Iron City was no longer safe—even in daylight.
The sky was clear that morning, but inside the Sagara Group tower, the air felt heavy—like something was rotting beneath the glass and steel.
Aleena sat in the CEO chair.
Her fingers gripped a pen, yet she couldn't read a single word on the document before her.
Her thoughts were chaos.
Last night's explosion.Blood.And Arlo—standing in front of her, shielding her without hesitation.
Naomi stood near the door, eyes sharp, watching everyone who entered.
The morning meeting began.
One by one, the board members arrived.
Too calm.
Too… normal.
"Alright," Aleena finally spoke. Her voice sounded steady, though her chest trembled."Let's get straight to it. Our security was breached. Someone sold our movements."
Murmurs filled the room.
"I object!" a senior director, Victor Halden, snapped."That's a serious accusation without proof."
Aleena looked at him.
Her gaze—once gentle—was now cold.
"That's exactly why we're here," she replied. "To find proof."
Naomi tapped her tablet.
The main screen lit up.
CCTV footage.Encrypted messages.Money transfers.
Victor's name appeared.
His face drained of color.
"This—this is a setup!" he shouted.
Aleena stood.
Her steps were slow, but each one pressed the room into silence.
"You sold my schedule," she said softly."You sold my car routes."
Victor trembled.
"They threatened my family!" he dropped to his knees. "I had no choice!"
Aleena closed her eyes.
It hurt.
Betrayal always does…especially when it comes from someone her parents trusted.
Naomi glanced at Aleena."Boss?"
Aleena opened her eyes.
They had changed.
"Take him downstairs," she said coldly."He's no longer my concern."
Victor was dragged out.
His screams echoed.
And for the first time…Aleena did not cry.
Across the city, Arlo received the report.
Raka stood before him.
"The traitor inside Sagara Group has been exposed."
Arlo nodded once.
"And the one pulling the strings?" Arlo asked.
"Still a ghost," Raka replied. "Same signature. The black bird."
Arlo smiled faintly.
Not with joy.
But like a predator.
"Prepare the team," he said."We retaliate."
That night, an old warehouse by the harbor turned into hell.
Armed men screamed as steel doors were smashed open.
Arlo entered first.
No hesitation.No mercy.
One punch.One shot.One life lost.
Blood pooled across concrete.
One man tried to escape.
Arlo grabbed his collar.
"Tell your boss," Arlo said coldly, gun pressed to the man's forehead,"If he touches Aleena again…"
Bang.
"He dies."
Silence.
Meanwhile, Aleena finally broke.
Inside her vast bedroom, she sat on the floor, hugging her knees.
Naomi knelt before her.
"You're not alone," Naomi whispered.
Aleena laughed weakly.
"I'm scared," she admitted."I wasn't raised for this."
Naomi squeezed her hand."But you're strong."
Aleena covered her face.
Tears finally fell.
For her parents.For blood.For a fate she never chose.
A knock echoed at the door.
Naomi stood alert.
The door opened.
Arlo stood there.
Aleena looked up.
Their eyes met.
In that moment…all of Aleena's defenses collapsed.
Arlo stepped inside, closing the door gently.
Without a word, he sat across from her.
No touching.
No pressure.
Just presence.
And somehow…that was enough.
Aleena sobbed.
For the first time, she let someone see her broken.
From afar, someone reviewed the reports.
The traitor failed.Aleena survived.Arlo grew closer.
The man smiled.
"It's fine," he murmured."The pain has only just begun."
A black bird spread its wings.
Aleena didn't know how long she sat on that floor.
Time felt frozen.
Her sobs faded, replaced by a cold emptiness—far more terrifying than tears.
Arlo was still sitting across from her.
Silent.Calm.As if the world wasn't collapsing.
"I didn't ask you to come," Aleena's voice was hoarse.
"I know," Arlo replied softly.
She lifted her face. Their eyes met.
"Then why are you here?"
Arlo hesitated.
He looked at her as if weighing something—not strategy, not war, but something personal.
"Because you're alone," he finally said.
The word hit harder than a bullet.
She laughed weakly."Funny. In this city… no one is ever truly alone."
"No," Arlo countered. "You're alone because no one dares to be honest with you."
Aleena fell silent.
Before she could respond—
🚨 Emergency alarms blared through the building.
Lights turned red.
Naomi rushed in.
"Boss!" she gasped. "Seventh-floor servers are under attack—from inside."
Aleena stood instantly.
"An insider?" she asked.
Naomi nodded."And they're deleting your family's black data."
Arlo rose at the same time.
"How long?" he asked coldly.
"Five minutes. Maybe less."
Aleena froze.
That data wasn't just business secrets—it was a list of lives.Illegal contracts.Bloody deals.
If it fell into enemy hands…they were finished.
They ran.
The emergency elevator descended roughly.
In the server corridor, two bodies lay—IT staff Aleena had known since childhood.
Their blood was still warm.
Aleena stopped.
Her eyes widened.
"This is my fault…" she whispered.
Arlo grabbed her arm."No. This is war."
Inside the server room, screens flickered wildly.
A man stood at the center.
Herman.
His expression calm. Too calm.
"You're always too kind, Aleena," he said casually."Your parents would never be this soft."
Her body trembled."You were my father's right hand."
Herman smiled faintly."And now… the right hand of Iron City's future."
Naomi raised her weapon.
Arlo was faster.
One step.One shot—to the leg.
Herman screamed and fell.
Arlo approached, face merciless.
"You work for the Black Bird," he said—not a question.
Herman laughed through blood."He will win. You're just pieces."
Aleena watched.
Blood.Betrayal.Cruel words.
Something inside her… cracked.
At the same moment—
📞 Arlo's phone vibrated.
Raka.
"Our base is under attack," Raka's voice was strained. "Internal sabotage. Weapons warehouse exploded."
Arlo's eyes darkened.
"Casualties?"
"Many."
Aleena heard it.
And for the first time…she saw Arlo lose control.
He punched the server wall until it cracked.
The sound echoed.
Aleena flinched.
"This is on me too," Arlo said low."Because I let him live."
Aleena stepped forward.
Her hand shook… but she still touched Arlo's arm.
"No," she said softly. "This isn't just your world under attack anymore."
Arlo looked at her.
For one brief moment—his cold mask fractured.
That night, Aleena made a decision.
In a hidden war room, she stood before the Sagara syndicate leaders.
Her face calm.
Her eyes sharp.
"Starting tonight," she said, "we stop defending."
Silence fell.
"We strike back."
Naomi stared—shocked… then smiled faintly.
Aleena turned to Arlo.
"I won't be a victim," she said firmly."I'll be a nightmare."
Arlo studied her for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Welcome to hell," he said.
Far away—
The mysterious man watched the screen.
Herman captured.Attacks failed.Two kings now aligned.
His smile widened.
"Good," he whispered."Aleena is dead… and a new boss is born."
The black bird screamed in the dark.