Crowded by Fire

The drive back to Annalise's penthouse was quiet, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Cole sat beside her, his usual smirk replaced by a thoughtful scowl as he tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel. Annalise stared out the window, her mind racing with the implications of what they'd uncovered.

Ethan Donovan wasn't just corrupt—he was dangerous. And now, they were in possession of evidence that could topple not just his empire, but his carefully crafted public image. The question was: how far was Ethan willing to go to protect his secrets?

The Penthouse

As soon as they entered the penthouse, Cole walked straight to the bar, pouring himself a generous glass of bourbon. He turned to Annalise, gesturing toward the bottle. "You're going to want one."

"I don't drink when I'm thinking," she said, setting her bag down on the kitchen counter.

"Suit yourself," he muttered, downing his drink in one gulp.

Annalise paced the living room, the lights of the city stretching out below her. "The files prove Ethan's been funding illegal arms deals, but they don't tell us why. There has to be more—something bigger."

Cole set his glass down, watching her intently. "You're not wrong. A guy like Ethan doesn't get his hands dirty unless there's a massive payoff. Whatever he's involved in, it's not just about money. It's about power."

She stopped pacing, her gaze snapping to his. "And what about you, Cole? Why are you really helping me? What's in this for you?"

He smirked, but it was hollow. "I told you—I have my reasons."

"That's not good enough."

Cole sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. You want the truth? Ethan tried to destroy me years ago. My company, my reputation—he wanted it all gone. And for a while, he succeeded."

"What happened?"

"I fought back," he said simply. "But it cost me. I lost friends, investors, everything. Now, I'm here to settle the score."

Annalise folded her arms, studying him. "So this is revenge for you."

"Call it what you want," Cole said, his eyes darkening. "But make no mistake—Ethan doesn't just destroy people. He annihilates them. If you're not ready to get your hands dirty, you should walk away now."

She shook her head. "I'm not walking away. Not this time."

Cole raised his glass in a mock toast. "Good. Because once we start this, there's no going back."

The Flash Drive

The following morning, Annalise sat in her office, the USB drive plugged into her laptop. She was combing through the files again, hoping to find something they'd missed. Every document painted a damning picture of Ethan's involvement in illegal activities, but one file caught her attention.

It was an encrypted email exchange between Ethan and a man named Victor Kline, whose name was vaguely familiar. As she opened the email, her heart sank.

Subject: "Shipment Confirmation"

Victor: "The shipment is en route. Payment due upon delivery. Let's not repeat last time's delays."

Ethan: "No delays this time. Everything is in place. This is the last one."

The last one. What shipment? And why was Victor Kline's name ringing alarm bells in her head?

Annalise picked up her phone and dialed Cole.

The Interruption

"Victor Kline?" Cole said, his voice on the other end of the line. "I know the name. He's not just some arms dealer. He's one of the biggest suppliers in Eastern Europe. If Ethan's working with him, it's worse than we thought."

"What do we do?" she asked, dread pooling in her stomach.

"We find out what the 'shipment' is," Cole said. "And we stop it."

Before Annalise could respond, there was a knock at her office door. Her assistant, Julia, poked her head in, looking pale. "There's someone here to see you."

"Who?"

"Madeline Donovan."

Annalise's blood ran cold. "Send her in."

Madeline's Visit

Madeline strode into the office like she owned the place, her polished demeanor untouched by the chaos brewing in the background. She wore a cream-colored coat draped over her shoulders and carried a crocodile-skin bag that probably cost more than a car.

"Annalise," Madeline said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You look well."

"Can't say the same for you," Annalise replied, closing her laptop. "What do you want?"

Madeline sighed, as though dealing with a stubborn child. "I came to talk. I think we got off on the wrong foot."

"You mean when you married my ex-fiancé?" Annalise said, her voice ice.

Madeline chuckled, unbothered. "Ethan was never yours to keep, darling. But this isn't about him."

"Then what is it about?"

Madeline leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Victor Kline. Stay out of it."

The room seemed to close in around Annalise. "Why do you care?"

"Because Ethan isn't the only one who will come after you if you dig too deep," Madeline said. "Victor doesn't play games. He eliminates threats. And trust me, you don't want to be on his radar."

Annalise's lips curved into a cold smile. "You seem awfully eager to protect Ethan."

Madeline's gaze hardened. "I'm protecting myself. Walk away, Annalise. It's your only chance."

With that, she turned on her heel and left, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

The Stakeout

Later that night, Annalise and Cole parked outside a private shipping dock on the edge of the city. It was quiet, save for the occasional sound of water lapping against the pier.

"This is where the shipment is coming in," Cole said, handing her a pair of binoculars.

"And how do you know that?"

"I have my sources," he said cryptically.

Annalise scanned the area, her pulse quickening as she spotted a group of men unloading crates from a large cargo ship.

"What's in the crates?" she asked.

"Let's find out," Cole said, opening the door and stepping out of the car.

"Wait—what are you doing?" she hissed.

"Getting closer," he said. "Stay here."

"Like hell I will," Annalise muttered, following him.

They moved silently, sticking to the shadows as they crept toward the dock. Cole motioned for her to stay back as he approached one of the crates. He pried it open with a crowbar, revealing rows of high-tech weapons.

"Holy—" Annalise started, but Cole silenced her with a look.

Suddenly, the sound of voices grew louder. They ducked behind a stack of crates as two men approached.

"Shipment's ready," one of them said. "Kline will be here in the morning to inspect it."

Annalise's heart pounded. They were in way over their heads.

The Escape

As the men walked away, Cole grabbed Annalise's arm. "We need to go. Now."

They retraced their steps, but just as they reached the edge of the dock, a flashlight beam swept over them.

"Hey! Stop!"

"Run!" Cole shouted, pulling her along.

They sprinted toward the car, dodging guards and narrowly avoiding gunfire. By the time they reached the vehicle, Annalise was breathless and shaken.

As Cole floored the gas pedal, she turned to him, her eyes blazing. "This isn't just about Ethan anymore. If Victor Kline's involved, this is bigger than both of us."

Cole nodded grimly. "And it's only going to get worse."

Annalise stared out the window, determination hardening her resolve. If Ethan thought she would back down, he was dead wrong. This was war, and she was ready to fight.