Page 64 of Hunter's Game
Then everything happened at once.
The sprinkler system activated, but instead of water, some kind of gas began filling the room. Eden recognized the smell just as the first attackers began dropping.
“Neural toxin,” Katherine explained as she pulled out gas masks from a pack she carried that Eden had assumed was just a large purse. “Non-lethal but very effective. Special recipe.”
“Your formula?” Eden managed as Hunter helped her with a mask.
“Sarah Mitchell’s,” Katherine explained, her eyes meeting Eden’s through the mask. “Your mother. The woman who spent her life trying to destroy the organization her family built. She trained me from childhood—not as a daughter, but as a protégée specifically selected to complement your skills. Where you were trained in direct action and tactical operations, I was prepared for deep cover and long-term intelligence gathering.”
“The woman who died making sure we’d have everything we needed to finish what she started.”
Eden’s world narrowed to that single point of understanding. All the pieces clicking into place with terrible clarity.
The letter. The hidden evidence. The years of careful planning.
She wasn’t just following her mother’s footsteps.
She was finishing her mother’s mission.
“Eden.” Hunter’s voice pulled her back. “Stay with me.”
She focused on him, letting his solid presence anchor her as more pieces fell into place.
“The artifacts.” Her voice was stronger now. “The ones with hidden ledgers. That’s not all they’re hiding, is it?”
“No.” Katherine’s smile was visible even through the mask. “They’re also hiding the truth about who really runs the organization. About the families who built it. About everything.”
“Enough!” Romano’s voice was muffled by the gas, but his rage was clear. “You think exposing our family connections changes anything? We still have power. Resources. An army of—”
The distinctive sound of a helicopter’s miniguns spooling up cut him off.
“About that army.” Wilson’s satisfaction was clear in his voice. “Seems they’re not very loyal when federal agents freeze all their accounts and expose their illegal operations.”
More vehicles were arriving—FBI tactical teams, DEA strike forces, even international law enforcement. Eden watched through graying vision as Romano’s carefully built world crumbled around him.
“It’s over.” Katherine’s voice held no emotion. “The organization, the families, all of it. Sarah made sure of that.”
“It’s never over.” Romano’s laugh was pure madness now. “You think you’re the only ones with backup plans?”
He pressed something in his hand. Eden recognized the motion from years of combat training.
“Detonator,” she managed to warn before her legs gave out.
Hunter was already moving, shielding her with his body as the first explosions hit. Through chaos and darkness, she heard Katherine shouting coordinates, heard Wilson coordinating with tactical teams.
And above it all, she heard Romano’s final words.
“Family is everything, cousin. Remember that when what’s left of our organization comes hunting you.”
Then darkness took her, and Eden fell into dreams of hidden truths and family secrets. But this time, when she woke up, she wouldn’t be alone.
She had family she never knew about.
Had a legacy she never understood.
Had a mission bigger than revenge or justice.
And most importantly, had a dangerous outlaw who loved her enough to face it all by her side.
