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“It's him,” I breathe, staring at the screen. “It's really him.”

The bidding begins immediately, numbers climbing rapidly as invisible competitors stake their claims. Five million quickly becomes six, then seven. Alex enters our first bid, eight million, his expression impassive as he watches the counter tick upward.

"They're going higher than anticipated," Oscar observes.

The numbers continue to climb, nine million, ten, eleven. Each increase feels like a physical blow. Not because of the money. I know the men surrounding me have access to funds I can barely comprehend, but because of what it represents. My brother's life, his future, reduced to a digital auction block.

“Twelve million,” Alex announces as he enters our next bid, his voice eerily calm despite the tension radiating from his body.

A notification pops up on screen.Three active bidders remain.

“We're getting close,” Talon says. I'm surrounded by them now, their presence forming a protective barrier between me and the horror unfolding on screen.

The counter jumps to thirteen million, then fourteen. Alex responds with fifteen.

A message appears in the chat.Final call for bids on Lot 27.

Alex's fingers hover over the keyboard.Sixteen million, he types, the number appearing instantly.

The interface falls silent for three agonizing seconds before a notification flashes.Lot 27 secured. Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood.

“We got it,” I breathe, relief washing through me like a physical blow. My legs tremble as the tension that's been holding me upright suddenly releases.

“Now for phase two,” Alex mutters, his focus unwavering as he navigates to the payment portal. His fingers fly across the keyboard, initiating the transfer while simultaneously activating the virus embedded within the code.

“Is it working?” Talon asks, leaning closer to the screen.

Alex doesn't answer immediately. “Payment processing...virus deploying...come on, you bastard, take the bait...”

The screen flickers, numbers and symbols racing across it faster than I can follow. Alex's expression shifts from concentration to triumph as a small notification appears in the corner.Access granted.

“I'm in,” he announces.

"What are you seeing?"

"Everything," Alex breathes, opening multiple windows on his secondary monitors. "Server architecture, transactions for all of the lots in this auction?—"

The screens suddenly go black. All of them.

“What the fuck?” Alex slams his palm against the desk. “No, no, no!”

The monitors flicker back to life, but the data is gone. Empty windows stare back at us, the server connection severed. Wheremoments ago there had been a wealth of information, our key to finding Luca, now there's nothing but a blank screen.

“What happened?” I demand, panic clawing up my throat.

Alex's fingers fly across the keyboard, his expression morphing from triumph to horror. “It’s some kind of automated purge protocol." He pulls up command lines, typing furiously. “As soon as the payment cleared, everything wiped itself from their servers.”

“Can you recover it?” Oscar asks, his voice tight.

“I'm trying,” Alex snaps, hunched over his keyboard like a man possessed. “But it's not just hidden or encrypted. It's gone. Completely scrubbed.”

Z's grip on my shoulder tightens to the point of pain. “You said this wouldn't happen.

“It shouldn't have,” Alex snaps back, not looking up from his desperate attempt to salvage something—anything—from the digital ashes. “This level of security is...fuck, it's better than military grade.”

My stomach plummets as the reality sinks in. We've spent sixteen million dollars and have nothing to show for it. Alex’s virus was our way into their systems. The safest way to find Luca, and it’s gone in a matter of seconds.

“We still have the sample,” Talon says firmly, breaking the heavy silence. “Plan B is still in play.”