I was driving home after the best day of my second life. The city lights were a blur of gold and white against the night sky.I felt like a god. I had the money, the power, and the Level 3 system buzzing in my brain.The road ahead was empty. I was heading toward the steep, winding hills that led to my private estate.Suddenly, a massive red box exploded in my vision. It was pulsing so fast it made my head spin.[Danger Sense: 85% Probability of Fatal Event.] The words were bright and angry."What the hell is this?" I muttered. I reached for the brake pedal as I approached the first sharp turn.I pressed down. The pedal went straight to the floor like it was made of paper.My heart did a somersault in my chest. I pumped the pedal again and again, but there was nothing."Oh, you motherfucker," I hissed. I knew exactly whose hand had been in my engine.Marcus couldn't win in the boardroom, so he decided to try the old fashioned way. He wanted me dead in a ditch.The car started to pick

I was sitting in the most expensive steakhouse in the city, enjoying a rare moment of peace. The $25 million deal was finally within my reach, and I felt like the king of the world.I signaled for the check and pulled out my black card. I wanted to tip the waiter enough to pay his rent for a month."I am sorry, Mr. St. Claire, but the transaction was declined," the waiter said softly. He looked more embarrassed than I felt.I laughed and handed him a different card. "Try this one. The bank is probably just being cautious with the new accounts."He came back a minute later, his face pale. "This one was declined too, sir. In fact, the machine says the accounts are frozen by court order."The smile slid off my face like wet paint. I pulled out my phone and tried to log into my banking app.[Access Denied. Account Restricted by Judicial Injunction.]The screen was cold and mocking.I felt a sudden, sharp chill in my gut. This was not Marcus’s messy work. This was something much worse.I s

I walked into the dimly lit lounge at the top of the Sapphire Tower. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and a perfume that smelled like a warning.Isabella was sitting in a velvet chair by the window. They called her the Iron Widow because she had buried three husbands and twice as many competitors.In my past life, she was the one who picked up the pieces of my shattered company for pennies. She was cold, brilliant, and absolutely heartless.She didn't look up when I approached her table. She just kept swirling a glass of dark red wine, watching the city lights below."You look like shit, Victor," she said. Her voice was smooth, but it had a sharp edge that could draw blood.I sat down across from her without being invited. I could feel the eyes of her bodyguards on the back of my neck."It has been a long day, Isabella. I got into a car wreck and my bank accounts are frozen," I replied.She finally looked at me, her green eyes narrowing. "I heard about the Blackwoo

The stone walls of the cathedral were cold and damp. I followed the hooded guide down a flight of stairs that felt like they were leading straight to hell.I was in the basement of a building that had stood for two hundred years. The air was thick with the smell of old paper and beeswax candles.This was not a normal auction where you used a credit card. This was the place where the powerful traded their souls to stay on top.I adjusted my collar and felt the sweat on my neck. My System was buzzing in my ear like a nervous insect.[Location: The Crypt of Whispers. Status: High Danger Zone.] The blue screen was the only modern thing in the room.I looked around at the other bidders sitting in the shadows. They all wore masks or sat in the dark so their faces stayed hidden.I didn't need a mask. I had my Cold Blooded skill and a heart full of ice.The auctioneer stood behind a heavy oak pulpit. He didn't have a gavel; he had a silver dagger that he tapped against the wood."Tonight, we

I stood backstage at the Grand Hall, watching the sea of reporters through a crack in the heavy velvet curtains. The room was buzzing like a disturbed hornets' nest.My servers were dead. My research was gone. I was standing there with nothing but a clean suit and a massive, dangerous lie."Victor, this is suicide," Thomas whispered behind me. He was sweating through his shirt and his eyes were darting toward the exit."If the Grand Company sees this and calls you a liar, you are done. We are all done," he said. His voice was shaking.I turned to him and adjusted my cuffs. I didn't feel the panic I should have felt."They won't call me a liar, Thomas," I said. "Because everyone wants to be on the winning team.""But Isabella? You haven't even told her you're announcing this!" Thomas hissed. He looked like he wanted to faint."She’s a shark. She knows a good meal when she sees one," I replied. I stepped toward the stage.I felt the System hum in the back of my brain.I didn't need data