Rain hammered the city of Crestview that night. It slapped against the thin glass of the apartment window like angry fingers trying to get in. The sound filled every corner of the small living room, steady and cold.Ethan Cole sat on the old couch, pressing his thumbs against his temples. His head throbbed. His eyes kept drifting to the front door, then back to the small table in front of him.On that table sat a tiny cake. White frosting. One candle, unlit. Waiting.He had come home early today. For the first time in months, he had left his cab parked on Fifth Street and walked up the stairs before sunset. He wanted to do something small. Something simple. Vanessa's birthday. He wanted it to mean something, even if the rest of their life felt like it was falling apart.The clock on the wall ticked. The rain got louder.Then — *click*.The lock turned. The door swung open.Vanessa stepped inside, her heels sharp against the cheap tile floor. Her face was tight. Her lips pressed into a

"Who are they?" Ethan's voice came out tight, barely controlled. His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. The black sedan was still there. Still close. "Why are they chasing us?"The old man said nothing for a long moment. His jaw tightened. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, rough with anger."It's a long story."He leaned forward, his breath fogging the air between them. "All you need to know is this — they don't want me alive."Ethan's throat went dry. He swallowed hard."And don't even think about stopping," the old man continued, his voice sharper now, pressing. "Believe me. They won't just come for me." His eyes met Ethan's in the mirror. Cold. Certain. "You're in this now too."The words landed like ice water down Ethan's spine."So please," the old man said, quieter now, almost pleading. "Drive. Fast. And don't let them catch us."Ethan's fingers tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. His heartbeat was louder than the engine. Louder than the ra

"How do you know my mother's name?" Ethan's voice came out tight. Hard. His hands were still curled around the steering wheel, knuckles white.The old man covered his face with both hands. His shoulders shook. When he lowered them again, tears were streaming down his cheeks, catching the dim light from the hotel lobby outside."Where is she?" His voice broke on the words. Raw. Desperate. "Where is my Evelyn? Tell me. Please. Where is she?"Ethan went still.His mind spun, grasping at something — anything — that made sense. Too many dark possibilities flooded in at once. What if this man was the reason his father disappeared? What if—No. That was too far. Too much.But the old man's crying was real. It was the kind of grief that couldn't be faked. The sound of someone who had carried a weight for decades and finally, finally cracked under it."Who are you?" Ethan asked again. Firmer this time. "How do you know my mother?"The old man dragged in a shaking breath. Wiped his face with th

The office sat on the top floor of The Grand Meridian, all glass and polished steel. Arthur Cole stood at the window, his reflection ghosting across the pane. Below him, Crestview crawled with morning traffic, horns blaring, lights blinking in the gray dawn.Behind him, a man in a dark suit stood rigid. Hands clasped. Head bowed. Waiting.Arthur didn't turn around."Did you send the hair samples?" His voice was flat. Cold. The kind of calm that came before a storm."Yes, Mr. Cole. Both yours and the young man's. They arrived at the lab an hour ago." The man paused. Swallowed. "Results should be ready by tomorrow morning."Silence. The city hummed beyond the glass.Then Arthur's voice dropped lower. Heavier. Like a blade being drawn slowly from its sheath."Now explain something to me." He turned. Just his head. His eyes locked onto the man like a rifle sight. "How did my people fail to track my daughter for *decades*? How did she end up in a grave, and I didn't even know she was dead?

Ethan rose slowly from the sofa.His eyes had changed. The emptiness from this morning was gone. What remained was something quieter. Sharper. Like a blade that had been sharpened in silence."You're sure I'm the one who doesn't belong here?" he asked. Low. Even.He took one step forward."Sometimes... the people who look down on everyone else are the ones standing where they shouldn't."Julian moved fast. Too fast for a man in expensive shoes. He lunged forward, palm flat, and shoved Ethan's chest with deliberate force.But Ethan didn't move.Not an inch.Julian's hand connected with solid muscle beneath the cheap jacket. His wrist jolted back slightly, as if he'd pushed a wall. His eyes narrowed. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.Then Julian glanced over his shoulder. Just a quick look. A glance at the broad-shouldered man standing two steps behind him. The bodyguard. Thick neck. Crossed arms. Built like a door.Julian's posture relaxed. A thin smile crept onto his lips."Easy