The Geneva Ambush
The atmosphere in Geneva was deceptively serene, but beneath the surface, the clock was ticking down. Back home, the historic election was drawing to a close, and the polls were heavily favoring Ethan's father, Mr. Harold. His political enemies knew that once the final votes were counted, Harold would be untouchable. Desperate and running out of time, their only remaining play was to capture Ethan.
Even though the enemies had not yet discovered the exact location of their HSS safe house, staying cooped up had become its own danger. Needing to move, Stella and Ethan prepared to venture out into the city. Stella meticulously applied her disguise, checking her posture, hair, and clothing in the mirror to ensure she perfectly resembled a stoic, male HSS bodyguard. Only she and her aunt Melissa, her sole guardian, knew the truth of her female identity. To Ethan and the rest of the world, she was simply the elite operative tasked with keeping him alive.
They stepped out into the crisp Swiss air, blended into the bustling afternoon crowds, confident their disguises would keep them invisible. They were wrong.
The trap sprung near a quiet side street. A black delivery van violently veered onto the curb, blocking their path. Before Stella could draw her weapon, three masked men ambushed them from behind, while two others moved in from the front. In the frantic scuffle, Stella managed to disarm one attacker, but another lunged from the shadows, plunging a syringe deep into her neck. A second attacker did the same to Ethan.
The fast-acting sedative hit their bloodstreams instantly. As the world spun into a hazy blur, Stella felt her limbs go completely numb. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed them was the floor of the van rushing up to meet her.