Dominic Santiago walked in with his usual calm authority. He wore an unreadable expression, and his presence instantly shifted the atmosphere in the room.A hush fell. Some of the board members instinctively began to slide from their seats to welcome one of the wealthiest and influential business tycoons in the city.But Dominic lifted a hand slightly."There's not a need for that," he said smoothly. "I'm merely a partner here."A brief silence lingered after Dominic's words. But it didn't last. One of the younger board members rose almost immediately, adjusting his suit as he stepped forward with a respectful smile. "It is truly an honor to have you here, Mr. Santiago," he said warmly as he extended his hand. Dominic regarded him for a second, then accepted the handshake with a polite nod. That single action broke whatever restraint the other board members had built. "Your presence truly elevated this meeting." "We've heard a great deal about your great work in Blacksite Ops."

Moses stepped out of the hospital building, Vivian's final words to him still lingering in his ears. "Don't get into trouble while I'm rooted here." He smiled when she said it. He even promised her he'd be far away from it as much as he could. But deep down, he knew Vincent Maguire won't let him keep cool. The mission ahead was going to be against his family. Vincent didn't have to spill out the words for him to know. It was surely going to be dangerous, but Moses would do anything against the Lorenzos, even if it meant going against his promises to Vivian.He exhaled and flagged down a taxi. "Where to, sir?" the driver asked. "Primehill bar," Moses replied. "Got it." The ride was quiet, letting Moses' mind drift to the strange woman. He realised he still didn't know her name. "Damn," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead. Why did it even matter, he thought afterwards. He sure didn't care about her. "Here," the driver said as he pulled over. Moses paid and st

Moses' eyes remained fixed on the SUV as the door opened and a man stepped out. He was on black suit and dark shades."Get in," he said.Moses held his gaze for a second longer, then he walked forward and slipped into the vehicle without a word. The man got back in, and the door shut behind him with a dull, final thud.The SUV pulled away afterward.For a while, not a word was said as the city rolled past them in blurred motion. Buildings, people and noise all reduced to distant irrelevance behind tinted glasses.Finally, the driver spoke. "The boss of the syndicate dogs requested your presence." The boss of the syndicate dogs. Moses scoffed.What a brilliant way to describe Vincent Maguire. It was actually ridiculous that Vincent hadn't publicly denied or accepted that he was the leader of the most notorious groups in the city. But those in the inner circle–the police not excluded–knew that the biggest philanthropist in the city was also the mastermind behind the activities of the

Derrick frowned a little, shaking his head immediately. "Of course not. I had no idea this would happen." He ran a hand through his hair. "And boy, I still don't know who planted the bomb in my car the other night." Dominic's gaze hardened slightly. "All signs point to the ones who'd tried to harm Ivy more than once." The Maguires. Derrick held his eyes for a long moment. Then he slowly shook his head. "Yeah it does," he said. "That's just the logical conclusion, as Ivy was with me that night." He paused, then added a bit hesitantly. "But...what if Ivy wasn't the target? What if–" The sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway interrupted him. Both men turned to see Ma Lorenzo's secretary approaching.Lucy came down the hallway at a pace that bordered on a run. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floors with an urgency she couldn't quite mask. But the very moment her eyes caught Derrick standing ahead, she slowed.It wasn't an abrupt one. Her shoulders first relaxe

Dominic's Ferrari cut through the traffic like a blade. Derrick sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed ahead but unfocused. His mind was caught between his resolve to avenge the death of his family, and a present resolve to restore the Lorenzo company back to its rightful hands. Beside him, Dominic drove silently. Neither of them spoke until the car slowed. The towering stricture of Blacksite Ops soon came into view, and Dominic pulled into the private entrance. The gates slid open, and moments later, the engine died. Without wasting time, they stepped out and moved inside, not stopping until they got to Dominic's office. Just as the door shut behind them, Derrick exhaled deeply and dropped into one of the chairs. He leaned back, shutting his eyes for a moment as if trying to gather his thoughts. Dominic walked toward a sleek cabinet and pulled out a bottle. Two glasses followed. "With all the plans set by your mentor," Dominic said as he poured, "you were supposed to assum