Ares

The calm was broken before it even had a chance to settle. Sterling Tower hummed with the usual evening quiet, but something in the air tasted wrong—sharp, metallic, dangerous.

I was in my office, reviewing the insider’s files again, when Leon’s voice cut through the line. “Sir… we have an intrusion. Level 41, eastern wing.”

My pulse spiked. “Go,” I ordered. My hands wrapped around the grip of my weapon. “Atlas, Patricia, now. Alina—stay put with ...