His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 183

Third Person POV

The man drove through Seattle’s industrial district well past midnight, the area abandoned except for a few homeless encampments and the occasional security patrol that he’d learned to avoid years ago.

This part of the city was perfect for meetings that needed to stay off the record, conversations that couldn’t be traced, exchanges of information that would destroy powerful people if they ever saw daylight.

He pulled into an abandoned warehouse, the same one they’d been using for months, and killed the engine.

Two other vehicles were already there, a black SUV with tinted windows and a motorcycle that belonged to his most trusted operative, the woman he’d spoken to on the phone earlier.

He climbed out of his car and walked toward the makeshift meeting area they’d set up in the center of the warehouse, where battery-powered lights created a pool of illumination in the otherwise dark space.

Three people were waiting for him.

The woman from the phone call-tall, blonde, dangerously competent, was leaning against a support beam with her arms crossed.

A man in his fifties wearing military fatigues sat in a folding chair, his expression hard and unforgiving.

And a younger man, maybe twenty-five, who looked nervous but determined, stood slightly apart from the others.

“Report,” he commanded, not bothering with pleasantries.

The blonde woman spoke first. “Olive Monroe spent the evening with Zane Mercer at his secondary property. The one nobody knows about. They didn’t leave until morning.”

“And?”

“And our surveillance indicates their relationship has progressed exactly as predicted. She’s emotionally invested. Trusts him completely. Which means she’ll be devastated when the truth comes out.”

“Good.” He turned to the man in military fatigues. “What about Operation Resonance 2?”

“Assets are in position,” the older man said, his voice rough from years of shouting orders. “We’ve identified four targets across two continents. Once you give the word, we can execute within one week.”

“And the original Resonance files?”

“Still sealed. Still classified. But we’ve managed to obtain copies through our contact in military intelligence. Everything we need to prove what happened is there, names, dates, orders that came from the top.”

The man smiled coldly. “Including William Mercer’s involvement?”

“Including William Mercer’s signatures on multiple documents authorizing actions that directly violated international law. If these files go public, he’s finished. His career, his reputation, possibly his freedom.”

“Perfect.” He turned to the younger man. “And the Monroe family?”

The young man pulled out a tablet and pulled up several files. “I’ve been tracking Olive Monroe’s movements like you requested. She’s been receiving threatening messages from an untraceable number-ours-telling her to stop investigating

Klaus Monroe’s death.”

“Has she stopped?”

“No. She’s actually increased her efforts. Started asking more questions. Reaching out to people who knew her brother.”

“And what message is that?” the young man asked.

He turned to look at the younger operative, his expression cold.

“That actions have consequences. That you can’t destroy lives without eventually paying the price. That Fifteen years ago, Operation Resonance killed innocent people and destroyed families, and the men responsible thought they could walk away clean.”

He picked up the photo of Zane Mercer, studying it in the dim light.

He set the photo down carefully.

“Zane Mercer has been building his empire for years, becoming successful, finding happiness. While people rotted in the ground. While he thought everyone has moved on.”

“And now we make him pay,” the military man said.

“Now we make all of them pay,” he corrected.

The blonde woman checked her watch. “We should move. Security patrol comes through in twenty minutes.”

They dispersed quickly, each person knowing their role and responsibilities without needing to be told.

As he climbed back into his car, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.

Everything was falling into place.