Episode 4 of Lioness kicks off in the serene yet scrutinized surroundings of East Hampton, Long Island. Cruz's bond with Aaliyah has deepened, and the pair has been spending copious amounts of time together, much to the vigilance of Joe's team and Asmari's men.
As they lazily swam in the azure waters of the ocean, Aaliyah confided in Cruz that she harbored no desire to tie the knot. Despite Ehsan's kindness and apparent suitability as a partner, Aaliyah sensed that there was more to life than what a marriage could offer her.
Joe's team was still scratching their heads over the mysterious union between Aaliyah and Ehsan. The logic behind a Saudi royal marrying a Kuwaiti national in the current political landscape remained elusive. Joe was convinced that Asmari's wedding would be the perfect trap to nab him, but the prospect of the ceremony taking place on foreign soil, like in the Emirates, filled her with dread as it would be a nightmare to keep tabs on Cruz.
Joe's fury boiled over when she learned from one of her team members involved in the operation with Kyle that casualties had occurred. She was horrified to discover the extent of lawlessness that had led to such a dire situation, potentially endangering her team. She immediately dialed Kyle's number and berated him for his carelessness, unable to afford such distractions amidst the unfolding drama.
Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly) grilled Kyle over his off-the-grid mission. Footage obtained from authorities painted a clear picture of them arriving at the scene in a car. Kyle was forced to reveal that he had enlisted Joe's team for the job, which only added to the distress of his superiors. Kyle managed to salvage the situation somewhat by revealing that the contract agent he had rescued was bringing over five Al-Qaeda operatives to San Antonio, where the CIA could nab them.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Kate, Joe's eldest daughter, becomes involved in a horrifying car accident. Neal, upon learning of her arrival at the hospital, immediately abandons all his duties to rush to her side as she undergoes treatment. Although Kate's prognosis is hopeful, the news is not all good. One of her friends tragically didn't survive. Neal breaks the news to Joe, who is currently in New York, over the phone. As he hangs up, Neal is stunned to discover that Kate is pregnant, a revelation that brings with it a difficult decision. To ensure her safety during the surgery, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy to prevent any harm to the fetus.
Neal engages in a solemn conversation with Kate, his heart aching as he confronts the fact that his daughter has broken the promises she made to him. Trust, once lost, is the hardest thing to regain, and Neal's eyes betray the depth of his pain.
Meanwhile, Cruz escorts Aaliyah and her friends to an exclusive club, where Joe and her team are keeping a close eye on her movements. When no one volunteers to approach Cruz within the club's confines, Joe takes it upon herself to do so. She struggles to reconcile Kate's reality with the news Neal has imparted, her mind spinning with thoughts and emotions. The pair vow to work through this together and arrange to meet at the hospital the following day.
Cruz spots Joe at the bar and deliberately attempts to bait her by flirting openly with a stranger. Unbeknownst to Cruz, the stranger slips a roofie into her drink, just as Kaitlyn arrives outside the club to meet Joe. As the drug takes effect, the stranger makes his move, attempting to sneak Cruz away to exploit her vulnerable state. Although Aaliyah's security detail is watching over her, they are distracted by a sudden brawl that erupts, leaving Joe to lose sight of her charge. She urgently relays to her team the direction in which the man is taking Cruz.
In a sequence fraught with tension, they trailed Cruz's tracker deep into the woods, where the man lurked, intent on raping her. Joe and the others arrived just in time, swooping in to rescue Cruz from her assailant. Joe issued a stern warning, silencing the perpetrator with a threat while swiftly procuring a DNA sample and his identification as a precaution.
Cruz gradually regained consciousness, but her mind was still clouded and disoriented. Aaliyah's voice rang out repeatedly, as Cruz revealed that the wedding was to be held in Dubai. However, her undercover status was now under scrutiny. Joe and Kaitlyn expressed doubts about her ability to maintain her cover, given the recent events.
The episode came to a jolting close when Kaitlyn revealed a shocking truth to Joe. Her team, along with Kyle, had been caught on Border Surveillance footage, plunging them into deep trouble.
