Chapter 22The lounge went quiet instantly at the sound of Brad's voice and even the music seemed to fade as everyone tuned in for the show."Hello, Brad," Adrian said, not rising from his stool. He swirled his water glass. "Nice suit. Does it come with a personality, or is that sold separately?"Loud gasps came from the nearby tables and Joe kicked Adrian’s shin under the table, his eyes screaming “Shut up!”Brad’s smile twitched just a little. He clearly wasn't expecting Adrian to speak. "Cute. I heard you were running the city now, Black. I gotta say, I was expecting the 'Lord of the City' to be more polish. What I'm seeing looks a little derelict. Did you buy your kingdom with food stamps?"The sycophants laughed on cue and everyone looked at Adrian, agreeing with Brad. "He looks hungry and his clothes stink!” Adrian stood up slowly. "I heard you were running a business, Brad. Import-export?""Logistics," Brad corrected, puffing his chest. "I move things that matter.""Right," A

Chapter 24When Adrian stepped back into the main lounge, the atmosphere had totally changed from what it was before he went after Brad. Just a few hours before, he had been a ghost and nothing more than a stain on the carpet. Now, as he walked across the room, the crowd parted for him like the freaking sea.The waiters were pouring the Dom Perignon he had ordered. The pop of corks sounded like gunfire and everyone was looking at him as he passed. But the looks had changed. The sneers were gone and in their place was a hungry, desperate curiosity.“That’s him,” a voice whispered. “The one who bought the whole house a round.”“A hundred thousand credits,” another murmured. “With a Black Card. Did you see the card? I heard there were no numbers. Just a crown on it.”Adrian walked toward the bar, his expression blank. That's when he suddenly felt a soft hand on his arm.It was Jessica.The girl who had mocked him ten minutes ago was now standing close enough that he could smell her str

Chapter 26The second she said those words, Adrian knew she meant them. Somehow, Sarah was feeling bad for having him kidnapped and dragged out of their own home knowing fully well he could have defended himself and somehow, she was the reason he couldn't. But what she didn't know was that family was his priority. Always. "You are not a liability," Adrian said firmly. "You are my family and we are staying together. I will hire more guards. I will buy better tech. No one will touch you again."Sarah looked at him and the anger in her eyes faded, replaced by a deep, heartbreaking sadness. She scoffed and then gestured around the house. “All of this is your new life now." "No, Sarah. It's not my new life, it's our new life.” "How are you sure I'm a part of that life?” "Because you're family.” She laughed mockingly. "That's just it? Can't you hear how hollow that sounds?” "Sarah, this belongs to both of us. You're a part of my life and everything in it. Don't let Wilson rile you

Chapter 28 The Aethelgard Central Precinct was a fortress of grey concrete and bulletproof glass. Adrian walked in, wearing one of the bespoke black suits from the Vane closet. It fit him like armor and Joe trailed behind him, trying to look tough but mostly looking confused.The front desk was manned by a sergeant with a mustache so thick it looked like a push broom glued to his lip. He didn't look up from his paperwork when they arrived. “Name and business,” the sergeant grunted.“Adrian Black,” Adrian said clearly. “I am here to register as a sanctioned City Vigilante.”The sergeant’s pen stopped moving and he slowly looked up. He looked at Adrian’s expensive suit, then at Joe, then back at Adrian.“A what?”“A sanctioned Vigilante,” Adrian repeated. “Under City Ordinance 404, a private citizen with sufficient resources can apply for Special Law Enforcement status to assist in high-level threats.”The sergeant stared for a moment. Then, he threw his head back and roared with la

Chapter 30The Aethelgard Civil Bank was less a building and more a tower. A tower of black shiny glass that stood out even in the bustling financial district. It was the beating heart of the city’s commerce and, if Joe was right, the lungs of the Syndicate’s corruption.After being done at the station, Adrian sat in the passenger seat of Joe’s rusted hatchback, staring up at the logo of the bank, a golden scale that looked suspiciously unbalanced."Okay," Joe said, tapping the steering wheel nervously. "So, the plan. You march in there, buy the bank, fire Chloe, and we go get tacos?""Too loud," Adrian murmured. He was adjusting his tie in the rearview mirror. But it wasn't the silk Italian tie he had worn to the precinct. He had stopped at a thrift store on the way to make sure he looked the part for his next mission. Now, he wore a faded, slightly oversized polyester suit that smelled of mothballs and desperation. He had ruffled his hair, hunched his shoulders, and rubbed a litt