The air was thick with tension as the black SUV rolled to a stop a block away from the warehouse where the auction was being held. The streets were eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of industrial machinery in the distance. Marcus turned off the engine, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings before glancing back at Theo and Rebecca.

“You both know the plan,” Marcus said, his tone crisp and unwavering. “Once we’re inside, stay close to me. Theo, you’re the bait. Rebecca, you stay in the van and guide us from here. If anything feels off, you pull out—no questions asked.”

Rebecca nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard of her laptop as she tapped into the auction’s live feeds. “Got it. I’ll keep an eye on everything from here.”

Theo adjusted the collar of his tailored black suit, his nerves threatening to betray his usual confidence. “This feels like a bad idea,” he muttered.

Marcus smirked faintly. “It is. But bad ideas are all we’ve got right now.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “Comforting.”

Marcus handed him a slim earpiece. “Keep this on. I’ll be in your ear the whole time.”

Theo slid the earpiece into place, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him. “Let’s get this over with.”

The warehouse loomed ahead, a hulking structure of corrugated metal and shadows. Bright lights illuminated the entrance, where armed guards in tactical gear stood watch. Luxury cars lined the makeshift parking lot, their polished exteriors gleaming under the fluorescent glow.

Marcus and Theo approached the guards, their movements deliberate. Theo carried himself with the practiced air of someone who belonged, his expression calm but unreadable.

“Name?” one of the guards asked, his voice gruff.

“Alexander Grey,” Theo replied smoothly, using the alias Rebecca had set up for the dummy account.

The guard checked a tablet, then nodded. “Welcome, Mr. Grey. Leave your phone and any other devices here.”

Theo hesitated, glancing at Marcus.

“Standard protocol,” Marcus said, stepping forward and handing over a burner phone.

Theo handed over his phone reluctantly, his smirk returning. “Don’t look through my photos. You won’t like what you see.”

The guard gave him a blank look, motioning them inside.

As they entered, Theo’s confidence wavered. The interior of the warehouse was a stark contrast to its industrial exterior. The space had been transformed into a high-tech auction floor, complete with holographic displays showcasing various stolen technologies. Men and women in designer suits and elegant dresses mingled, their voices low and their eyes calculating.

A large screen at the front of the room displayed a countdown:

1:32:47

Marcus leaned toward Theo, speaking softly into his earpiece. “The auction starts in ninety minutes. Stick to the script.”

Theo nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat as they moved deeper into the room.

Theo scanned the crowd, his sharp eyes taking in the potential buyers. These weren’t amateurs; they were powerful, dangerous people. He recognized a few faces—business rivals, shadowy figures with ties to black-market dealings.

“See anyone you know?” Marcus asked quietly.

“Unfortunately,” Theo muttered. “This crowd could buy and sell half the Fortune 500.”

A server passed by with a tray of champagne, and Theo grabbed a glass, sipping it to steady his nerves.

“Keep moving,” Marcus said. “We need to locate the sellers.”

Theo moved toward the front of the room, where a small group of people stood near a table covered with sleek devices. One of them, a tall man with silver hair and a cold smile, seemed to be in charge.

“Got him,” Marcus said in Theo’s ear. “That’s Victor Harlow. Ex-military, now running a private intelligence firm. He’s the one leading the sale.”

Theo adjusted his cufflinks, his smirk returning as he approached the group. “Victor Harlow,” he said smoothly. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Victor turned, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in Theo. “Mr. Grey, is it? Didn’t expect to see Montgomery Innovations’ CEO at an event like this.”

Theo’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t let it show. “I keep a low profile,” he said casually. “And technically, I’m here as a buyer, not a CEO.”

Victor’s smile was thin and sharp. “Interesting. What exactly are you looking to buy?”

Theo tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Let’s just say I’ve got a vested interest in Orion. Wouldn’t want it falling into the wrong hands.”

Victor chuckled, but his eyes remained cold. “You’re a bold man, Mr. Grey. I like that. Stick around—I think you’ll enjoy what we have to offer.”

Theo raised his glass in a mock toast. “I look forward to it.”

As Victor turned away, Theo let out a slow breath, his pulse racing.

Back in the van, Rebecca’s fingers flew over her keyboard as she monitored the auction’s data streams. Her screen filled with lines of code, each one more complex than the last.

“Marcus,” she said through the earpiece. “I’m picking up a signal. They’re hosting the auction on a private server located in the building.”

“Where?” Marcus asked.

“Second floor, west wing,” Rebecca replied. “Looks like it’s heavily guarded.”

“Figures,” Marcus muttered.

Rebecca frowned, her voice growing urgent. “There’s something else. They’ve set up a failsafe. If the auction is interrupted, the data will be uploaded to multiple buyers simultaneously.”

Theo, overhearing, froze. “Meaning?”

“Meaning if we screw this up,” Rebecca said, “Orion goes global.”

Marcus’s voice was calm but firm. “Rebecca, can you disable the failsafe remotely?”

“I’ll try,” she said. “But I’ll need time.”

“How much?” Marcus asked.

“More than we’ve got,” Rebecca admitted.

Marcus glanced at the countdown on the screen: 1:02:18.

“We’ll buy you time,” he said.

Theo’s stomach tightened. “How?”

Marcus looked at him, his expression steely. “We make a move. Now.”

Theo hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” Marcus said. “Stick to the plan, and we’ll walk out of here alive.”

Theo took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

As they moved toward the stairs leading to the second floor, Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that they were stepping into a trap.

But for the first time, he didn’t feel alone.