Victor Kane's fall from grace was front-page news, but Ethan knew better than to celebrate. A man like Victor didn't just fade away; he retaliated. Garrett's warnings echoed in his mind as they regrouped at Frank's gym, now doubling as a safe house.
Garrett stood against the whiteboard, scratching notes together as he reassembled what Victor's network was. "The footage hit hard," he said, "but Victor still has resources. He's desperate, which makes him dangerous. We need to prepare for his next move."
Ethan leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed. "What do we know about his current whereabouts?
Garrett pointed to a map pinned to the board. "He's holed up in a private estate on the outskirts of the city. Rumor has it he's rallying his most loyal allies for one last stand. If we're going to finish this, we need to hit him there."
Frank cracked his knuckles. "Let's end this."
---
The estate was a fortress, surrounded by high walls and patrolled by armed guards. Garrett's surveillance drones captured footage of the layout, pointing out key entry points and weak spots in the security. Ethan, Frank, and Garrett planned their approach with meticulous detail, knowing there would be no room for error.
"This isn't just about bringing down Victor," Garrett said grimly. "We have to secure any remaining evidence before he destroys it. If we can find his backups, we'll have everything we need to make sure he can't crawl back from this."
Ethan nodded. "We take the main house. Garrett, you hang here and monitor the feeds. Guide us in and out."
---
With the onset of night, Ethan and Frank approached the estate by stealth. They climbed over the outer wall, eluding the security cameras and motion detectors. Garrett's voice came in their earpieces, cool and incisive.
"You have two guards by the west entrance. Wait for my signal."
Ethan pushed himself against the wall, his breath steady. Soon enough, Garrett's voice came in again. "Go now.
They moved quickly, disabling the guards effectively. Inside the estate, it was tight. Voices filled the halls as Victor's goons coordinated their defenses. Ethan and Frank followed the twisting corridors as Garrett had instructed them.
"You are close to the central office," Garrett said. "That's probably where he would store the backups.
As they reached the office, they faced stiffer resistance. The guards patrolled the place in twos and threes, and so they had to split. Frank took the left hallway to draw attention while Ethan moved forward toward the office.
Inside, Victor was hunched over a desk, furiously typing on a laptop. There were piles of documents and hard drives surrounding him. Ethan stepped into the room, and Victor's attention was immediately drawn.
"You," Victor spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've destroyed everything I built."
Ethan's voice was cold. "You did that yourself. It's over, Victor."
Victor's hand darted toward a drawer, but Ethan was faster. He kicked the drawer shut, pinning Victor against the desk. "Where are the backups?" Ethan demanded.
Victor sneered. "Do you really think taking me down will change anything? There will always be another Victor Kane."
Ethan's grip tightened. "Maybe. But they won't have your power, your network. Now, tell me where they are."
Reluctantly, Victor gestured toward a hidden compartment in the wall. Ethan retrieved a hard drive and several folders, his heart pounding with the weight of what they represented. This was the final piece.
---
As Ethan secured the evidence, alarms blared throughout the estate. Garrett's voice came through, urgent. "They've spotted Frank. You need to move now."
Ethan grabbed Victor and hauled him to his feet. "You're coming with me."
The escape was chaos. Guards flooded the hallways and gunfire echoed throughout the estate. Ethan and Frank fought their way to the extraction point with Victor in tow. Garrett had hacked into the systems of the estate, deactivating all the crucial security measures; however, the odds remained against them.
When they finally made it to the outer wall, a black SUV waited for them. Garrett yelled out the window, "Get in!"
They piled into the vehicle, bullets ricocheting off the exterior as Garrett sped away. Victor sat between Ethan and Frank, his expression a mix of rage and resignation.
"You think you've won?" Victor hissed. "This isn't over."
Ethan leaned in close, his voice steady. "For you, it is."
---
They locked up the evidence and called the police at Garrett's apartment. With Victor captured and the overwhelming evidence of his crimes, law enforcement had everything they needed to dismantle his empire for good.
As the sun rose over the city, Ethan stood on the balcony, the weight of the past months finally lifting. Frank joined him, a satisfied grin on his face.
"We did it," Frank said. "Kane's finished."
Ethan nodded, a small smile breaking through. "Yeah. We did."
But Ethan knew deep down that this wasn't just about Victor Kane. It was about proving to himself that he could rise above the challenges, reclaim his life, and forge a new path.
And as the city stirred to life, he felt ready for whatever came next.