Richard stood in the abandoned Westbridge building with one hand resting against the cold metal railing of the seventh-floor staircase. The building smelled exactly as he remembered. Dust. Old paper. Damp concrete. And something metallic that seemed permanently trapped inside the walls.Years ago, this place had been nothing more than an ordinary office building to him. He had walked through its doors as an employee who worried about rent, transportation, lunch, and whether his salary would arrive before the end of the month. Now he knew that beneath the same floors were records capable of changing the balance between three powerful bloodlines.He looked at Sophia. She stood a few steps behind him, her expression guarded. Grant was checking the building plans on his tablet. Alexander remained near the elevator. Victor stood beside him. Marcus and Cara waited at the entrance to the corridor.Richard looked toward the dark hallway. "This is where the ledger was?"Alexander nodded. "Seve

Black Group's headquarters was surrounded by security vehicles when Richard arrived. The building looked normal from outside. Richard stepped out of the vehicle. Sophia followed. Grant remained beside them. Alexander stayed behind.Richard looked at him. "You aren't coming?"Alexander shook his head. "If Michael is there, he expects me."Richard understood. "And if he sees you?""He'll use me to get to you."Richard hated that answer because it was probably true.Sophia touched his arm. "Let's go."They entered. The reception desk was empty. The elevator doors opened automatically. Richard stepped inside. The elevator took them to the executive floor.The moment the doors opened, Richard saw Adrian. He was standing outside Richard's office. Calm. Perfectly dressed. As if nothing had happened.Richard walked toward him. "You broke into my company."Adrian smiled faintly. "I entered a building I have legal access to.""Not my office.""You'll find the distinction complicated."Richard

The explosion had destroyed the eastern entrance. Smoke rolled through the lower floors. Security alarms finally began screaming. People ran through the corridors.Richard stood motionless for half a second. Then instinct took over. "Everyone out."Grant grabbed his phone. "I'm calling emergency services.""No."Grant looked at him. "Richard""If the attackers control the building, we don't know who's listening."Sophia nodded. "He's right."Richard looked at Michael. "Who attacked us?"Michael didn't answer.Richard stepped closer. "You said my mother's family."Michael shook his head. "Not all of them.""Who?""The branch that wants the structure restored."Richard frowned. "Restored to what?""The way it was.""Before Northstar?"Michael nodded. "Before the Keepers."Richard stared. "So there really was another system.""Yes."Sophia stepped forward. "What system?"Michael looked at her. "One where the three families governed themselves."Richard understood. "And the fourth bloodli

The emergency board meeting began forty-three minutes later. Richard watched the video feed from the conference room while Grant stood beside him.Twenty-two directors. Twenty-two faces. Most looked frightened. A few looked angry. None looked comfortable.Sophia stood behind Richard. Alexander sat quietly near the wall.The board chairman cleared his throat. "Mr. Black, the purpose of this meeting is to address the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Black Group's succession and financial governance."Richard almost smiled. "Just say what you mean."The chairman hesitated. "The board is considering temporary restrictions on your executive authority."Grant's jaw tightened. "On what basis?"The chairman looked at the documents. "Keeper intervention."Richard's expression changed. "They're already here."The chairman didn't answer.Another director spoke. "We've received documentation from the Keeper Council indicating that the succession structure has been compromised."Richard leaned forw

The boardroom doors closed at nine seventeen. Richard stood outside. He wasn't allowed inside. That alone should have angered him. Instead, he felt strangely calm. Because he finally understood what the Keepers were doing. They weren't simply attacking his company. They were forcing everyone around him to choose a side.Grant stood beside him. Sophia was on his other side. Victor remained several steps behind.Richard turned toward him. "You knew about the third bloodline."Victor shook his head. "I knew the possibility existed.""That's not what I asked."Victor looked at him. "I didn't know who."Richard believed him. That was the problem. He no longer knew whether belief was enough.The boardroom doors opened. A director stepped out. "Mr. Black."Richard looked at him."The vote has been delayed.""Why?""An objection was filed.""By whom?"The director looked uncomfortable. "Your legal team."Richard frowned. "I didn't authorize one."Grant's expression changed. "Someone used your