Page 75 of Power

Iason planted his boot against the doorframe, his body coiled tight like a spring.

“Three!”

In that heartbeat, four teams exploded into action.

Quiet as shadows, we moved to execute our plan. Iason knelt before the first door, his hands steady as he picked the lock.

When it clicked open, we were met with two men who weren’t expecting us, judging by the surprised expressions ontheir faces. But before they could react, Iason and Alex were already in motion.

They moved like whispers, the silencers on their pistols ensuring no sound escaped to alert others. Xenos’s men were dealt with in a heartbeat, their bodies crumpling silently to the ground. We had claimed our first victory, inching closer to our ultimate goal.

We advanced through the mansion, the stillness disrupted only by the footsteps muffled against the opulent marble. The once pristine floor was now marred, soaking up the crimson stains of Xenos’s fallen soldiers. Each step was a reminder of the chaos we left in our wake, fueling the fire within me as we neared the main living room.

As we reached the grand stairs nearby, I raised my finger, pointing toward the looming upper levels, preparing for whatever lay ahead.

“His bedroom is upstairs, far in the west wing, last room on the right,” I reminded them.

My research had provided me with a detailed blueprint of the mansion, along with the headcount of Xenos’s security team.

“There should be one more guy up there,” I said as we headed up the stairs.

“Let me get him.” Iason lifted his chin and led the way, eager for more blood. I smiled as I climbed the stairs after him, grateful for his friendship, loyalty, and fierceness.

The last guard between us and Xenos didn’t even hear us coming. Iason slit his throat, taking him out from behind before he could even whimper with pain.

I was surprised. I’d always imagined that Xenos would have the best security team money could buy, but every one of his men had failed him, and he was about to discover that painful fact personally.

“That was efficient,” I murmured, as we positioned ourselves in front of the door he had been guarding. He lay bleeding out at our feet, and we stepped over him.

“Too easy, honestly,” Iason joked. “I was hoping for a little more fun.”

“You’re evil, Iason. You think he’s sleeping?” I asked, jutting my chin toward the door.

“A fat, old fuck like that? Hell yeah, he is,” Iason replied, shaking his head.

“Cover me,” I said as I retrieved the pre-loaded syringe from my pocket. Removing the cap, I gripped it firmly in my hand while Iason quietly opened the door.

We were met with darkness. A dim night light in the corner offered minimal illumination. The sound of Xenos’s snoring resonated loudly in the silence.

I shrugged and quietly walked in, heading straight for the bastard’s bed.

His round belly protruded toward the ceiling as he lay on his back, his mouth wide open as he languished in sleep.

I stared down at him for a quick second. It would be so easy to slit his throat, put a bullet through his brain, or any other number of ways to eliminate his black soul from this earth.

I was so very fucking tempted. It would make things a lot easier and be much simpler just to kill him here and leaveand let someone else figure out how these assholes had expired.

But I’d made a promise.

And I wasn’t about to break a promise to Calista.

I pushed the needle into Xenos’s neck, watching as his breath quickened and then slowed drastically. I waited a few seconds, then grabbed his hand and lifted it, letting it drop to his side.

He didn’t wake up.

He didn’t budge.

“It seems the midazolam did its job,” I observed, unable to hide my amusement.

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