The Atlantic Ocean was restless.
Dark waves crashed against the rocky shoreline as Emily steered the FBI patrol boat toward the abandoned Coast Guard station. Thick fog clung to the water, hiding the island until its silhouette slowly emerged from the mist.
The station looked deserted.
Too deserted.
Walker lowered his binoculars.
"I don't like this."
Luca gave a dry smile.
"That's because it's a trap."
Victoria stood at the bow of the boat, her eyes fixed on the island.
"My brother is here."
Emily stepped beside her.
"We'll bring him home."
Victoria looked at her and, for the first time in years, allowed herself to believe someone else's promise.
"I know."
The boat docked quietly at the old pier.
The wooden planks creaked beneath their feet as they moved inland.
The station had once been busy with rescue crews.
Now it was silent.
Abandoned vehicles stood rusting in the parking lot.
Broken windows reflected the gray sky.
Emily crouched beside a fresh tire track.
"Someone arrived recently."
Walker nodded.
"They're expecting us."
Suddenly, Luca raised his fist.
"Movement."
A figure stood on the roof of the main building.
Gabriel.
He looked down at them without raising his weapon.
Victoria took one cautious step forward.
"Gabriel."
He didn't answer.
She took another step.
"I'm not here to fight you."
His voice finally broke the silence.
"Then why are you here?"
"To bring you home."
Gabriel's expression tightened.
"I don't know where home is anymore."
Emily watched them carefully.
The pain in Gabriel's eyes mirrored Victoria's.
Two siblings.
Separated by lies.
Reunited by tragedy.
Emily lowered her own weapon.
"You deserve the truth."
Gabriel looked at her.
"You still trust her?"
"I trust what I've seen."
He studied Emily for several seconds.
Then he slowly lowered his pistol.
Victoria smiled through tears.
One more step...
Another...
Only a few meters separated them now.
Then—
A sharp crack echoed across the island.
A sniper's shot.
The bullet struck the ground inches from Victoria's feet.
"Down!" Walker shouted.
Chaos erupted.
Black Vipers appeared from every direction, opening fire.
Emily grabbed Victoria and pulled her behind a concrete barrier.
Luca exchanged shots with attackers advancing from the treeline.
Walker radioed for backup.
"We're under attack!"
Gabriel looked around in shock.
"Volkov!"
Adrian Volkov stepped onto the roof above him.
"You disappoint me."
Gabriel turned.
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"You stole my life!"
Volkov's face hardened.
"I gave you purpose."
Gabriel shook his head.
"You gave me hatred."
For the first time, he pointed his weapon at the man who had raised him.
Volkov wasn't afraid.
He simply smiled.
"I wondered how long it would take."
Below, Emily and Victoria fought side by side.
Emily reloaded behind cover.
"You okay?"
Victoria nodded.
"I've had worse days."
Emily laughed despite the gunfire.
"You really have terrible timing for jokes."
Victoria smiled.
"They seem to make you smile."
Emily looked at her.
"They do."
Their eyes met for just a second.
Even in the middle of a firefight, the world seemed to disappear around them.
Then another explosion shattered the moment.
The fuel tank beside the old boathouse erupted into flames.
The blast threw everyone to the ground.
Smoke covered the island.
Visibility dropped to almost nothing.
Gabriel stumbled through the smoke.
"Carter!"
Emily looked toward the sound.
"I'm here!"
He emerged, coughing.
"They're going to kill Victoria!"
Emily didn't hesitate.
"Then help me stop them."
Gabriel looked back toward the roof where Volkov had vanished.
For years, he had obeyed every order.
Not anymore.
He nodded.
"Tell me what to do."
Emily smiled.
"Welcome to the right side."
Nearby, Victoria watched her brother standing beside the FBI agent.
For the first time since he was taken away...
She saw hope in his eyes.
Real hope.
But hidden high above them, Volkov observed everything through a sniper scope.
His finger rested lightly on the trigger.
He wasn't aiming at Victoria.
He wasn't aiming at Gabriel.
His crosshairs settled on Emily.
He whispered to himself,
"You've become the center of both their worlds."
"And that's exactly why you have to disappear."
He slowly began to squeeze the trigger...