Sterling Enterprises secures absolute economic control over the province during a live press conference. When foreign corporate saboteurs attempt to cut the broadcast feed, Ghost overrides the network to stream the saboteurs' recorded confession live to millions, sending Sterling's stock to an all-time historical high.Cameras flashed in continuous waves across the grand auditorium of the River City Trade Center. Bright halogen lights beamed down on the main stage, heating the air until it smelled faintly of warm dust and expensive floor wax. Hundreds of journalists crammed into the velvet-lined seats, their low murmurs humming through the room like a swarm of hornets.I stood three paces behind Evelyn Sterling near the dark mahogany podium. My dark suit was pressed, my hands resting lightly behind my lower back. To the roomful of reporters and camera crews, I was a quiet personal security guard performing basic perimeter duty.None of them knew my real title. So, let them look right

Lucas Vance receives the total surrender of all provincial underground leaders in a private ceremony inside the Shadow Syndicate's provincial citadel, cementing his complete control over the region. High above in Capital City, an ancient military warlord opens an encrypted file on River City and realizes this unified power poses an immediate threat to the Capital Alliance.The air inside the Shadow Syndicate’s provincial citadel smelled of old stone, damp iron, and expensive cigars.I stood on the raised marble dais, looking down at the heavy oak doors at the end of the hall. The room was silent save for the hum of the ventilation system. Evelyn was back in River City, running the consolidated Sterling Group from her penthouse office. She thought I was out taking care of personal security errands. In a way, I was. Resolving a regional underworld takeover counts as personal security, right?Ghost stood to my left, holding a black leather clipboard and looking thoroughly unimpressed."

Lucas Vance arrives in Capital City as Evelyn Sterling's bodyguard during Sterling Enterprises' expansion, facing down corrupt local oligarchs who attempt to sabotage their launch.Capital City smelled like hot asphalt, money, and burning rubber. Standing on the eighty-fifth floor of the newly acquired Grand Imperial Tower, I adjusted the cuffs of my plain dark suit. The view up here was wide and dizzying. Sleek glass spires stretched out toward the horizon like polished needles, cutting through the thick afternoon smog. Down below, eight lanes of bumper-to-bumper luxury sedans crawled through the concrete arteries of the national capital.This was a different beast entirely compared to River City. Out there in the provinces, local tycoons fought over tens of millions. Here in the capital, five hundred million was just the barrier to entry at the kids' table.Behind me, high heels clicked sharply against the fresh marble flooring."The permits cleared the municipal office an hour ago,

Lucas steps in to protect Evelyn from three arrogant Capital playboys and easily breaks their elite bodyguard network in seconds. When the playboys demand to know who he serves, Lucas leaves them terrified and confused.So, the Capital playboys thought their three muscle-bound guards could intimidate us in the hotel lobby. Typical upper-class arrogance. They stood there in their custom suits, grinning like they had already won."You have five seconds to clear out, bodyguard," the lead playboy snapped, gesturing toward the main doors. "Leave the lady. She stays with us."Evelyn's posture went rigid beside me. I could hear her deep breath, but I didn't wait for her to handle it. I took one quiet step forward, placing myself directly between her and the three men."She isn't going anywhere with you," I said. My voice stayed flat, direct, and completely devoid of emotion.The lead heir laughed, a sharp, unpleasant sound that echoed off the high marble ceilings. He waved his hand dismissiv

Corrupt inspectors attempt to freeze Evelyn’s corporate assets, but Lucas uses Ghost to expose the lead auditor’s offshore bribery accounts live, forcing a top-level supervisor to step in and demand total submission to Evelyn.The ink on our new lease was barely dry before the wolves smelled fresh meat.Expanding Sterling Enterprises into Capital City was always going to ruffle a few feathered silk robes, but I expected the local oligarchs to use slightly more creative methods. Instead, they went straight to the oldest trick in the corrupt bureaucrat handbook.Regulatory audits.I stood two paces behind Evelyn inside the glass-walled conference room of our new regional headquarters. The morning sun cut through the Capital City smog, hitting the polished mahogany table where five men in dark grey suits sat with their arms crossed. They looked less like government officials and more like extortionists who had bought their badges at a discount."You have twenty-four hours, Miss Sterling,