Location; Marrakesh, Morocco – Abandoned Kasbah Outside the City
The desert wind was ruthless, slicing through the cracked windows of the abandoned kasbah like whispered curses. Damien crouched beside a crumbling pillar, hand pressed to his earpiece, scanning the dim interior with razor focus.
"Infrared shows two heat signatures inside," Livia's voice buzzed through his comm. "One is stationary. The other… pacing."
"Got it," Damien muttered. "Hold position. Nora and I are going in."
Beside him, Nora adjusted the silencer on her compact pistol. Her dark cloak rippled in the wind as her eyes met Damien's. "If Orion's here, we get the ledger. No negotiation."
Damien nodded. "And if he's turned?"
"Then we turn him back… or turn him off."
They slipped inside the kasbah like phantoms. The ancient hallways smelled of dust and oil, the silence thick with danger. Lantern light flickered faintly from the far chamber. They edged closer.
Inside sat an older man, weathered and gaunt, wearing desert robes but exuding the posture of a soldier. A faint limp told stories of battles long buried. He looked up without surprise.
"I was wondering when Archer's shadow would send someone," he rasped. "But I didn't expect Sinclair blood… and the Serpent's Daughter."
Nora froze. "You know who I am?"
"I trained half of Archer's European network. Knowing you was survival."
Damien stepped forward. "Orion. The ledger. Now."
The man chuckled bitterly. "Straight to business. No pleasantries anymore in this world, huh?" He tapped a small, ancient book resting on the table. "It's all here. Names, dates, bank trails, secrets that could collapse dynasties."
Damien reached for it, but Orion didn't let go.
"One condition," Orion said. "I give you the ledger, but you protect someone for me."
"Who?" Nora asked warily.
Orion's voice cracked. "My daughter. She lives in Tavara… under a false name. If Archer learns I spoke to you, she dies."
Damien's jaw tensed. "Give us her name. We'll protect her."
But Orion didn't answer immediately. His eyes fell, haunted.
"She's already known to you… her name is Leona Voss."
Nora gasped. "Leona? The Sinclair Foundation's Director of Philanthropy?"
"She's my blood," Orion confessed. "Raised in secret. I kept her away from my sins… from Archer's wars."
Damien exhaled sharply. "She's on the board. She has access to everything. You think Archer doesn't know already?"
Orion's gaze dropped. "Then I've failed her."
Suddenly, gunfire cracked from outside. The walls shook.
"Elijah, status!" Damien barked into his comm.
"Ambush! Multiple hostiles incoming. Looks like Archer's cleanup crew."
Damien spun toward Orion. "We're leaving. You're coming with us."
"No," Orion said firmly. "If I leave, they'll chase us. If I stay… maybe you escape."
He shoved the ledger into Damien's hand.
"Protect her. And burn them all."
Then he reached beneath the table, pulled out a detonator.
"No!" Nora lunged—but Damien held her back as Orion's solemn eyes locked on them.
"For blood, for truth… for redemption."
The explosion rocked the kasbah as Damien and Nora dove out through the side window, rolling into the sand. Flames consumed the old walls behind them.
Elijah rushed over, helping them up. "You've got the ledger?"
Damien held up the scorched but intact book. "Yes. But the cost was high."
Nora stood, her expression unreadable. "We have what we need… but now we have something else to protect."