My hand froze on the handle of my knife.

The regional syndicate was a network of families that controlled the entire East Coast.

If they had approved Caleb’s move, I was fighting a war I couldn’t win.

“They think you’re finished, Adrian,” Marcus said.

“They think your family is weak.”

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered.

Suddenly, the light bulb above us flickered and went out.

The boiler room was plunged into pitch darkness.

Only the faint red glow of the backup generator light illuminated the room.

Then, I heard it.

It was the sound of leather heels clicking slowly on the concrete floor outside.

The sound was rhythmic, steady, and entirely calm.

Marcus stiffened beside me, his grip tightening on his gun.

“She’s here,” Marcus whispered.

The shadow of a woman fell across the threshold of the boiler room door.

The smell of expensive perfume cut through the scent of blood and rust.

A flashlight beam cut through the dark, shining directly into my eyes.

“I knew you’d come for him, Adrian,” a voice called out from behind the light.

It was Elena.