The Second Heart of the Eternals pulsed behind the thick glass, a silent reminder of everything Louis had fought against.His mother’s final gift. Or maybe her final curse.His chest tightened.This wasn’t just about him. It never had been. Power like this didn’t belong to one man.It belonged to history. To war.To the corrupt, the desperate, the ones who would kill for a chance to claim it.Louis took a slow breath, his hands flexing at his sides.Then, he turned away from it."Seal it."Juliet was the first to react.Her gun hand relaxed, but her eyes still burned with concern. “You’re sure?”Louis didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”Pearl’s expression shifted, relief barely hidden under her usual smirk. “Good. For a second, I thought you’d lost it.”Louis exhaled, rolling his shoulders. “Me too.”He wasn’t immune to temptation.But the difference between him and men like The Broker?He knew when to walk away.The vault rumbled, security mechanisms whirring to life as Juliet activated the lock

The dimly lit lounge reeked of cigar smoke and aged whiskey. Louis scanned the room, noting the subtle but unmistakable presence of security. Men in tailored suits leaned against the walls, their eyes tracking his every move. Silas Vance sat at the center of it all, his confidence dripping from every motion as he swirled a glass of amber liquid.“Louis Everette.” Silas smirked, gesturing toward the empty seat across from him. “I was starting to think you’d ignore my invitation.”Louis stepped forward, refusing to sit just yet. “I don’t make a habit of entertaining men who send death threats wrapped in business proposals.”Silas chuckled, a deep, knowing laugh. “Threats? No, no, Louis. That wasn’t a threat—it was an opportunity. You just have to see it from the right perspective.” He slid a photograph across the table. “Like this one.”Louis’s breath hitched as his gaze fell on the image. A grainy black-and-white surveillance photo. His mother. Standing next to Silas, looking composed,

Louis stood at the edge of the rooftop, the city sprawling beneath him like a sea of lights. The folder from Silas Vance lay open on the table behind him, its contents burning into his mind like a brand. Names. Deals. A web of alliances that made it impossible to deny what Juliet had uncovered. His mother had played a game far bigger than he had ever realized.He inhaled sharply as the rooftop door swung open behind him. Footsteps—calm, deliberate."You made a move," Juliet said, stepping beside him. "Publicly announcing control over The Broker’s assets? That’s a declaration of war, Louis.""They were going to come for me either way." Louis kept his voice even. "Now, at least, I control the battlefield."Juliet exhaled through her nose, arms crossed. "The Obsidian Ring isn’t The Broker. They don’t play games, they destroy.""Then let them come." His voice was steel. "I’m done playing by their rules."A pause. Then Pearl’s voice cut in from the doorway, softer but laced with frustratio

The tension in the room was suffocating.Louis sat at the head of the conference table in his private suite, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. Across from him, Juliet and Pearl flanked the large screen displaying security footage from the vault. The grainy playback looped over and over—black-clad figures moving with precision, bypassing security protocols that should have been impenetrable.But it wasn’t just an external attack.Someone had let them in.“This isn’t just a robbery,” Juliet said, voice clipped. “This was an inside job.”Pearl slammed her palm against the table, her eyes burning with fury. “Someone in our own damn circle gave them access. We don’t just have a mole—we have a traitor.”Louis exhaled slowly, keeping his emotions in check. “What exactly was taken?”Juliet’s fingers flew across her tablet. “Three encrypted drives containing intel on The Broker’s former assets, offshore accounts, and… classified Eternals data.” She looked up, eyes sharp. “Whoever took the

The grand ballroom of The Sterling Manor was a spectacle of wealth and power, a dazzling display of Apple City’s elite. The chandeliers hung like frozen constellations above them, casting golden reflections over the polished marble floors. The scent of expensive perfume, aged whiskey, and quiet arrogance filled the air, mingling with the subtle tension that always accompanied gatherings of this magnitude.This was more than a charity gala. It was a declaration. A silent war where alliances were forged with smiles and knives were hidden behind tailored suits.At the heart of the room stood Silas Vance, a king on his throne. He didn’t need to make introductions; his presence alone commanded the room. His smirk was as sharp as the silver cufflinks on his wrists, his confidence exuding the knowledge that, tonight, he was in control.But that was about to change.The murmurs of conversation dipped as Louis Kindsor entered.He was a storm wrapped in midnight silk, his tailored suit fitting