The black SUV pulled to a smooth halt in front of the neon-lit façade of Heartberries Scoop.The luxury vehicle looked wildly out of place in this quiet corner of the gourmet district at such an hour.Sean reached for the door handle, but Meyers turned in the front seat, his expression etched with rare hesitation."Sir, with all due respect, look at yourself. You’re barely holding it together. You’re bleeding through your shirt, and your eye is injured. Let us drive you the rest of the way. We can arrange a private doctor.""I told you, Meyers, I’m fine," Sean replied, his voice a low, raspy command that brooked no argument. "I can find my way home from here. I don’t need a motorcade for a pint of ice cream. Go home. Get some sleep. You have a lot of legal filings to prepare before the sun comes up.""But the injuries—" Meyers began."I’ll deal with them," Sean interrupted, stepping out into the cool night air. "Just make sure the precinct’s CCTV footage is secured. That’s the only m

Her face was set in a thunderous frown as she looked him up and down. Abrill didn’t look like the poised CEO the world knew; she looked like a woman one second away from either screaming or shattering."Get in the car, Sean," she commanded, her voice vibrating with a jagged edge.Sean didn't move. He stood under the flickering light of the bus stop, his shadow pulsing with the dying bulb. "How did you find me, Abrill?" his voice was a low, gravelly rasp. "I haven't seen you in over a year. You shouldn't be here.""I tracked the Spectre's emergency beacon. When that went dark, I hacked the city's transit grid," she snapped, marching toward him until she was inches from his chest. The scent of her expensive perfume clashed with the metallic tang of blood on his shirt. "Did you really think you could vanish after being processed by the 12th Precinct? Did you think I wouldn't notice the man I’ve spent three years trying to forget was being treated like a common criminal?"She reached

"Kidnapped?" she whispered, leaning in closer, her voice trembling. "Liana? Sean... oh my god. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you call for backup? I have teams, I have resources—"She reached out, her fingers brushing the sleeve of his robe. Her concern was no longer rooted in stubbornness, but in a fierce, protective instinct for the family he had nearly lost. "Is she okay?”"She’s fine now," Sean replied, his voice a low hum that vibrated in the quiet room. "I’ve moved her to a private clinic with state-of-the-art security and a medical team I trust. She’s safe, Abrill. No one is getting near her again."Abrill’s hand tightened on his sleeve, her breath hitching as she processed the weight he had been carrying alone. "A clinic? Is it the one nearby? I want to go see her, Sean. I need to see for myself that she’s alright. She must be terrified."Sean’s body went rigid, a subtle, unmistakable shift in posture that felt like a wall dropping between them. "No," he said. The wor

The air in the Springfield executive suite was thick with the scent of expensive hairspray and the sharp, ozone tang of a high-end steamer. Rosalind stood before a floor-to-ceiling mirror, her silhouette framed by the sprawling skyline of the city she was intended to rule. Stylists moved around her like silent ghosts, adjusting the intricate lace of her silver gala gown."Chloe," Rosalind called out, her voice echoing off the marble walls.Chloe, her personal assistant, looked up from a stack of last-minute RSVPs. Her face was a mask of professional efficiency, though a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes at the mention of the name they had both spent weeks trying to ignore."Yes, Ms. Springfield?" Chloe stepped closer, smoothing the front of her sharp black blazer."The invitation," Rosalind said, her eyes fixed on her reflection, though she wasn't truly seeing the diamonds at her throat. "Did you find him? Did you give it to him personally, like I asked?"Chloe hesitated, her