John had spent his entire life avoiding attention.

  Now?

  Now he was done hiding.

  Cain was watching. Waiting. Testing him.

  John wasn’t going to run.

  He was going to prove him right.

  John knew how people like Cain worked.

  They didn’t take risks. They played the long game.

  Which meant Cain wouldn’t act until he was sure.

  John just needed to make sure Cain got his answer.

  On John’s terms.

  Aria watched as John pulled up a stolen datapad, scanning through names.

  "Who are we looking for?" she asked.

  John didn’t answer immediately. He was focused.

  Cain had layers of power.

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  He wasn’t going to take a shot at the top. Not yet.

  But the people beneath him? The ones Cain relied on?

  Those were fair game.

  John’s eyes landed on a name.

  A fixer.

  Not high enough to be untouchable. Not low enough to be irrelevant.

  Someone Cain would notice if they disappeared.

  John smirked.

  "Found him."

  The target was a broker. A middleman for Cain’s network.

  He had one job—handling information Cain didn’t want to deal with personally.

  And tonight?

  He was meeting someone in a quiet part of the city.

  John’s pulse slowed.

  Perfect.

  John moved fast.

  Not rushing. Not reckless. Just efficient.

  By the time the fixer arrived at the meeting spot—an abandoned lot near the old shipping district—John was already waiting.

  Hidden. Watching.

  Waiting for the right moment.

  The fixer barely had time to speak before John moved.

  A flicker of motion. A blur of speed.

  And suddenly—the fixer wasn’t standing anymore.

  John had him pinned against the nearest wall.

  The man choked on a breath. "Wha—?!"

  John leaned in. Cold. Controlled.

  "Tell Cain," he said softly, "I’m done hiding."

  Then—he knocked the man out.

  John stepped back, exhaling.

  The fixer would survive. But the message would be clear.

  Cain had been waiting for proof.

  Now?

  Now he had it.

  John turned. Aria was watching.

  "You just lit a match," she murmured.

  John met her gaze.

  "Good," he said.

  Then—he walked away.

  Because Cain had been watching.

  Now?

  He would act.

  And when he did?

  John would be waiting.