Silas leaned back, the laptop screen reflecting in his dry, multicolored hair. "They’re all over the news, the journals, and the gala circuits. They have names, faces, and enough PhDs to fill a library. But they won't talk to a stranger, and they certainly won't talk over an encrypted line. They know Pavlov's reach better than anyone. They’ll only talk if they feel safe, or if they’re backed into a corner by someone they perceive as an equal… or a death reaper."Adrian's mind immediately went back to Letty. While the public might not know her as a household name, he had seen the way people reacted to her in certain rooms. She operated in the "old money" and "deep power" circles where names like Varma and Drax were just peers across a dinner table."I might have a way into their circle," Adrian said, his voice quiet as he committed the faces to memory.“That’s good…” Silas leaned back against the worn fabric of hi

The thin woman tapped a series of commands on her secondary console. She opened a priority channel to the Investigation Wing, the unit responsible for digging through the layers of the world that were not yet digitized. "Target identified as Adrian Wolfe," she typed. "Location: Sector 4. High-level priority. I want a full profile within the hour. Do not stop at the surface. Dig."The request set off a silent chain reaction in a separate department of the island facility. For the next four hours, the investigation team worked with frantic precision.A few hours later, the girl in the surveillance room adjusted her posture as a high-priority notification chimed on her primary terminal. The investigation team had finished their work and an encrypted data stream was pushed directly to her sleek, translucent tablet. She tapped the screen with a skeletal finger, the blue light of the device washing over her pale features.She began to scroll through the life of Adrian Wolfe. At first, the d

Adrian helped Aira load the last of the heavy suitcases into her trunk. Once the trunk clicked shut, he looked at her."I can find a place for you to live if you want," Adrian said. "Somewhere more private than a hotel."Aira stopped and leaned against her car, watching him for a few seconds. A slow smile grew on her face."I'll do it," she said. "But only if you agree to live there with me."Adrian started to speak, but she stepped closer, cutting him off."I want to taste more of you, Adrian. Every single day."Adrian was caught completely off guard. He looked away, feeling the heat rise in his neck. He felt embarrassed by how blunt she was being, but he didn't say no."Fine," he muttered. "Let's just get to the hotel first."He got back into his car and followed her through the city. The air between them felt charged the whole way there. When they reached her hotel, the tension was still high. Both of them were in the mood, and Adrian didn't even think about leaving. He followed he

Two days later, the night of the party finally arrived. The event was held at Letty’s private mansion, a massive building that looked like a palace from the outside. Inside, the ceilings were high and decorated with gold trim. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from above, casting a warm glow over the white marble floors. The walls were covered in expensive paintings and long silk curtains that reached from the ceiling to the floor.In one corner of the grand ballroom, a small group of classical musicians played violins and a cello. The music was soft and elegant, filling the room without being too loud. Long tables were set up along the sides of the hall for a buffet. There were servers in white gloves standing behind the tables, ready to dish out expensive food. There were platters of roasted meats, fresh seafood, exotic fruits, and small, colorful desserts. A large bar stood at the far end of the room where bartenders mixed drinks for the crowd.The guest list was huge. Hundreds of peop

The silver six-seater family car was still moving through the industrial outskirts, but Adrian knew he couldn't stay in Letty’s car any longer. If Pavlov was monitoring the situation and framing Letty, her vehicle was a moving target; a glowing beacon for any drone or satellite feed."Stop the car. I gotta go somewhere else so I’ll get off here." Adrian said suddenly.The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, hesitant, but slowed down. Letty turned to Adrian, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "Adrian? What are you doing? We’re in the middle of a kidnapping and just experienced an armed robbery! Why are you getting out now?"Adrian let out a short sigh, looking at the dark streets through the tinted window. He needed to be invisible, and a luxury sedan was anything but that. "Don't worry about it, Letty. I need to handle this from a different angle. This area is safe enough for me. Just get home and stay with the security team.""Safe?" Letty whispered, looking at the sh