, just in case.
Blanche knew they thought her idea was absurd.
Ablett’s safety was tied directly to the fate of the whole outpost.
But-
“Eddy will listen to me,” Blanche said, her tone unwavering. “I can convince him. This has nothing to do with the Director–General.”
“I don’t love him anymore. I’m leaving him.”
She refused to let Ablett be dragged into danger.
Blanche started for the door, determined to stop Eddy before he did something
reckless.
“Switch clothes with Laney,” Ablett said quietly, halting her in her tracks.
Blanche didn’t know what Ablett had planned, but she trusted him implicitly.
He was a strategist, decisive and unyielding, holding the fate of foreign lands in his hands. He was never wrong.
The woman nodded and led Blanche into the lounge.
Time was short. The lounge door remained ajar, and the sounds of fabric rustling quickly drifted out.
Ablett sat at his desk, listening intently to every noise.
When the door to the central suite swung open, the sitting room was empty–save for the faint, breathless sounds coming from the lounge.
Eddy stormed in, his expression icy, brows drawn tight. He strode straight into the lounge and was greeted by the sight of a man sprawled on top of a woman in a white shirt and jeans, her ponytail askew. The intensity of the scene stabbed straight into his chest.
Fury exploded through Eddy. He yanked the man away and threw a punch, his voice cold as steel. “Touch my wife, and you’re dead.”
His fist connected squarely with Ablett’s face.
Ablett neither dodged nor retaliated. Meeting Eddy’s blazing eyes, he remained calm, his expression unchanged.
“What are you doing? Let go of the Director–General!” the woman cried, shoving Eddy away.
The unfamiliar voice startled Eddy
Something cold and sharp stabbed into his
chest as he turned to look at the woman.
“That’s not your wife!” the head bodyguard called out from the doorway.
“What do you mean, your wife? I’m the Director–General’s secretary,” the woman snapped, shielding Ablett. “Are you insane? You just broke into a government office and assaulted the Director–General!”
Eddy’s gaze swept over her–jeans, a white shirt, a ponytail tied with a simple band.
