Jake's blood runs cold. The name hits him like someone punched him in the chest. "Rousseau? As in the Rousseau family?"His voice came out wrong. Too tight. Too sharp. The Hearts under his skin reacted to the spike of adrenaline flooding his system.Sora's face hardened into something carved from stone. Both of them knew that name. Had been warned about it. The old European money that stretched back centuries. The family that had been trying to destroy Marcus Vale and Titan for decades. The rivals his father had told him about in hushed, careful conversations."The investigator is certain," Sora said. Her voice was quiet but Jake heard every word like it was shouted. "Elena Kozlova was recruited at age eighteen. Trained for three years at Rousseau Security Consulting. Became one of their top operatives. Then she disappeared two years ago. Resurfaced working for Victor Kozlov six months ago."Jake ran a hand through his hair. Tried to process. Failed. "Why didn't this show up in your e

{Hello Jake. Or should I call you Mr. Morrison? We've been watching you. Watching everything. Elena's doing wonderfully, don't you think? Such a talented actress. See you very soon. -M}M. Marguerite. The woman behind everything. And she'd been watching them this entire time. Watching. Waiting. Planning.Jake showed the message to Sora. Her jaw clenched. Muscles tightening under her skin.Elijah wandered over. Read the mood. "Okay, what happened now? You both look like someone just told you the world's ending.""Close enough," Jake muttered. Showed him the phone.Elijah read it. His usual grin faded. "Who's M? And why are they being all formal with you? That's creepy. Like they know something we don't.""They know a lot we don't," Jake said."And who's Marguerite?" Elijah looked between them. "Because that's a fancy name for someone sending creepy stalker texts.""She knows," Sora said quietly. Ignoring Elijah's questions. "Marguerite knows exactly where we are. What we're planning. W

Jake sat across from her. Kept his voice level. Controlled. "Our sources say the facility is a trap. Victor and Marguerite working together. Both of them there. Both waiting for us." Elena's eyes widened. Genuine shock spreading across her face. "What? No! That can't be right! I gave you Victor's location! His holding facility! I didn't know Marguerite was involved!" "Convenient," Sora said from the doorway. "Or planned." "It's not planned! I swear!" Elena stood up. Desperate. "Jake, please! If Marguerite's there, she'll kill me on sight! For deserting! For breaking my contract with the family! Why would I send you there if it meant my death?" "Maybe because she promised you amnesty," Sora said coldly. "If you delivered us. If you brought Jake and all his Hearts straight to her. Delivered the one thing she's been hunting for decades." "No! That's not what this is! I'm not working for her!" Elena's voice cracked. "I'm trying to save my mother! That's all I care about! Getting

"I don't care." The ice in her voice could have frozen the sun. "He could have come to Marcus. Could have asked for help. Could have trusted the company he served for fifteen years to protect his precious family. We have resources. Connections. We could have hidden them. Protected them. Kept them safe."She looked back at Jake. "But he didn't. Instead, he chose them over everyone at Titan. Over Marcus who trusted him. Over me. His own niece. He endangered me to save his wife and kids. Made his choice clear."Jake understood then. Saw it in her eyes. The betrayal wasn't just professional. It was personal. Family choosing family. Richard picking his immediate family over his niece. Deciding Sora was acceptable collateral damage as long as his wife and kids stayed safe."After we deal with Victor and Marguerite," Sora said quietly. Voice like a knife edge. "After this war ends. After we've survived tonight. I'm going to make sure Richard Chen pays for everything he's done. Not just legal

Jake had seen the descriptions. Had heard the warnings. But seeing her in person was different.She was beautiful. Dangerously so. The kind of beauty that made people stupid. Made them forget she was a killer. Made them underestimate her until it was too late.Elegant. Curves in all the right places. Dark tactical clothing that somehow looked designer. Like she'd walked off a runway and into a war zone. Long dark hair pulled back. Sharp features. Eyes that promised death wrapped in sophistication.French. Definitely French. Even standing silent, she radiated that European elegance. That old money confidence. That sense of being better than everyone else."Welcome, Jake Morrison!" Victor's voice boomed through the warehouse. Echoing off metal and concrete. "We've been waiting for you! Please, come in! Make yourself comfortable! Oh wait. You already did!"He laughed. The soldiers didn't. Professional. Focused. Fingers on triggers.Jake said nothing. Just scanned. Counting soldiers. Iden