Vesper dropped his cigar and crushed it beneath his polished shoe. Then he stepped closer to the young man, examining him as though he were trying to uncover something hidden beneath his skin, while his group stood still, not daring to breathe. “What are you?” As if sick of the silence, Vesper violently grabbed the collar of Killian's shirt, dragging him upward until their faces were a breath apart, his eyes burning red with raw confusion. “Why the hell do you have that heirloom?!” He snapped, tightening his grip with every word. Killian didn't flinch. His voice remained chillingly level. “News got to me that Benjamin was killed a month after donating his kidney to save your life.” Vesper’s fierce frown faltered. His head snapped toward his group, then back to the stranger, and with every second of realization, his iron grip on the shirt slackened. He ran his hands through his hair… who… how… how did he… “How did you know about the kidney donation?” He blurted without a second t

The air in the room became suffocating. Then the room erupted. "Did I hear him correctly?" “What the actual fuck?” "What's going on here?" More guards approached, but instead of surrounding Killian, they formed a path for him. Katherine looked as though she might choke. "No!" she shrieked. "He cannot live here! We refuse to share our villa with that animal! I forbid it!” Killian stopped. Slowly, he turned to face her. "Since when did this villa belong to you Lancasters?" The crowd's mouth fell open. He glanced around the extravagant living room, taking in the interior design, enormous space, and the guests who had suddenly grown very interested in the conversation. Then his gaze returned to her. "This is my villa,” Killian said, his voice carrying clearly across the silent hall. “And if any of you are uncomfortable with my presence... you are free to leave.” A wave of collective shock rippled through the ballroom. The gasps were audible. People pressed, t

“Also, the Priest's interpreter called. There's an emergency meeting tonight at the inner altar,” the man added, his head bowed, not daring to meet Vesper's eyes. Vesper gave a sharp nod, walking past him and back into his office, where Rowoon was already waiting. “Sit.” Vesper gestured towards the chair opposite him. “I’ve come to a conclusion,” He began, resting his ankle on his knee. “A half-brother who has been MIA for years suddenly shows up acting like a desperate avenger.” He let out a cold scoff. “I can read your intentions like a book. Either you're genuinely grieving, or you're a very committed liar." Rowoon's expression didn't change. He nodded, and Zane stepped forward and placed a briefcase on the desk. He opened it, revealing neatly arranged bundles of cash. Killian—now fully locked into his false new identity—Rowoon glared down at the thick bundles of cash. “It's yours. Take it, buy yourself some decent clothes, and stop using Benjamin's name to satisfy yo

Before Killian could reply, Vesper was already walking briskly toward the front, heading straight for the altar doors. ​Someone to meet. Could it be the Priest? ​A sharp spike of adrenaline cut through Killian’s boredom. He followed closely behind. ​Vesper stopped in front of a heavy mahogany door at the back of the altar, shoved it open, motioned for Killian to enter first, and slammed it shut. "Well, well. The one and only Vesper the Viper." Vesper's expression softened into a smile. "Exodus." The two men clasped hands. Killian took the opportunity to study the young man. Exodus was tall, broad-shouldered, and covered in tattoos that disappeared beneath his dark clothing. His long hair framed an angular face, and he stood a little taller than Killian. There was something deliberate about the way he carried himself, his posture radiating aggressive, coiled tension. He looked like a man accustomed to being the most dangerous person in any room—and deeply offended by the poss

Every survival instinct screamed at him to drop the folder, quit and run. But Killian forced his muscles to lock. He kept his breathing steady, smoothing his features into a mask of cold, professional indifference. How had the Priest discovered that he was out of prison? And how much did he know? Killian forced himself to continue reading, but the words blurred before his eyes. He could feel his pulse hammering in his throat. The Priest hadn't merely discovered that he was alive. He had put a price on his head. And Killian had just volunteered to work for the man who wanted him dead. Shit. Had he mistaken a stone for gold? He raised the papers slightly, careful not to let the others see his expression. The room continued around him. Someone laughed. Vesper answered a question about the deadline. Killian heard none of it. If he refused the assignment, he'd raise suspicions. If he accepted it, he'd have to hunt down himself first because if Exodus discovered h