00:30.
The timer's cruel glow reflected in Michael's eyes as he crouched by the device, every muscle in his body coiled tight. The generator room was silent but for the steady hum of machinery and the ominous, rhythmic beeping of the bomb. Rain pounded against the thick glass panels high above them, streaking down like tears.
Hazel stood frozen for a moment, staring at the countdown, the Joker card clutched in her hand. A symbol. A message. Liam wasn't done — even if they disarmed this, something else lurked in the dark.
But one crisis at a time.
She knelt beside Michael, pushing the fear down. "Tell me what to do."
He didn't look up, voice low and tight. "Nothing. You stay back."
"Michael—"
"Hazel," his tone softened, but it was laced with desperation. "If this goes wrong, I need you out of here."
"I'm not leaving you," she snapped, her voice breaking. "Not now."
Their eyes met in the flickering light, unspoken things passing between them — things that hadn't needed words since the night he'd carried her into this world of shadows and power.
And maybe, if there'd been more time, they could've said it.
But the timer blinked 00:25.
Michael took a breath, flicking open the casing to reveal a mess of colored wires, each connected to a small trigger device.
"Okay," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "Primary charge, two triggers, backup fuse… classic Crowe."
He reached for the cutter in his pocket, hands steady despite the sheen of sweat on his brow.
Hazel's throat tightened as she stared at the tangle of wires. Red, blue, yellow, white — all innocent in appearance but each one deadly.
00:20.
Suddenly, a faint metallic click sounded from behind them.
Both of them froze.
Hazel's head whipped around — and out of the shadows near the emergency exit, a figure stepped forward.
Ava.
Soaked from the rain, her face pale but resolute, a pistol in one trembling hand.
"Step away from it," Ava said quietly, her voice hollow.
Hazel's heart dropped. "Ava… what are you doing?"
Ava's eyes shimmered, guilt and madness mingling. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. He promised no one would get hurt but you."
Michael kept his focus on the bomb. "Drop the gun, Ava."
Tears slipped down Ava's cheeks. "He has my brother, Michael. You don't understand. If I don't finish this — if you disarm it — he'll kill him."
00:15.
Hazel took a careful step forward, voice gentle. "Ava, listen to me. We can help you. Michael can get your brother back. But you have to let us stop this first."
Ava's hands trembled around the gun. "He'll know… he always knows."
"You have to choose," Michael said quietly. "Your brother or dozens of innocent lives."
Ava's breath hitched. The room was deathly still.
And then — she lowered the gun.
"I'm sorry," Ava whispered, crumpling to her knees.
Michael didn't waste a second. "Hazel, red wire. Top left. Hold it."
Hazel's fingers found the wire, her hands shaking but firm. "Got it."
"On three, you cut it when I say. Not before."
"Okay."
00:08.
Michael's hand hovered over the secondary trigger wire.
"Three… two… one—now."
Hazel snipped the wire. A split-second later, Michael severed the blue.
The beeping stopped.
00:03.
A harsh, deafening silence filled the room.
Hazel felt her knees buckle as the tension bled from her body.
Michael exhaled slowly, sitting back on his heels. "It's done."
Hazel sagged against him, her head against his shoulder.
Ava sobbed quietly nearby, the gun discarded on the floor.
Connor's voice crackled through the comms.
"Michael? Hazel? Status?"
Michael grabbed the earpiece. "Device's disarmed. Secure the building. We've got one asset down here."
"Copy."
Hazel looked up at him, managing a wobbly smile. "You still owe me that dance."
Michael's lips quirked. "I haven't forgotten."
But the relief was short-lived.
Hazel's phone buzzed in her pocket. Unknown number. A single message.
"This was just a warm-up, Mrs. Graze. See you soon. — Joker."
Hazel's stomach clenched.
She showed it to Michael, and his face hardened.
Connor's voice came back, tense.
"Boss — Crowe's missing. He's gone."
The Joker card on the panel fluttered in a draft as if laughing at them.
Hazel's pulse pounded.
"It's not over."
And somewhere out there, Liam Crowe was already setting the next move...