The absolute finality of Serena’s words hung in the stale basement air, heavier than the chemical fumes of the forgery workshop.

Julian Thorne stared at the smartphone in Serena’s trembling hands as if it were a venomous snake preparing to strike. His chest heaved, his breath whistling through his

The heavy, suffocating silence that followed Victor's declaration was broken only by the sharp, rhythmic clicking of tactical boots on the concrete floor. The SWAT officers moved with practiced, lethal efficiency, their flashlights cutting through the haze of aerosolized chemicals and ceramic dust t

The aftermath of the raid was a masterclass in federal efficiency. Within an hour, the Thorne Auction House basement had been transformed from a chaotic forgery den into a sterile, heavily monitored crime scene.

Forensic technicians in white Tyvek suits swarmed the workshop, meticulously photograp