Ares

The dawn was deceptive. Sterling Tower glimmered in golden light, yet inside, the air felt charged, heavy with anticipation. Sparrow’s warning had been clear—her next move would be personal, precise, and devastating if she found an opening.

I walked the length of the tower, my boots silent on polished floors. Every camera, every sensor, every armed point had been double-checked. Still, a prickle of unease lingered at the base of my skull.

Atlas appeared beside me, eyes fixed ...