“This is pathetic,” Viper snarled, his weapon shifting toward the group with predatory intent. “We came here for justice, not to play bodyguard for your ex-girlfriend.”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Wyatt commanded, though his attention remained split between Viper’s deteriorating composure and Addison’s terrified face.

Viper’s laugh was wild. “While you moon over a woman carrying your enemy’s spawn? While my family’s murderers celebrate their freedom?”

Rose stepped forward with tactical precision, her weapon ready but not yet aimed. “Vincent, you’re compromising operational security—”

“I’m saving what’s left of our mission!” Viper exploded, spittle flying from his theatrical mask. “Look at him! Ghost has lost all tactical discipline because he can’t accept reality!”

Jaxon moved closer to Addison, his executive instincts recognizing the shift from controlled operation to chaotic violence.

“She’s innocent,” Wyatt stated with granite conviction. “Whatever happens between us doesn’t involve her.”

“Doesn’t it?” Viper’s voice cracked with years of suppressed rage. “She’s the reason you’ve gone soft! The reason we’re playing house instead of completing our objectives!”

“My objectives haven’t changed,” Wyatt replied with arctic calm that promised violence. “Justice for our families.”

“Justice?” Viper circled them with predatory movement, his weapon tracking between targets. “You call this justice? Protecting the woman who chose your enemy over you?”

Bank employees pressed against walls, sensing the explosive tension building between former allies turned enemies by grief and obsession.

“Vincent,” Rose called, “you’re experiencing mission stress. Step back and reassess—”

“I’m experiencing clarity!” Viper interrupted. “For the first time in months, I see the situation without romantic delusions!”

His masked face turned toward Addison with calculating assessment that made her blood freeze.

“She’s the problem,” Viper continued with deadly logic. “Remove her, and Ghost regains tactical focus. Remove her, and we complete the mission properly.”

“You will not touch her,” Wyatt declared with lethal quiet that made the air vibrate with menace.

“Won’t I?” Viper’s grin widened with malicious satisfaction. “She’s carrying the enemy’s child. She’s chosen our target over our cause. She’s a legitimate military objective.”

The words struck Addison like physical assault, her hands moving protectively to her stomach as maternal terror overwhelmed rational thought.

“You’re talking about murdering an innocent woman,” Jaxon said, stepping between Viper and Addison despite being unarmed.

“I’m talking about removing obstacles to justice,” Viper corrected with twisted reasoning that revealed complete psychological deterioration. “Eliminating distractions that compromise operational effectiveness.”

Wyatt’s composure cracked completely as the full horror of his situation crystallized. His mission to protect Addison had created the very danger now threatening her life.

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