Tyric stood in the center of his lavish sitting room, his gaze sharp and intense. The glow of the fireplace cast flickering shadows on the walls, but his thoughts were focused on the spy who had just entered. The man's presence was enough to make Tyric turn, his face an unreadable mask of calm.
"What?" Tyric's voice was low, measured.
The spy cleared his throat, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "Boss... there's something I might identify as a war between the Hales and Michaelson's daughter. The military has been called in by her to fight side by side. But I wonder why…"
Tyric's eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition passing through them. "When did it start? Give me more valid intel."
The spy hesitated before continuing, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Just tonight... it was a failed plan on her mission to take down one of Tyson's bases and his arsenal, but he was prepared. She nearly lost her snipers…"
Tyric's expression hardened, and he took a slow breath, his mind already calculating the implications. "Get me to her." His voice was calm but there was an undeniable urgency behind it. He sighed, his mind racing with the weight of what this could mean.
Meanwhile, Tesmee was a blur on the road, the engine of her sleek black BMW roaring as she sped through the darkened streets. Her thoughts were sharp, focused, her attention fully on the mission ahead. The military had already set their bird engines into motion, preparing to strike Tyson's bases. Four military helicopters had taken off, carrying soldiers and a force that would soon come to blow against the Hale empire. War was in the air, and the tension was palpable.
Tesmee's comms buzzed to life, breaking her concentration. She immediately responded. "Tiger, shift your location to the one I'll send you. Stay alert. When I say now, when shit goes down, you pull the trigger."
There was no hesitation from Tiger—just a quick acknowledgment, and the line went silent. He knew what to do.
Lorenzo and Lyra were already on the ground, assessing the military movements, preparing to make their strike once the helicopters touched down. Diana, ever the standby, was keeping tabs on everything, including Tyson's parcel—her eyes trained on it, ensuring that it remained within their reach.
As Tesmee continued to drive at breakneck speed, the familiar buzz of her phone interrupted her thoughts. The screen lit up with the word "PRIVATE," and she instinctively frowned. Shrugging, she picked it up, knowing exactly who it was.
The voice on the other end was smooth, almost like honey—calm but with an edge. "A war? Tesmee, are you being serious?"
Tesmee let out a heavy sigh. "Not now, Tyric. It was unplanned…"
Before she could finish, Tyric interrupted her, his tone sharp and patronizing. "Your problem is how strong you're trying to prove yourself to him. No one died. He didn't see your panic nor your close failures. What's the reason to overreact? All I'm—"
Tesmee's patience snapped. "I'm sure if I needed advice, I would have asked for it," she snapped, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Either you stand by my side as an ally, or you stay silent... THAT'S IT!"
Without giving him a chance to respond, she ended the call abruptly, throwing her phone into the back seat with a frustrated motion. The sound of the phone hitting the upholstery was drowned out by the roar of the engine as Tesmee slammed her foot down on the accelerator, the car surging forward like a beast unleashed. She shifted into sport mode, her eyes flashing with determination. The mission was set in motion, and nothing—no one—was going to stand in her way.
Her mind was set, her heart pumping adrenaline as she drove with purpose. The night had only just begun, and Tesmee Michaelson wasn't about to let anyone or anything slow her down now.
Tyric, back in his sitting room, stared at the phone in his hand for a moment before tossing it aside. He knew that Tesmee's strength—her pride—was what made her dangerous, but it also made her volatile. He needed her in control, but if this was how things were going to go, he might have to reconsider his involvement.
The war between the Hales and the Michaelson's had just begun, but it was clear that Tesmee wasn't about to lose.
The countdown had begun. And with each passing second, the stakes were rising.