SIREN
Ian and I are currently on a private jet off to italy. I sat back in my seat, absently tapping my fingers against the armrest. The tension from the confrontation with Ian before the trapping incident still hung between us. Ian, sitting across from me, his eyes fixed on a tablet, though I knew his mind was racing with thoughts as well.
at that moment, my phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, The words sent a jolt through me:
"AI and FBI know about the coordinates. They don't have them yet, but they're close. FBI suspects Alpha agents of working with Alteo."
My grip on the phone tightened. This was worse than I'd expected. 
I felt Ian's gaze on me. He had noticed the change in my demeanor,
"What is it?" he asked, his voice low and measured, as if preparing for bad news.
I handed him the phone without a word. His eyes scanned the message, and I saw the flicker of concern cross his face, a rare display of emotion from him.
"This complicates things, If the FBI believes Alpha agents are involved with Alteo, it could lead them right to us." he finally said, setting the phone down on the small table between us. 
I nodded, my mind racing through the implications. 
"It's more than that, Ian. If the FBI gets those coordinates before we do, everything we've worked for will be compromised"
My thoughts were drifted back to Mike. He was smart, resourceful, and he had seen through me before. If he got too close to the truth... then i guess we've got a reunion sooner that i expected 
The message I had just received about the FBI and AI was troubling enough, but there was something else gnawing at me, something I couldn't ignore any longer.
"Ian, there's something we need to discuss." I said as I turned to Ian, my expression hardening as I spoke. 
"What is it?" He looked up from the tablet, his face a mask of calm, but I could see the tension in his jaw. 
" Why did you give Sian an exit without informing me first? You know how critical that situation was. We had the Alpha agents right where we wanted them, but then you went and provided them with a way out. What were you thinking?" I began, my voice edged with irritation. 
Ian's eyes darkened, his calm demeanor slipping slightly. 
"I did what I thought was necessary, Siren. If the trap had fully sprung, it would have raised too many questions-questions that we couldn't afford to answer."
"That's not how we operate." I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. I stood up, pacing the narrow aisle of the jet 
"Ian, this isn't just about keeping things under control. You don't seem to grasp how critical it was to trap those agents. They saw the coordinates, for God's sake. We need to keep them contained until we're certain about Alteo's involvement"
"I understand the stakes, Siren. But if we trapped them without a clear plan, it could have backfired. The FBI and AI are already circling, and if we made one wrong move, it would've drawn even more attention." Ian remained seated, his expression darkening as he watched me.
I stopped pacing, turning to face him, my frustration boiling over. My frustration had reached its peak, and I couldn't hold back the suspicion gnawing at the edges of my mind. I had to know if there was more to Ian's decision than he was letting on.
"You know, Ian, I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with personal reasons. Maybe you're being a little too protective of him-as an older brother."I crossed my arms, glaring at him
Ian's expression hardened, but he didn't immediately respond. The silence was damning, fueling my suspicions. I pressed on, the words spilling out before I could stop them. 
"Is that what this is about? You didn't want to see your little brother get caught up in this mess, so you gave him an out? Maybe it's time he learned the truth, Ian. Maybe it's time he knew what really happened to you-and to your parents."
"No. Absolutely not. Mike is off-limits. You don't get to drag him into this. Not now, not ever."Ian's eyes flashed with something dark, something I hadn't seen before. He took a step closer to me, his voice low and laced with anger
I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a cold whisper, each word sharp and deliberate.
"You know, Ian, I've been patient. I've let you run things your way because I believed you had a handle on the situation. But let me make one thing very clear: if Mike becomes a problem-if he stands in the way of what we need to accomplish-I will have no choice but to eliminate that threat."
"You wouldn't, Mike doesn't deserve this. He's in the dark-he doesn't even know what he's caught up in."" Ian said, though there was a tremor in his voice. 
"And that's exactly why he's a threat," I shot back. "He's unpredictable, and unpredictable people are dangerous in our line of work. You may be willing to take that risk, but I'm not."
The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of my words hanging heavily between us. I could see the conflict in Ian's eyes, the war between his loyalty to his brother and his duty to the mission. But I had to make him understand-this wasn't just about family; this was about survival.
I watched as Ian retreated to his seat, the weight of my ultimatum pressing down on both of us. I knew I had crossed a line, but there was no turning back now. The mission had to come first, and if that meant sacrificing Mike to ensure our success, then so be it.
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