Despite the warnings from terrified bystanders, Karvel continued his approach with the calm confidence of someone who understood exactly what he was dealing with."I'm warning you!" Vivian screamed with manic intensity as she prepared to launch herself from the bar. "Don't make me hurt you!""You can try," Karvel replied with apparent challenge that triggered her enhanced aggression immediately.Vivian's attack was lightning-fast and devastatingly powerful, her enhanced reflexes allowing her to cover the distance between them in a blur of motion that would have overwhelmed any normal opponent.Predictable assault pattern, Karvel calculated as he sidestepped her charge with fluid precision. Enhanced strength but compromised tactical thinking.The ancient pressure point technique he applied to her neck was surgical in its precision, designed to induce immediate unconsciousness without causing permanent damage to someone whose physiology had been artificially enhanced."WHAT—" Vivian's f

The transformation from Karvel Cross to Sebastian Sterling occurred with practiced efficiency in the secure chamber of his backup facility, each prosthetic feature and vocal modification restoring the criminal persona that Leo trusted despite his empire's collapse.Seventeen missed calls from Leo, Sebastian calculated as he reviewed his communications backlog.His desperation must be reaching critical levels.The Romano Plaza Hotel served as Leo's temporary headquarters after losing his mansion to foreclosure, its faded elegance reflecting the diminished state of his once-mighty empire.Sebastian found Leo pacing frantically in the lobby with obvious agitation and mounting paranoia."STERLING!" Leo roared with explosive relief and fury as he spotted his lieutenant's arrival."WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?""Boss, I got your messages," Sebastian replied with apparent concern as he approached Leo's position."I couldn't respond immediately.""COULDN'T RESPOND?" Leo screamed with obvious

The Romano Plaza Hotel's penthouse suite had become a monument to Leo's psychological collapse, with empty whiskey bottles scattered across expensive furniture while financial documents detailing his empire's destruction covered every surface like evidence of total defeat.Everything is gone, Leo thought with bitter recognition as he stared at the foreclosure notices and bankruptcy filings. Twenty years of building an empire, destroyed in months."Sir," Thompson announced through the intercom with obvious reluctance, "your wife's attorney called again about the divorce proceedings.""Tell him to go fuck himself," Leo snarled with vicious fury at this additional betrayal. "Mariya can't divorce me while I'm under investigation.""Actually, sir," Thompson replied with uncomfortable honesty, "her legal team says the criminal allegations provide grounds for immediate separation of assets."Even my wife is abandoning me, Leo realized with crushing humiliation. Running away with whatever mon

The journey to Count Alessandro's private auction house required another transcontinental flight, this time to a remote estate in the Swiss Alps where the world's wealthiest collectors gathered to acquire items that museums could only dream of owning."Sir," announced the auction house security chief as they approached the exclusive facility, "this is a private event by invitation only."Karvel produced a matte black credit card that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, its unmarked surface suggesting access to financial resources beyond normal measurement."VIP access, please," Karvel said with quiet authority that made the security chief step back involuntarily."Of course, sir," the man replied with immediate deference as he recognized the card's significance. "Right this way."What the hell is that card? Sophia thought with growing amazement as they were escorted through private corridors reserved for the auction house's most valuable clients."Karvel," Sophia whispered

The Yale Pharmaceuticals laboratory felt like a tomb as Karvel held the syringe containing Vivian's potential salvation, its contents representing months of research and one hundred fifty million dollars in botanical acquisition costs.This is the moment of truth, Karvel thought with uncharacteristic uncertainty as he studied the cure's molecular composition.Either this works, or she dies from my attempt to save her."Are you having second thoughts?" Vivian asked with obvious perception of his hesitation."I've never been uncertain about a medical treatment before," Karvel admitted with brutal honesty."The variables involved make this more experimental than I'd prefer.""Karvel," Vivian said with absolute trust, "I'd rather die trying to live than waste away from this enhancement."The administration was swift and precise, with Karvel monitoring Vivian's vital signs for any indication of adverse reaction to the experimental treatment."How do you feel?" he asked with obvious concern