2026-02-27 16:06:49
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Two million
The arrest was quiet.No spectacle. No raised voices. The butler was escorted from the estate at dawn, wrists restrained, head lowered. Staff stood at a distance, watching without speaking. No one asked questions. No one dared.The Brennan council convened briefly that morning. Authority was granted without resistance.“Handle it,” one elder said.Jasper inclined his head once.That was enough.By midday, he stood inside the holding facility on the outskirts of the city. Concrete walls. Steel doors. Fluorescent lighting that flattened everything it touched. The air smelled faintly of metal and disinfectant.The guards recognized him immediately.“Mr. Brennan.”“I’ll speak with him alone.”There was no hesitation.“Yes, sir.”The door to the interrogation room opened with a dull scrape.The butler sat at the center table, wrists cuffed to a metal ring. His posture had changed since the estate. Shoulders curved inward. Eyes restless. He looked smaller here.When he saw Jasper enter, he
This is not mercy
The mansion was quiet in the late evening.Dinner had ended without incident. Staff cleared the table in disciplined silence. Zoey had excused herself early, saying she wanted to read before bed. Jasper had allowed it, though two internal guards were positioned along the upper corridor as usual.Routine was important.Routine created predictability.Predictability revealed disruption.Jasper remained in his study, reviewing estate movement logs. Nothing unusual had surfaced. Security rotations were on schedule. Entry points were sealed. External perimeter scans were clear.Which meant if something happened, it would not come from outside.A sudden sound cut through the silence.Not loud.Not explosive.But wrong.A sharp thud. Then the scrape of something falling.Jasper was already on his feet before the second noise came.This time it was a muffled struggle.Zoey’s corridor.He moved.There was no visible urgency in his stride, but the speed was unnatural. Calculated. Direct. Every
I trust you
The estate was quiet that evening.Not silent, but contained.Jasper stood near the back terrace, hands resting lightly behind his back as he watched Zoey walk along the edge of the garden path. She wasn’t distracted. She rarely was. Her steps were careful, measured, like she understood that every movement inside the Brennan estate was observed, even when it didn’t feel like it.“Zoey,” he called.She turned immediately and walked toward him without hesitation.“Yes?”“Come here.”She stopped in front of him, posture straight, eyes lifted. There was no impatience in her expression. No resistance. Just attention.“You went out today,” he said.“Yes.”“With Jessica.”“Yes.”His gaze didn’t harden, but it sharpened slightly.“Did she tell you why?”“She said she wanted to spend time with me.”“And you believed that?”Zoey paused, thinking before answering. “I believed she was curious.”“About what?”“About me.”Jasper nodded once.“And what did you tell her?”“Nothing important.”He stud
Comfort first
The afternoon sun was low enough to cast long shadows across the city streets, but bright enough to illuminate the crowded sidewalks. Jessica Brennan walked beside Zoey, her eyes subtly taking in every detail—the way Zoey moved through the crowd, the tilt of her head as she considered shop windows, the quiet confidence in her gait. They had spent hours drifting from boutique to boutique, ostensibly shopping, but Jessica’s mind was occupied with calculations.“So, this is your favorite store?” Jessica asked, picking up a dress from a display rack and turning it over. Her tone was casual, but her eyes never left Zoey.Zoey glanced briefly at the item, then shrugged. “I like it. But I like the way it feels more than the brand. Comfort first, you know?”Jessica nodded slowly. “I see. Practicality. Makes sense.” She studied the way Zoey’s hands moved—deliberate, precise. There was a rhythm there, a sense of awareness that went beyond simple shopping.They moved to the next shop. Jessica ob
Powerless
Elara moved toward the door, her pace measured, precise. The restaurant staff had already begun their quiet cleanup. The late afternoon sun glinted off the wet pavement outside. She adjusted her coat, ignoring the faint chill in the air, focused entirely on the exit.A voice called her name before she could reach the driveway.“Elara.”She stopped, glancing over her shoulder. Adrian Snow stood there, tense. Suit disheveled in a way that suggested the panic he was trying to mask. His eyes flicked from her face to the surrounding street, as though seeking witnesses or leverage.“Mr. Snow,” she said, tone neutral.“I… we need to talk,” he said quickly, stepping forward. His hands were visible, raised slightly, a mix of pleading and self-preservation. “It’s urgent.”She allowed him to approach, though her expression remained composed, unreadable. She did not smile. She did not frown. She merely observed him, letting him reveal his state without comment.“Your… support,” he began, voice ca
Unbound
Elara Vale did not request the meeting through official channels.She sent a brief message through a neutral intermediary. The wording was simple. A discussion regarding overlapping interests. A possible collaboration. Private setting preferred.The location was a quiet restaurant overlooking the harbor. Neutral ground. No press. No visible security.Jasper agreed.He arrived exactly on time.Elara was already seated.She did not stand when he approached, but her gaze lifted immediately. Measured. Direct.“Mr. Brennan,” she said.“Ms. Vale.”He took the seat across from her without hesitation. No handshake. No unnecessary formality.The table between them was small. Minimal space. Intentional.“I appreciate you accepting,” she said.“You said it concerned mutual interests.”“It does.”A server approached. Jasper ordered without looking at the menu. Elara did the same. Neither discussed the choice.Once they were alone again, Elara placed a slim folder on the table.“I’ll be direct,” s
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