The silence in the bedroom was thick, heavy with the sharp tang of spilled whiskey and fresh blood. Clara stood frozen, her chest heaving as crimson droplets fell from her sliced palm onto the immaculate hardwood floor.

Julian didn't look at her hand. He didn't offer her a towel. His eyes were loc

The silence in Julian’s office was absolute, save for the ragged, uneven sound of his breathing. The encrypted video feed on his monitor had gone dark the moment Victor severed the connection, leaving behind nothing but the reflection of Julian’s pale, horrified face in the black screen.

I stood b

The rain fell in sheets, slicking the neon-lit streets of the city as Julian’s armored SUV tore through the night. He sat in the backseat, his face illuminated by the harsh blue glow of a tactical tablet. He wasn't alone in the vehicle. Beside him sat Marcus, his head of security, a heavily scarred