“There’s something in your drink—the black girl whispered to the billionaire. The man’s hair stood on end when he found out what was there

The sky above Los Angeles darkened early that evening. As if the city itself sensed the storm about to break. Inside Cyrus Bennett’s private jet.

Maya sat quietly buckled beside him. The hum of the engines. A low, steady drumbeat beneath her thoughts.

She clutched her notebook tightly. Its pages worn from hours of scribbled connections. Clues.

Names. Timelines everything that had led to this moment. Cyrus looked over at her.

Nervous? She hesitated. More like. Ready.

Their destination. Grand Junction, Colorado. According to Jensen’s intel.

The server farm there housed the final pieces of Vanessa’s Weba digital vault of blackmail materials that could ruin half the city’s elite if leaked. It was also the only thing keeping her in control. She won’t give it up easily.

Cyrus said. And if Winslow’s still protecting it. I know, Maya said.

Her voice steady. That’s why we brought the truth. Upon landing.

A black SUV met them at the tarmac. Jensen and a small team of federal agents were already on the ground. Hidden in position.

The server farm was a nondescript concrete compound nestled between two storage facilities. Quiet. Cold.

And heavily surveilled. From the outside. It looked like any other data warehouse.

But underground. It hid secrets built to outlast the careers and reputations of powerful people. Inside the command van.

Jensen laid out the plan. We go in silent. You two come with me.

We get to the central node. Extract the drives. And upload what we need to the secured FBI channel.

If she shows up. She will. Maya said.

They moved swiftly. In black coats and muffled steps. They entered through the side-loading dock.

The interior was stark. With rows of humming servers glowing in the dim artificial light. Security guards lay unconscious in a back hall and lethal darts.

Jensen clarified. At the heart of the complex. Was a small.

Locked room. Marked. Authorized personnel only.

Cyrus entered the passcode he’d found in Vanessa’s personal files. The door slid open. There she was.

Vanessa stood in the center of the room. Her arms crossed. Eyes calm.

Her tailored gray suit was immaculate. The sight of Maya made her lips twitch into a slow icy smile. I was wondering when the child would show up.

She said. Did you really think you could undo me with sentiment? Cyrus stepped in beside Maya. You underestimated her.

Just like you underestimated loyalty. Vanessa glanced at him. Bored.

Loyalty? Don’t flatter yourself. Everything you built your empire. Your foundation.

Your legacy it was made of masks and mirrors. You just didn’t want to look behind the curtain. Uh.

Jensen signaled quietly. His agents taking position around the room. I’ve already backed up the entire server farm.

Vanessa continued. Even if you take this place apart bite by bite. There’s a copy waiting overseas.

You can’t stop the release. You’re right. Maya said stepping forward.

We can’t stop the data. But we can control the narrative. Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

Is that so? Maya pulled out the drive she had found hidden behind the false cabinet back at the estate. She handed it to Jensen. Your insurance drive…