The phone call came at two in the morning. Santiago's voice was tight with tension."Boss, we have a problem. Elena's missing. Her car was found outside one of Isaac's old warehouses—the one on Industrial Boulevard."Michael was out of bed before Santiago finished speaking. "Vincent's territory.""Exactly. And according to our sources, Vincent's men brought someone in tonight. A woman matching Elena's description."Michael's jaw clenched. "That reckless—" He cut himself off. Anger wouldn't help now. "I'm coming in. Don't do anything until I get there."Sarah stirred beside him. "Michael? What's wrong?""Elena did something stupid. I have to fix it." He kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back soon."But Sarah sat up, fully awake now. "Be careful. Please.""Always."An hour later, Michael stood in Santiago's operations room, studying security footage that showed Elena entering the warehouse. Alone. Unprepared. Walking straight into a trap."Idiot," Michael muttered. "Absolu

The boardroom on the forty-fifth floor had never felt more oppressive. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, but the view might as well have been of a battlefield. Twelve board members sat around the massive oak table, their faces ranging from hostile to cautiously neutral.Michael took his seat at the head of the table, Santiago standing behind him like a sentinel. His arm was out of the sling now, though it still ached. Small price to pay for what was coming.Mr. Shen sat three seats down, his face pale, his hands trembling slightly every time he looked at Michael. The man had lost weight since their last encounter, and the fear in his eyes was palpable.Good. Let him be afraid.Harrison cleared his throat, calling the meeting to order. "Gentlemen—and lady—we're here to address the ongoing concerns about Mr. Thompson's leadership of this company.""Concerns?" Michael's voice was mild. "Is that what we're calling it?"Harrison's face reddened. "The past six months have been m

Castellano stood at the boardroom door, his hand still on the handle, a triumphant smirk playing at his lips. Then he turned back, pulling additional documents from his briefcase."Actually, before I leave, there's one more thing the board should see." He walked back to the table with measured steps. "Since Mr. Thompson is so fond of presenting evidence, I have some of my own."Michael remained seated, his expression unchanged. "By all means."Castellano spread the documents across the table like a dealer showing a winning hand. "These are bank records. Wire transfers. Email communications. All showing a very clear pattern of bribery and insider trading conducted by our dear CEO."The board members leaned in, scanning the papers. Harrison's face grew concerned as he read."This shows payments to government officials in three different countries," Castellano continued, his voice gaining confidence. "Payments made just days before major contracts were awarded to Thompson Industries. Coi

The orphanage looked different from the last time Sarah had seen it. The crumbling facade had been replaced with fresh paint—warm yellows and blues that made the building look welcoming instead of institutional. New playground equipment gleamed in the afternoon sun, and the garden that had once been overgrown now bloomed with flowers.Sarah stepped out of the car, her hand finding Michael's. "You did all this?""The building was a safety hazard," Michael replied, but there was something soft in his voice. "The kids deserved better."Before Sarah could respond, the front doors burst open and a flood of children poured out, their faces lighting up with recognition."Mr. Michael!" they shouted in unison, racing toward him like he was a celebrity.Michael's tough exterior crumbled instantly. He crouched down, opening his arms as three kids crashed into him in an enthusiastic hug. "Hey, troublemakers. Did you miss me?""You were gone forever!" a little girl named Amy complained, her arms w

Michael set down the phone carefully. "Santiago, call B1. And Harrison Chen. And anyone else we can trust who has resources.""We're going after him?""We're dismantling him." Michael's expression was carved from stone. "Vincent wants war? We'll give him war. But not on his terms."By dawn, Michael's conference room was filled with powerful allies. B1 sat at the table, his expression serious. Harrison Chen, a business magnate with ties to legitimate and illegitimate worlds, nodded as Michael spoke. Three other CEOs—men who'd partnered with Thompson Industries—listened intently."Vincent thinks he can hide in the shadows," Michael began. "He thinks the underworld protects him. But we're going to drag him into the light.""How?" B1 asked."Three-pronged attack." Michael pulled up a presentation. "First—his money. Vincent runs his operation through legitimate businesses as fronts. Restaurants, construction companies, import-export firms. We buy them out or shut them down.""That'll take