The van’s doors slammed shut behind Gregory, and he was pulled into the cold, unforgiving night. His heart raced as the harsh, bright headlights of another vehicle blinded him for a moment. The man who had been guiding them quickly pushed him into an alleyway, his grip firm on Gregory’s arm, pulling him forward with urgency.“Move,” the man hissed.Gregory stumbled, still trying to process everything that was happening. His mother, who had once been a distant dream, was now standing behind him, her hands shaking, her face pale. The man, a stranger to him, had become his protector, but Gregory couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being led into a deeper trap.The alleyway was narrow, dark, and smelled of wet concrete. The only sound was the hurried shuffle of their footsteps and the occasional hum of distant traffic.Gregory glanced back, his instincts on high alert. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice hoarse. “Who’s chasing us? What do they want with me?”The man didn’t answer

The safe house wasn’t much—just a small, nondescript apartment in a quiet corner of the city. It was tucked away on the third floor of an old building that looked as though it hadn’t been updated in decades. The walls were bare, and the furniture was sparse, but to Gregory, it felt like a fortress, a temporary shield from the storm that was about to hit.David ushered them inside quickly, locking the door behind them as they entered. Gregory glanced around, noting the unremarkable surroundings—nothing seemed out of place, yet everything felt foreign. He was still trying to process the gravity of the situation, and the reality that his entire life had just been turned upside down.His mother collapsed onto a worn-out couch, running her hands over her face as if trying to wipe away the guilt that weighed heavily on her. Gregory could see the regret in her eyes, the same regret that had been there all these years. She had kept so many secrets from him, but now those secrets were no longe

Gregory’s hand trembled slightly as he set the folder down on the table. Samuel Gray. The name lingered in his mind like a shadow he couldn’t shake. The man was more than just an enemy he was a force, a shadow that had been cast over Gregory’s entire life without him even knowing it. How had his father’s enemies been so close without him ever suspecting their existence?Charles Davenport leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Gregory, waiting for the inevitable questions. Gregory knew they were coming, but he didn’t know where to start. Everything was spinning out of control, and he was just trying to grab hold of anything solid.“Why is Samuel Gray after me?” Gregory finally asked, his voice thick with suspicion. “What does he want?”Charles’ eyes narrowed, his gaze cold and calculating. “Gray is a man who doesn’t do things for the simple sake of power. He’s methodical. Calculating. He’s been after your family for years, but he was always kept in check—until now.”Gregory frowne

The air was thick with the scent of saltwater as Gregory stood at the edge of the old docks. The sounds of the city were muted here, drowned out by the rhythmic slapping of the waves against the worn wood. The clock on his phone read 12:05 AM, but Elena hadn’t shown up yet. Gregory couldn’t help but wonder if this was a mistake—if he had miscalculated everything.But he couldn’t afford to think like that. Not now. Not after everything he had gone through to get here. He had no idea what to expect from this meeting, but he knew one thing for sure: it wasn’t going to be easy.The wind picked up, carrying with it the scent of the ocean and a chill that crept under his jacket. He shivered involuntarily, but his eyes remained focused on the shadows ahead. The docks were mostly abandoned at this hour, a ghostly reflection of their former bustle. The faint glow of a streetlight flickered in the distance, casting long, crooked shadows across the wooden planks.Gregory glanced at his phone aga

The silence in the car was almost suffocating as Gregory and Charles made their way back to the mansion. The streets blurred in the background as Gregory’s mind churned with the weight of everything that had just transpired. Leo had given him the means to contact Elena Voss, but that didn’t guarantee she’d help him. Trust was a fragile thing in this world—especially when dealing with people as dangerous as Elena.Gregory turned his head to look out the window. The city lights glinted off the polished glass, casting fleeting reflections that seemed to mirror his uncertainty. Every step he took felt like a step deeper into a web of danger, each twist and turn leading him closer to the confrontation he had been avoiding for so long.Charles, who had remained silent during the drive, finally spoke.“Are you sure about this, Gregory?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension in it. “You’re playing a dangerous game. Elena isn’t someone you can control.”Gregory sighed, his fi