The rest of the meeting was pure business. Territories. Shipping routes. Profit margins. Legitimate businesses that would serve as fronts […]

Dante stepped out first, then turned back to offer me his hand. I took it, letting him help me from

I woke to chaos. Staff rushing through the hallways. Voices echoing from downstairs. The unmistakable energy of controlled panic. I

That evening, after Lucia was asleep and the house had settled into quiet, I found myself wandering the halls. Restless.

I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and a moment of pure panic before I remembered where I was.

“What does he want?” I asked Elias. “If this is about power, what’s his endgame?” Elias looked at Dante. “Should

The flight to New York was tense and silent. Jade sat in one of the leather seats, an ice pack

The plane touched down in Portland at 4:47 AM. Lucia was still asleep, curled up in the bedroom with her

The private plane was exactly what I expected from Dante Marchetti. Sleek leather seats. Polished wood accents. A bedroom in

I stayed in Lucia’s room longer than necessary. Singing her back to sleep, stroking her dark curls, memorizing the peaceful