Jake's ring flared hot. Energy flooded through his body. The same power he'd felt at the gala. When he'd taken down six security guards in under thirty seconds.But this was different. Stronger. The Midnight Tear in the box behind him seemed to respond to the ring. Amplifying it."Sora," he said quietly. "Get in the car.""What? Jake, no, we can do this together—""Get. In. The. Car."Something in his voice made her listen. She backed toward the car. Opened the door. Slid inside. But she didn't close it. Knife still in her hand. Ready.The four men looked at each other. Then back at Jake."Your funeral," the leader said.He raised his gun. Aimed at Jake's chest.Time seemed to slow down.Jake could see the man's finger tightening on the trigger. Could see the exact moment he decided to fire.Jake moved.Faster than human. Faster than the eye could follow.He was across the space between them before the gun went off. Grabbed the man's wrist. Twisted hard.The crack of bone breaking ech

"Then you'll learn a very painful lesson about playing in leagues you don't belong in." The man's voice got darker. "Now, Ms. Chen on the other hand. She's a different story entirely. CEO of Titan Enterprises. Beautiful. Powerful. Intelligent. A woman of substance. A woman befitting someone of my status."Jake's hand tightened on the phone. "Don't.""Don't what? Appreciate quality when I see it? Ms. Chen is exactly the kind of woman a man of my position should have. Not wasted on some broke intern playing pretend." The man's voice turned hungry. "That dress she wore tonight. Red. Form-fitting. The way it accentuated every curve. Quite memorable.""I'm warning you—""You're warning me? You?" The man laughed. Hard. Mocking. "Listen to yourself. A ball boy trying to threaten someone who could buy and sell you a thousand times over. It's adorable. Truly."Jake stood up. The ring was burning hot. "Who are you?""For now, let's just say I'm someone who always gets what I want. And right now

Jake drove to Café Lumière. Upscale coffee place. The kind where drinks cost fifteen dollars and came with foam art. Maya's kind of place. He parked a block away. Walked the rest. Kept his head down. Cap and sunglasses hiding his face. The café was busy. Morning rush. People in business clothes grabbing expensive lattes before work. And there, at a corner table by the window, sat Maya. Jake stopped walking for a second. She looked different. Not the crying mess from the auction. Not the angry ex from before. She looked beautiful. Maya wore a cream-colored dress. Fitted at the waist. Flowing skirt that stopped just above her knees. Delicate gold jewelry. Hair done up in soft waves. Makeup perfect. Subtle but effective. For a moment, just a moment, Jake felt something. A memory. Of when they'd dated. When she'd dressed up for him. When he'd thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. When he'd loved her. 'Stop it,' he told himself. 'Remember what she did. Remember Der

Evening came fast. The city lights turned on one by one. Neon signs buzzing. Cars honking. People heading home from work or out to bars.Derek Mitchell sat in the back corner of an upscale lounge called The Red Room. Underground district. The kind of place that didn't have a sign outside. You either knew about it or you didn't.Dim red lighting made everything look like it was on fire. Expensive liquor lined the walls. Private booths with velvet curtains. Leather seats that probably cost more than Derek's old car.This was where deals happened. The kind that shouldn't see daylight.Derek nursed his third whiskey. Or was it his fourth? He'd lost count. Didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.He looked like hell. Unshaven. Hair messy. Clothes rumpled. Eyes bloodshot from not sleeping. His family's company was gone. Dad in federal lockup. Bank accounts frozen. Everything they'd built over three generations. Gone.And Maya. Maya wouldn't even answer his calls anymore.Derek stared at his

The call came at 2:47 AM.Jake was in his training room. Meditating with the three stones. The Dragon's Heart Crystal. The Midnight Tear. The Crimson Heart pendant. All glowing softly. All pulsing in sync with his heartbeat.His phone rang. Loud. Cutting through the quiet.Jake opened his eyes. Reached for it. Unknown number.He almost ignored it. Unknown numbers at 2 AM? Never good news. But something in his gut made him answer.He picked up. "Hello?"Heavy breathing on the other end. Ragged. Scared. But not Tommy's breathing. Someone else's. A voice Jake didn't recognize. Rough. Cold. "Jake Morrison?""Who's asking?""We have someone you care about. Someone from your past. Tommy Owen. Remember him?"Jake's blood went cold. Tommy. His mind flashed back instantly.Tommy Owen. The only real friend Jake had from the orphanage. They'd grown up together in that horrible place. Shared a bunk bed. Stolen food from the kitchen when the older kids took their portions. Watched each other's ba