The conference room at the top of the Nico Tower had been built specifically for meetings that required absolute secrecy. Soundproof walls, signal jammers, and security measures that rivaled government facilities ensured that whatever was discussed within these walls would never reach unwanted ears.Tonight, the room was filled with men and women who rarely gathered in one place. Their combined wealth could buy small countries, and their combined influence controlled nearly every aspect of Seron's economy, both legal and illegal.Bishop Nico sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his expression grave as he surveyed the assembled faces. To his right sat Henry Keaton, looking older than his fifty years, his hands clasped tightly on the table. To his left, Michael Forno chain-smoked expensive cigars despite the no-smoking policy, his nervousness obvious to everyone present.Around the rest of the table sat representatives from a dozen other families—the ones who had participated dir

Ben Tate waited until Elizabeth and Kelvin had left the study before turning back to Richard Morrison. The private investigator was gathering his documents, preparing to leave, but Ben raised a hand to stop him."Wait. I want to see that comparison again. Just the two of us."Morrison hesitated, then pulled out the photographs once more. He placed them side by side on the desk—the young Jacob Krigg from fifteen years ago next to the recent image of Jacob Spencer.Ben studied them in silence, his experienced eyes noting every detail. The shape of the jaw, the set of the eyes, the way the mouth curved slightly to one side when relaxed. These were not similar features. They were identical features aged by fifteen years of life."How certain are you?" Ben asked quietly."About the identity match?" Morrison pulled out additional documents. "I ran facial recognition software using multiple algorithms. The probability that these two individuals are the same person exceeds ninety-eight percen

Jacob's mystical energy exploded outward in a wave of golden light that shattered every window in the room. Glass rained down like deadly confetti as furniture slid backward from the force. Ben stood his ground, not flinching even as power radiated from Jacob like heat from a furnace."You were there," Jacob said, his voice barely human. "You knew they were going to kill my family, and you did nothing.""Yes," Ben replied simply. There was no excuse in his tone, no attempt to minimize what he had done. Just acknowledgment of terrible truth.Jacob's hands trembled with the effort of containing his rage. Every instinct screamed at him to unleash his full power, to make Ben Tate pay for his cowardice with blood. The old man had sat in meetings where Jacob's father's death was planned like a business transaction."Why?" Jacob demanded. "Why did you do nothing?"Ben walked calmly to the broken window and looked out at the Seron skyline. His back was to Jacob—a position of vulnerability tha

Anna woke to find Jacob's side of the bed empty and cold. She checked the clock—four in the morning. This was the third night this week he had disappeared before dawn, and her patience was wearing thin.She pulled on a robe and walked through the safe house, following the sound of quiet voices to Jacob's office. The door was slightly ajar, and she could see him hunched over his desk with Leo, both men staring at documents spread across the surface.Anna started to push the door open, then stopped when she heard her name."We need to increase security around Anna," Jacob was saying. "Double the guards, add more cameras, and I want someone watching her at all times when she leaves the house.""Sir, she is going to notice," Leo replied. "She already complains about the current security measures.""I do not care if she notices. I care that she stays alive."Anna frowned and quietly retreated to their bedroom before they could discover her eavesdropping. Something was wrong. Jacob had been

The safe house was a warzone. Smoke filled the corridors as Jacob moved through the chaos with lethal precision, dropping attackers with efficient brutality. Marcus Nico had sent at least twenty men—professionals equipped with military weapons and tactical gear.But they had made one critical mistake: they had threatened Anna.Jacob fought with a fury that bordered on supernatural, his mystical energy crackling around him like lightning. Every man who got past the outer defenses fell to his blades or his power. Leo covered the west corridor while Jacob secured the path to the bedroom where Anna had been sleeping.He burst through the door to find Anna pressed against the far wall, golden energy shimmering around her hands. Three bodies lay unconscious at her feet—attackers who had breached the room before Jacob arrived."Are you hurt?" Jacob demanded, scanning her for injuries."I am fine," Anna replied, though her voice shook. "They came through the window. I defended myself like you