Richard's hand moved to his pocket as though it weighed a hundred pounds. He pulled out a crumpled envelope, the same one from the Harlow estate, and held it out to Ethan with shaking fingers."This is everything I have," Richard said. His voice was thin and reedy. "Victor Sr. saw through the scheme. He would not invest a cent. The rest of the family scraped together a few thousand out of pity. This is all of it."Ethan took the envelope, glanced inside, and set it on the counter without expression. A few thousand dollars. The man who had arrived in Chicago promising billions was handing over pocket change like a child emptying his piggy bank.Ethan turned to Slick Gary.Gary had been watching the exchange with visible relief, calculating that the same excuse would work for him. He reached into his back pocket and produced a thin wad of crumpled bills."Same situation," Gary said quickly. He held the money out with a smile so forced it looked like it was causing him physical pain. "Th

The Harlow estate was surrounded. Every security guard on the outer perimeter had been knocked unconscious by anesthetic gas deployed through the ventilation systems. The inner courtyard bodyguards had stopped responding to radio calls five minutes ago. The grand hall, where the Harlow family had gathered for what they thought was a routine evening, was now a cage with no exits.Ian Watanabe stood in the center of the hall wearing a fresh suit and a diplomatic smile so polished it could have been displayed in a museum. Behind him, two Japanese warriors in black stood with their hands at their sides, motionless as statues. Henry Bennett paced near the entrance with a dozen Black Tiger Crew elites spread around the room, their guns visible and their faces hard.Victor Sr. sat in his armchair at the head of the room. His face was calm but his fingers gripped the armrests with white knuckled force. Victoria stood at his right. Mrs. Hayes stood at his left. Around them, over twenty Harlow

Henry's face split into a grin so wide it nearly reached his ears. The black coated figure at the entrance was the answer to every prayer he had whispered in the last five minutes. Master Frank had arrived. The grandmaster would end this nightmare and put Ethan Cole in the ground where he belonged."About time," Henry muttered. His confidence surged back like floodwater breaking through a dam.The remaining Black Tiger Crew elites rushed toward the doorway, their weapons raised, eager to greet their backup. The Harlow family members who had been huddling against the far wall turned even paler. Several of them grabbed each other's arms. One woman covered her mouth with both hands.Victoria stepped closer to Ethan. Her hand found his sleeve and her fingers closed around the fabric."If you cannot win," Victoria said quietly, "then we leave together. I do not care where. I would rather die beside you than stand here and watch you sacrifice yourself for people who do not deserve it."Etha

Henry's face split into a grin so vicious it barely looked human. The moment Master Frank's black coat appeared in the doorway, every ounce of dread that had been crushing his chest evaporated. The grandmaster had arrived. The nightmare was over. Ethan Cole was finished.Ian Watanabe straightened his suit jacket and stepped forward. He bowed deeply from the waist, the kind of bow a corporate man gives only to someone he genuinely fears and respects."Master Frank," Ian said. His voice was smooth and dripping with deference. "Thank you for coming. Please, dispose of this man once and for all so we can proceed with our business."Ronald and his supporters had already swarmed around Richard near the entrance. Ronald clapped Richard on the shoulder and beamed at him like he was greeting a returning king."It is over," Ronald said. He was practically bouncing on his heels. "The moment the old man is dead, we put you in the chair. I have been saying for years that this family needed new lead

The three words hung in the air like the last note of a funeral bell. Kill them all. The hall held its breath and the world seemed to stop spinning for a full second before the panic hit.Ian Watanabe was the first to break. His corporate composure, the last thin layer of dignity he had been clinging to like a man gripping the edge of a cliff, shattered completely. He stumbled forward with both hands raised and his voice climbing to a pitch that cracked the polished surface of every word."You cannot kill me," Ian screamed. His eyes were wild and spit flew from his lips. "I am a foreign dignitary. I represent the Watanabe Pharmaceutical Group on the international stage. If I die on American soil, it will cause a diplomatic crisis between two nations. You will bring consequences down on this entire city that no one can control."He was backing away as he spoke, his polished shoes sliding across the marble, and then his hand found Henry Bennett's shoulder. He grabbed the bigger man and