Curry stepped out of the shower and pulled on a fitted charcoal shirt that looked a cut above what he usually wore. He ran a hand through his damp hair, gave himself a cursory glance in the mirror, and headed downstairs. A crisp hundred-dollar bill sat pinned beneath a ceramic plate on the living room table, and he paused to smile at it. Mika must have left it before heading out, her quiet way of making sure he had pocket money without drawing attention to it. He pocketed the bill and walked outside. A gleaming Rolls-Royce Cullinan idled at the curb just past the gate of the Turner Estate, and Thaddeus Zane leaned against the driver-side door with a cigarette between his fingers. The moment he spotted Curry, he pinched the cigarette dead and jogged over with an almost deferential energy. "Dr. Pitt, do you actually live here?" Thaddeus glanced past him at the villa complex, genuine surprise coloring his voice. "It's my mother-in-law's place," Curry answered plainl

"My apologies, sir, but a few idiots caused a scene, and I'll have it sorted in no time." Conrad Yates hurried to Thaddeus Zane's side, bowing as he spoke with his voice pitched low and eager to please. "It won't interfere with your dinner this evening, I guarantee it."He'd received the call around noon with Thaddeus himself on the line, his tone leaving zero room for interpretation. Tonight's guest was someone of extraordinary importance, and there could be no mistakes, no disturbances, no excuses. If anything went sideways, Conrad could pack his desk and never come back.The slap came without warning. Thaddeus struck him across the face hard enough to send sparks behind Conrad's eyes, and the hotel manager staggered sideways, barely catching himself on the reception counter while his cheek burned like a hot iron had been pressed to it."You worthless fool," Thaddeus said in a voice quiet and cold, which made it worse than shouting."I'm sorry, Mr. Zane, it was

"It's nothing, because a little indignity never killed anyone," Curry said, waving it off with a faint smile. "Besides, I've still got unfinished business to take care of."No matter what happened, he intended to honor the promise he had made to the old man. Even if divorce was inevitable, it would have to wait until the day Old Man Turner walked free from Stonegate Federal Penitentiary, because that was the line, and nothing would move it.Thaddeus Zane studied him for a moment, then let out a resigned breath. "If you've got your own plan, I won't push, because a man's got to walk his own road." He paused as a sly glint returned to his eye, and he tilted his head toward the convenience kiosk a dozen yards away. "But tell me something: what do you think of my girl?"Curry followed his gaze. Lyra Zane stood near the kiosk counter with a plastic bag dangling from one hand as she counted out change. He hadn't paid her much attention during the day, but now, under the amb

Selene tilted her head, curiosity sharpening her gaze. "What do you mean by that?"Roland Turner leaned forward, letting a measured pause settle before he spoke. "It's a long story. For the past two years, our company's financials have been troubled because the numbers never balanced. Discrepancies kept showing up no matter how many times the books were reviewed."He sighed. "My grandmother finally decided to dig into the accounts herself these past few days, and she found the source. Someone on the inside has been siphoning funds."Selene studied him from behind her desk, her expression neutral but attentive. "And you're suggesting the insider is Mika Turner?"Roland offered a thin smile. "You catch on fast, Ms. Whitlock. You wouldn't believe it to look at her, but Mika has embezzled close to a million dollars over the past two years. My grandmother is too soft-hearted, Mika is still her granddaughter, after all, so she decided not to press charges."He spr

The parking garage beneath Pinnacle Corp was quiet at six in the evening, most employees already gone. Curry leaned against his car with a cigarette pinched between his lips, watching smoke curl into the fluorescent light as he kept his eyes on the elevator doors across the lot.A familiar figure soon emerged. Mika walked with her usual composure, heels clicking a steady rhythm on concrete. Curry pushed off the car and started toward her, but before he could close the distance, a Mercedes glided up to the curb. Callum stepped out with a bouquet and that easy grin, offering the flowers like a man who'd already won. Mika accepted them without a word, though the brief flicker of distaste on her face didn't escape Curry's notice, then climbed into the passenger seat. The Mercedes pulled away.Curry exhaled a thin ring of smoke, watching the taillights disappear up the ramp. He decided to follow, curious what Callum was scheming, but as he slid behind the wheel and checked his