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

The red numbers on the tablet screen glared like a death sentence.

**09:57**

**09:56**

"What did you do?" Julian roared, the sound tearing from his throat with an animalistic ferocity I had never heard from him before. He didn't wait for Victor Sterling to answer. Julian vaulted across the heavy