I pulled away from him and snatched the silver flash drive from the laptop.

“I have the ledger history,” I said.

I looked at the screen one last time, the name ‘Vesper Group’ burned into my retinas.

Damiano had built the man who ruined my life.

We ran out into the corridor.

The air was thick with gray smoke that smelled of plaster and burnt powder.

Damiano was at the end of the hall, reloading his pistol.

His face was calm, but his shirt was torn at the shoulder.

“Did you get it?” Damiano asked, his eyes locking onto mine.

“We stopped the mercenary payroll,” I said, keeping my voice level.

“Good,” Damiano said. “Their comms are already going wild. They’re realizing they aren’t getting paid.”

A heavy boot stepped onto the wooden stairs at the end of the hall.

“Arya!” Marcus shouted again from the landing below.

“He’s coming up,” Damiano said.

He pushed me behind him, toward the back staircase.

“Go with Marco,” Damiano said. “I’ll finish this.”

“You can’t kill him here,” I said. “He has federal connections. If he dies in your house, the city will tear you apart.”