The Socialite Shredded Her Dress at the Gala — Until the City’s Most Dangerous Man Wrapped His Jacket Around Her

The freighter materialized out of the thick fog like a leviathan forged from rusted iron and salt. The *Valkyrie* was running entirely blacked out, its massive steel hull displacing mountains of foaming black water as it cut toward the open lake.

"They know we're here," Vance whispered, gesturing toward the catwalks forty feet above the waterline.

Muzzle flashes erupted along the ship's railing. Heavy rifle fire chewed into the water beside the interceptor, sparks ricocheting off the boat's reinforced carbon-fiber hull with deafening clatter. Eleanor hadn’t hired ordinary bodyguards; she had manned the deck with foreign private contractors armed with automatic rifles.

"Vance, bring us under the hull shadow!" Roman ordered, drawing his customized rifle and snapping off three rapid, controlled shots toward the catwalk. A shooter above cried out, plunging into the churn of the lake. "Clara, stay behind the ballistic bulkhead until the magnetic ascenders are locked!"

"I'm not sitting in the corner while she runs," Clara returned, ducking as a round shattered the portside mirror.

The interceptor slammed against the *Valkyrie’s* steel flank, sliding into the blind spot created by the massive flare of the bow. Roman fired a pneumatic grappling hook from the forward mount. The titanium prongs caught the rusted anchor pocket with a harsh metallic clang, followed immediately by two magnetic winch cables latching onto the hull plates.

"Ascenders ready!" Vance shouted.

Before Roman could secure Clara’s harness, a steel hatch on the freighter's lower ballast deck swung open with a screech. Two mercenaries in black plate carriers leveled submachine guns directly down into the cockpit.

Clara didn't wait. Drawing the weapon at her hip, she fired two precise rounds through the open hatchway before the mercenaries could squeeze their triggers. The first man collapsed backward, knocking his companion off balance just as Roman fired a single burst, neutralizing the second threat instantly.