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“We don’t think so,” Spade replied, running a hand through his hair. “But we can’t be too sure. That’s why we need to beextra cautious. Some of our undercover members will continue to bring supplies here. Once things die down—”

The door to the Black Heart suddenly crashed open, and several Dealers stormed in, weapons drawn.

“Don’t move! We’re searching the place for terrorists.”

“On whose orders?” Spade challenged, stepping forward.

“I don’t need to answer that.” The officer shoved the gun barrel into Spade’s chest, forcing him to raise his hands slowly.

“Check them.”

One of the Dealers held a device to Spade’s head. It beeped and turned red.

Tension filled the room as everyone held their breath. The Dealer continued to scan the heads of various members, each time the device flashing red.

When he approached Jack, the device abruptly flashed green.

“Sir! This is one of the pris—”

His head was blown away in an instant as Ryder discreetly pulled out a gun and blew his brains across the door.

Pandemonium erupted.

Members of the Aces lunged at the Dealers, grappling with them as gunshots rang out. Shots fired toward the back of the room, and everyone ducked for cover.

“This way!” Brock shouted, shielding Serene as they all sprinted toward the side entrance. Gunfire echoed all around them, and Khalani’s heart raced as she pulled Winnie with her.

“Where do we go?” Serene yelled as they burst through the door and emerged onto a dark alley.

“I think we need to…” Brock turned and suddenly stopped. His eyes widened, face paling as if he’d just seen a ghost.

“What?” Khalani turned and her mouth fell open. Emerging from the shadows was a figure clad in black.

Her body trembled and she shook her head in disbelief, her mind playing tricks on her.

The figure stepped under a pulsing streetlamp, revealing his black hair, obsidian eyes, and icy expression.

It was Takeshi.

In the flesh.

Takeshi wasalive.

She didn’t know how it was possible, but there he stood, impossibly real.

Khalani ran toward him without a second thought.

“Takeshi!’ she yelled, her heart leaping in her chest, feeling weightless, the boiling pressure inside of her unraveling.

“Takeshi!” Khalani cried again, leaping forward.

But he didn’t catch her.

One moment, she was soaring into his arms.

The next, she crashed to the ground, and Takeshi crouched above her, pressing a sharp knife to her throat, spilling blood.

“How do you know my name?” he growled, his eyes an unrecognizable, pitch-black void.

Khalani’s heart ceased beating, and before the end, they saw one another only as strangers.