The dim glow of streetlights flickered outside the window as Ethan Cole leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes focused. His mind, however, was elsewhere—replaying the mission brief over and over. The covert ops room was quiet, save for the occasional beep of the computer monitoring nearby activity. Tonight's mission wasn't just another assignment. This one felt personal, though he wasn't entirely sure why.

He stared at the profile on his phone, a familiar face staring back at him. Isabella Bennett. The name alone stirred old memories, ones he had buried deep in his mind. He hadn't seen her in three years—since that night everything fell apart.

The image showed a woman with striking dark eyes, her hair tied back in a loose bun, giving nothing away. A hacker, an expert in digital espionage, and now—according to intel—working for Damien Richter, a name that sent chills down the spine of every intelligence operative. Richter was no ordinary arms dealer; he was a mastermind. The fact that Isabella was now somehow involved with him made the entire operation far more complicated than Ethan liked.

He checked his watch. Five minutes to go.

His earpiece crackled to life. "Agent Cole, status?"

Ethan straightened, tapping the small button near his neck. "In position. Moving in five."

"Copy. Keep an eye on the package. You know the priority."

Of course, he knew the priority: find Isabella, extract any intel she had, and neutralize any threats. Simple in theory. But Isabella wasn't just a target—she was someone he had once trusted, someone who had walked out of his life without a word.

Ethan sighed, shaking off the memory. There was no room for emotion here. He was a professional, and tonight was about stopping Richter's latest deal. Word on the street was that Richter was preparing to auction off a new cyber-weapon, capable of wiping out digital infrastructures across nations. If that weapon went live, the world would descend into chaos.

He pushed open the door to the alley, slipping into the shadows. The compound where Isabella was supposedly hiding was a few blocks away, guarded by Richter's mercenaries. It was a small-scale infiltration, the kind Ethan excelled at. No need for an entire squad when one agent could get the job done quietly.

The cold night air bit at his skin, but Ethan welcomed it. It kept him sharp, alert. His eyes scanned the surroundings, every movement calculated. He could hear distant footsteps, the shuffling of a guard changing position. He followed the sound until the compound came into view—an abandoned warehouse repurposed for illegal activities. Perfect.

Ethan slipped behind a stack of crates, quickly taking in the scene. Two guards stood at the entrance, casually chatting, their guns slung over their shoulders. Amateurs. He smirked, reaching for a small device on his belt. One swift click, and the sound of a metallic thud echoed behind the guards. They turned their backs just long enough for Ethan to move.

He moved like a shadow, silent, efficient. Within seconds, both guards were on the ground, unconscious. Ethan dragged them into the shadows and proceeded toward the entrance. His pulse quickened, but his hands remained steady. He was close now.

Once inside the compound, the air grew thick with tension. The main floor was mostly empty, but he could hear voices coming from above. Second floor—probably Richter's men securing their valuable asset. Isabella.

Ethan moved quickly up the stairwell, avoiding the creaking boards beneath his feet. As he reached the second floor, he spotted two more guards stationed near a door. His target. No alarms had been triggered yet. Good.

Taking a deep breath, he rounded the corner and neutralized the guards with swift precision. As the last one hit the ground, he pushed open the door.

And there she was—Isabella, seated at a table, a laptop open in front of her. She looked up, her eyes widening in shock as she recognized him.

"Ethan?"

He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "We need to leave. Now."

Isabella's expression hardened. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Ethan clenched his jaw. This wasn't going to be easy. His mission had just gotten a lot more complicated.