Alexander had never been good at waiting. Patience wasn't part of his DNA—not when it came to things that mattered.
He paced across the living room of the penthouse, one hand clenched into a fist while the other gripped his phone tightly. Siena watched from the kitchen, arms folded, her body tense but still.
"They should've called by now," he muttered, glancing at the clock again. "Reeve said they'd be done with the prep by six."
"It's six-oh-three," Siena replied calmly. "They're probably still finishing up."
Alexander shot her a look. "Three minutes late is still late."
She walked over to him and gently took his phone. "Pacing won't make it go faster."
"I'm just not used to this," he admitted. "Needing help. Relying on other people."
Siena gave him a small, almost tired smile. "Welcome to the rest of us."
He didn't respond, just leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again, there was something softer there. Something that hadn't been visible in weeks.
"You think we can pull this off?"
Siena nodded. "I do."
"But what if we're wrong? What if it's not Dael? Or what if she's… changed? Broken?"
"We adapt," Siena said quietly. "We help her. And we expose the people who did this to her."
Before Alexander could reply, Siena's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, then answered.
"Reeve?"
There was a pause. Her brow furrowed.
"Yeah… we're ready," she said after a moment. "We'll meet you there in thirty."
She hung up and looked at Alexander.
"It's happening. Tonight."
---
The ride out to the facility was quiet.
No words were needed. Everything that could be said had already been shared.
Alexander drove, his eyes fixed on the road, his jaw tight. Siena sat beside him, watching the woods blur past the window.
As they turned onto the narrow service road, Siena reached out and placed a hand over his.
"We're almost there."
He nodded but didn't speak.
Reeve was waiting at the ridge where they'd observed the facility before. He wore all black, his face set in a serious expression.
"We've got a thirty-minute window," he explained. "Security rotation changes at ten sharp. That gives us about fifteen minutes to get in and out before anyone notices something's wrong."
"And Dael?" Alexander asked.
"She's in the east wing. Second floor. Room marked 211. According to my source, she's not restrained, but she's being watched."
Siena narrowed her eyes. "So what's the plan?"
"I'll disable the outer cameras. Siena, you come with me. Alexander, you stay by the car."
"No," Alexander said immediately. "I'm going in."
Reeve shook his head. "Too risky."
"I'm not sitting this out," Alexander said. "She's my sister."
Reeve looked to Siena, who didn't hesitate. "He's right. We need all three of us. In and out, fast."
Reeve exhaled. "Fine. But you follow my lead."
Alexander gave a tight nod.
---
The facility was colder than it looked from the outside.
The corridors were dimly lit, and everything smelled like antiseptic and recycled air. They moved in silence, Reeve taking point with Siena close behind. Alexander covered the rear, his heart hammering with each step.
They found the east wing easily. Room 211 was at the end of the hallway.
Reeve signaled them to stop. He peeked around the corner, then turned back.
"One guard. Sitting outside her door. Looks half asleep."
Siena stepped forward. "Leave him to me."
Reeve raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
She nodded, and before either man could argue, she walked calmly down the hall.
As she approached the guard, she stumbled, intentionally letting her foot hit a metal tray that had been left on the floor. It clattered loudly.
"Shit," she whispered.
The guard jumped up, startled. "Hey! Who—"
Before he could finish, Siena lunged. She slammed her knee into his stomach and shoved him against the wall, pressing a stun pen to his neck. The man went limp in seconds.
Alexander and Reeve caught up just as she lowered him to the floor.
"You said you weren't dangerous," Alexander muttered, half-impressed.
"I lied," she replied, breathless.
Reeve cracked the door open. "Dael?"
There was a pause. Then a voice—soft, hoarse—answered.
"Who's there?"
Alexander stepped into the doorway. "It's me."
A beat.
Then, "Alex?"
He pushed the door open fully.
Dael stood in the center of the room, her hair longer and tangled, her face pale, but unmistakably her. Her eyes welled up the second they locked with his.
"Alex," she whispered again.
He crossed the room in three long strides and pulled her into his arms. "I thought you were gone," he choked.
"I thought I'd never see you again," she said, her voice breaking.
Siena stood in the doorway, her heart clenched tight as she watched the reunion.
Reeve cleared his throat. "We need to go. Now."
Dael pulled back, wiping her tears. "Wait. There's something I need to show you."
"We don't have time—" Reeve began.
"She's right," Dael cut in. "They're hiding files. Proof. About who paid them. Who kept me here."
Reeve hesitated, then nodded. "Make it quick."
Dael led them to a locked cabinet. She punched in a code.
Inside were files—physical and digital. Names, bank transactions, and even audio recordings.
Alexander grabbed them all. "Let's move."
They slipped out the same way they came, leaving the unconscious guard in the hallway.
---
Back at the penthouse, Dael sat curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her. Siena brought her a mug of tea, and Alexander hovered nearby, restless and protective.
"They thought I'd never be found," Dael said quietly. "They thought no one would look."
"We never stopped," Alexander said.
Dael turned to Siena. "You believed I was alive."
Siena nodded. "Reeve found the trail. But we never would've gotten you out without the risks you took."
Dael gave her a small smile. "I had to believe someone was still fighting."
Reeve paced the room. "The files you brought back… They name names. Real ones."
"Anyone we know?" Alexander asked.
Reeve glanced at Dael, then said, "Yes. Board members. Investors. Even someone from the press."
Siena sat up straighter. "They tried to bury all of this."
Reeve nodded. "But now? We have the shovel to dig it all backup."
---
As midnight approached, Dael had finally fallen asleep.
Alexander stood at the window, staring out over the city. Siena joined him, her arms folded.
"She's going to need time," he said.
"We all will."
He glanced at her. "But we're not broken. Not completely."
"No," Siena agreed. "Just bent. For now."
Alexander reached for her hand. "You held me together when I was falling apart."
Siena turned to him, her voice soft. "And you came through when it mattered."
They stood in silence for a while, the city lights flickering in the distance.
"What happens next?" he asked.
Siena's gaze was steady. "We expose them. All of them."
"And after that?"
She leaned into his side. "We rebuild. Together."