The safe house was hidden in the outskirts of the city, a nondescript apartment building that blended into the night. Isabella and Alexander arrived without further pursuit, but the weight of Langston's wrath still loomed over them.
Claire and Damian were already inside, scanning news reports and monitoring Langston's movements.
"He's quiet," Damian muttered, fingers tapping rapidly on his keyboard. "Too quiet."
Isabella tossed her jacket onto the couch. "He's regrouping."
Alexander leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Or planning something worse."
Claire handed Isabella a burner phone. "I made contact with an insider. Langston's furious, but he's keeping it under wraps. He doesn't want the public knowing he's vulnerable."
Isabella smirked. "That means we hit a nerve."
Alexander's expression darkened. "And it means he's going to hit back."
Damian turned his screen toward them. "He already has."
The screen showed a live news report.
A breaking headline scrolled across:
"MASSIVE INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO ISABELLA CARTER & ALEXANDER REEVES ACCUSED OF CORPORATE ESPIONAGE & SABOTAGE."
Isabella's stomach tightened. "He's framing us."
Alexander let out a low curse. "He's turning the world against us before we can expose him."
Claire's jaw clenched. "This means we can't just run. We have to fight back harder."
Isabella exhaled, feeling the weight of the war ahead.
They had taken the first shot, but Langston?
He was about to bring hell.
And this time, escape wasn't an option.