Midnight Code

The safehouse was quiet. Too quiet.

Laila sat on the couch, arms crossed, watching as Zayn and Aziel argued like two alpha wolves sizing each other up.

"You had one job, Zayn," Aziel growled, pacing the room. "One job—to keep them off our backs, and yet here we are, dodging bullets!"

Zayn, as always, looked amused. "Relax, lover boy. I did keep them off—for a while. But Khaled? He's playing a different game now." He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "And if we don't move fast, we're all screwed."

Laila exhaled sharply. "We need to know what Khaled is planning. We can't just keep running—we have to hit back."

Aziel shot her a look. "You think I don't know that?" His voice softened, just a little. "But we don't even know his next move."

Zayn cleared his throat. "Actually... we do."

Laila and Aziel turned to him at the same time.

Zayn smirked. "Khaled's setting up a meeting with his buyers. He's selling something big. Something worth killing for."

Laila's mind raced. Khaled wasn't just dangerous—he was methodical. If he was selling something, it wasn't just weapons or intel. It was leverage.

Aziel's jaw tightened. "Where?"

Zayn's smirk widened. "That's the fun part." He tossed a small flash drive onto the table. "I got the location, but it's locked behind a firewall even Laila might struggle with."

Laila raised an eyebrow, snatching up the drive. "You underestimate me."

Zayn chuckled. "I always underestimate you."

Aziel rolled his eyes. "Enough flirting. We don't have time for this."

Laila was already plugging the drive into her laptop. As the screen filled with encrypted data, her fingers flew over the keyboard.

Zayn leaned over her shoulder. "You've got ten minutes before their system detects the breach."

"Five," she corrected, eyes never leaving the screen. "I don't need ten."

Aziel stood by the window, gun in hand, watching the street outside. He didn't trust how quiet it was.

Then—

A sharp beep.

Laila's breath caught.

Access granted.

The screen flickered, revealing a single word.

Marrakech.

Aziel's grip tightened. "He's in Morocco."

Zayn let out a low whistle. "Looks like we're taking a trip."

Laila exhaled, her pulse racing. This was it. The chance to take Khaled down for good.

She closed her laptop, standing up. "Then let's pack."

Aziel met her gaze, something dark and determined in his eyes.

"No more running," he murmured. "This time, we end it."

Before Laila could respond, a slow clap echoed from the doorway.

They turned—Samira leaned against the frame, smirking.

"Morocco, huh?" she mused. "Well, well... Looks like I'll have to pack too."

Aziel's expression darkened. "You're not coming."

Samira's smirk widened. "Oh, darling, I was never asking."

Laila exhaled sharply. This trip just got a lot more complicated.