The silence in the back of the Maybach was deafening, broken only by the rhythmic drumming of Julian Thorne’s fingers against the leather armrest. He hadn’t slept in three days. His eyes burned, his perfectly tailored suit felt like a straightjacket, and the taste of ash sat heavy on his tongue.

"

"You're pregnant," Julian whispered, the words barely making it past his lips. His eyes remained fixed on her stomach, his entire body paralyzed by the revelation.

"I am," Clara replied coolly, releasing the intercom button. She crossed her arms over her chest, resting them just above the swell of

The conference room on the forty-second floor of Vanguard & Sterling was a masterpiece of intimidating, sterile design. Cold steel, expansive glass, and a polished mahogany table that stretched like a battlefield between the two opposing sides. Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, casti