Mag-log inEvelyn POVMy heart gave a small, knowing thump. I already knew where this was going.The conversation I'd had recently with Adrian about how running both the operational CEO role and the Managing Director position simultaneously was unsustainable and had resulted in a recommendation that still made my chest swell with warmth every time I thought about it.Grace was the perfect candidate. She'd earned it a hundred times over. The official announcement was planned for the Green Valley Phase One launch, a moment that felt right, fitting, the kind of public recognition that Grace would never have asked for but absolutely deserved.But she didn't know yet. And looking at her now with the tablet in hand, glasses slightly askew, already three steps ahead on every logistical detail, I wasn't about to spoil the surprise."We'll discuss that soon," I said. "I have some thoughts."Grace studied me for a beat, clearly sensing there was more behind my words, but she let it go with a professional
Evelyn POVThe elevator doors opened to the twenty-third floor of Bennett Holdings, and the familiar scent of polished wood and fresh coffee hit me like a memory I hadn't known I'd missed.It had only been a few days since I'd last been here, but it felt longer. Everything felt longer these days, the hours stretched, the silences grew wider, and the weight of the judge's ruling sat on my shoulders like a coat I couldn't take off.I walked through the corridor toward my office, nodding to the staff who greeted me with cautious smiles and soft "good mornings" that carried a little more warmth than usual. Word had gotten around. It always did in this building. Bennett Holdings was a real estate empire, but it ran on gossip the way most companies ran on coffee.My office, the corner suite on the twenty-third floor with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Crescent Harbour skyline, was exactly as I'd left it. My laptop sat open on the desk, a stack of contracts waited in the tray, and
Gabriel POVThomas nodded rapidly, already sliding the listing aside. "Of course, of course. I thought you might say that." He tapped the second photo — a sprawling estate set back from the road, surrounded by dense trees. "This one's in Thornfield. Old money neighbourhood. The property sits on three acres, completely wooded perimeter. No direct sightlines from any neighbouring property or road. Former diplomat's residence — it already has a panic room and a secondary exit tunnel that leads to a service road half a mile south."I studied the layout. Thornfield was solid — quiet, private, defensible. But it was on the opposite side of the city from where I needed to be."Where's Evelyn Bennett's residence?" I asked.Thomas blinked. Then he blinked again. To his credit, the surprise lasted less than two seconds before professionalism smoothed it over."Miss Bennett lives in the Wrenfield district, Mr. Ross. Hartley Lane, specifically. It's a quieter residential area — upper-middle-class
Gabriel POVI looked at him — this man who shared my blood, who'd been erased by the same father I'd spent years trying to live up to, who'd burned my empire to the ground with patience and precision I couldn't help but respect, even as I despised him for it.I took one step forward. Then another. Until I was close enough to see the faint tremor in his hand that he was trying very hard to hide."I'm not going to kill you tonight, Rowan," I said quietly. "Not because you don't deserve it. But because killing you now would be an act of mercy, and you haven't earned that from me."The faint smile on his face faltered."But hear me clearly." I leaned in until my mouth was inches from his ear. "Whatever fraternal sentiment existed between us ended the moment you put Evelyn Bennett in danger. The next time I see your face — in this city, in any city, anywhere on this earth — we will not be having a conversation."I pulled back and met his eyes. He held my gaze, but the arrogance from earlier
Gabriel POVThe address Marcus Volkov had given me led to a warehouse on the eastern edge of Crescent Harbour's industrial district.My men had found Rowan in under twelve hours. That alone told me everything I needed to know. He wasn't hiding. He was waiting.A man who runs is afraid. A man who waits thinks he's already won.I stepped out of the car and adjusted my cuffs. Two of my men flanked me — Leo and Dante — both armed, both silent. They knew the drill. No one spoke unless I spoke first. No one moved unless I moved first.I had them come in from Bangria a few hours ago; no matter how foolish I am, facing Rowan alone would be suicidal. The warehouse door was already open. A single fluorescent light buzzed overhead, casting everything in a sickly yellow glow. Crates and pallets lined the walls, and in the centre of the open floor, seated on a metal folding chair with his legs crossed like he was waiting for a dinner reservation, was Rowan Brice.He looked like me. That was the t
Evelyn POVVincent appeared in the doorway with an easy smile that almost — almost — hid the tension behind his eyes."Sorry about that," he said, crossing to me. "Building management. Something about a water pipe on the floor below. Absolutely riveting stuff."A water pipe. At this hour. With a man carrying a tablet and talking about Porto Vecchio."Must have been serious if it took that long," I said lightly."You know how building managers are. Give them an audience, and they'll talk for an hour." He stopped in front of the chair, looking down at me with that warm, slightly lopsided smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Now — where were we?"He extended his hand to me.I looked up at him — this man who'd just learned someone was stealing millions from his company and had walked back in here wearing a smile so I wouldn't worry. My chest ached with something I couldn't quite name. It w
Evelyn POVThree days.It had been three days since I woke up in the hospital with no memory of how I got there. Three days since I learned about the video. Three days of damage control and media spin, and trying to piece together what had actually happened to Belle and me.Now I sat in my office w
Gabriel POVI parked at the hotel and led Evelyn inside. The restaurant was visible from the entrance, and I could see Rowan sitting at a table near the window, eating lunch alone.I guided Evelyn to a position where she could see him clearly without being obvious about it. I kept my hand on the sm
Gabriel POVI arrived at my compound and immediately began preparingRowan was part of the top 10 hit men in Bangria. If he showed up at my house, then I would take it as a sign that he wanted to do two things. Number one: kill me and take over. Number two: make peace, and things would go back to n
Adrian POVMy mind was working through the pieces of this puzzle, and the picture that was forming was alarming.As a businessman, one of the things my father taught me, earlier in life and while he was still here, was: ‘Get to know whoever you’re dealing with, it’ll help you know what they’re capa







