Alexander corrected. "There’s a difference."

"Is there?" Alpha swirled his whiskey. "From where I’m sitting, you’ve made a huge liability. What’s going to happen when this is all over, and you try to disappear? She’ll have questions. She’ll want to know why you’re suddenly moving and acting so paranoid. If she’s as sharp as you say..."

"I’ll figure it out," Alexander said firmly.

"How?"

"I don’t know yet," Alexander admitted. "But I will. Emma isn’t a threat. She’s innocent in all of this."

"Her parents weren’t innocent," Alpha reminded him coldly. "They turned on me. They gave info to federal agents and tried to take down my whole operation when it was just getting off the ground."

"And you had them killed for it," Alexander shot back. "They paid their price. Emma had nothing to do with their choices."

"Blood doesn’t forget," Alpha said darkly.

"She’s not even really their blood," Alexander pointed out. "She’s adopted. Yes, she shares their DNA, but she never knew them. She has no ties to them or memories of them. She’s a clean slate."

"A clean slate you’ve written all over," Alpha observed. "What’s going to happen when she finds out those values are built on lies and murder?"

Alexander’s jaw tightened. "She won’t find out."

"You can’t promise that."

"No," Alexander agreed. "But I can manage things as best as I can. That’s why, after we take care of Hazard King and Maksim, I’m taking Emma and disappearing. New city, new identities, new life."

"Running," Alpha said with disdain.

"Surviving," Alexander corrected. "There’s a difference."

Alpha studied him for a long moment. "You know I could take her out whenever I want. One phone call, and she’s gone."

The room suddenly felt a lot colder.

"You could," Alexander said, keeping his voice steady even with the threat hanging in the air. "But you won’t."

"Why not?"

"Because you need me. You need my skills, my contacts, and my knack for making people disappear without a trace. If you take out Emma, you’re losing me. And losing me means losing your best chance in this fight against Hazard King."

"I could find someone else."

"But nobody as good as me," Alexander replied confidently. "And you know that."

They stared at each other from across the table, caught in a silent standoff.

Eventually, Alpha chuckled. "Fair enough. Your daughter is safe—for now."

"That’s all I’m asking for."

"For now," Alpha said again. "But if she becomes a problem—if she picks up something she shouldn’t, if she starts causing trouble—"

"She won’t," Alexander interrupted. "I’ll make sure of that."

"Just see to it." Alpha downed the rest of his whiskey and stood up. "I’ve got plans to handle. Maksim wants everyone ready to move at a moment’s notice."

"I’ll be ready," Alexander assured him.

"Good." Alpha walked toward the door but stopped for a moment. "And Alexander? One last thing."

"What is it?"

"Don’t let your feelings for that girl mess with your judgment. When the time comes, you need to be ready to make the tough calls. Can you do that?"

Alexander held his gaze. "I’ve been making tough calls my whole life. This isn’t any different."

"We’ll see."

After Alpha left, Alexander was left alone with his thoughts. He fished out his phone, the repaired one, which he didn’t realize was now sending everything to his enemies, and looked at the wallpaper. It was a photo of Emma from her high school graduation, looking bright and happy.

He never meant to get attached. It started as a job, a way to keep tabs on loose ends.

But somewhere between bedtime stories and birthday celebrations, helping her with math and teaching her to drive, she had become real to him. Not just a mission. Not just a tool.

His daughter.

And he had no clue how to balance that with everything else he had done.

*****

In Zayden’s mansion, the three friends sat there, totally stunned after the conversation wrapped up, with just the sounds of the club coming through Alexander’s phone.

"He’s really into her," Aylin said quietly. "Emma. He actually cares about her."

"That makes him a threat in a whole different way," Zayden pointed out. "People who love will go to any lengths to protect what matters most to them."

Leo had been pretty quiet since that nasty comment from Alpha, but now he jumped in. "Selina’s walking right into a trap. Living with Maksim, under constant watch, with Alpha planning to torture and kill her..."

"She knows what she’s getting into," Zayden replied.

"Does she know that Alpha wants to kill her just like her mom was killed? Does she know who took her mom out?" Leo pressed. "Does she understand how much he hates her?"

"We’ll make sure she knows," Aylin promised. "As soon as we get a chance, we’ll find a way to get the message to her. She has to be aware."

"And what if we can’t get to her in time?" Leo asked, clearly worried.

"Then we trust that Selina can handle things," Zayden said firmly. "She’s made it this far in that world. She’s not defenseless."

"But she’s not untouchable either," Leo said softly.

No one had a reply to that.

On the screens in front of them, audio feeds kept streaming.

Maksim and Selina were shopping for clothes she didn’t even want, living a life she was just pretending to enjoy.

Alexander was leaving the club to head home, where Emma was waiting, completely unaware of who her dad really was.

Alpha was in talks with his specialists, getting ready for a war that could wipe them all out.

And through it all, the chips were picking up every little detail: every word, every plan, every threat.

Knowledge is power.

But it also comes with a price.

As the night went on over the city, everyone caught up in this dangerous game understood that the bill would be paid in blood.

The only question was: whose blood would it be?