The thick white smoke filled the basement server room like a heavy fog, stinging Clara's eyes and making her cough sharply. The air smelled of burnt powder and chemicals. Lucian reacted instantly, wrapping a strong, protective arm securely around her waist. He pulled her tight against his chest, shielding her face with his jacket as he guided her quickly through the hazy doorway and out into the clean air of the concrete corridor.

Upstairs, the alarm bells continued to ring loudly, adding to the wild chaos of the moment.

Jax did not waste a single second when the smoke bomb went off. Through the grey haze, he saw Marcus scramble...