The news of the first death spread through the mansion faster than the morning light.
Vanessa stood in the operations room overlooking the courtyard, staring at the map displayed across the large digital screen mounted on the wall. The estate's security system had been restored just enough for them to track outside activity, though several cameras remained offline after the siege.
Marco leaned against the table nearby, arms folded as he watched the blinking indicators on the map.
"So let me get this straight," he said slowly. "One of the Circle leaders is already dead."
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes."
Marco rubbed his jaw.
"And the message we intercepted confirmed it wasn't an accident."
"No."
Marco looked toward Gale, who stood near the window quietly observing the courtyard below.
"That was fast," Marco said.
Gale didn't look surprised.
"No."
Marco sighed.
"You keep saying things like that as if this was always inevitable."
Vanessa turned from the screen.
"In a way, it was."
