Chapter 8: The Viper's Ledger

By Tuesday morning, the rain had cleared, leaving behind a cold, biting wind that swept across the city.

We had returned to our Manhattan headquarters—a sleek, minimalist office occupying the entire top floor of a glass skyscraper overlooking Central Park. Beyond the

Chapter 9: A Feast of Iron

Thursday evening arrived with a heavy downpour that slicked the streets of Manhattan in shimmering neon light.

In the dining room of my penthouse, a long mahogany table was set for three. Crystal stemware, silver cutlery, and fresh white orchids decorated the polished wo

Chapter 10: The Unspoken Vow

The heavy double doors of the private dining room slammed shut with a resounding echo, cutting off the last of Julian Maroni’s panicked, high-pitched stammering.

He had left the penthouse in a state of complete hysteria, practically dragged out by his own horrified bo