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the sprawling estate where Lara now found herself trapped between worlds. The city's heartbeat pulsed beneath t

mning: secret financial records, coded messages, and photographs revealing a betrayal from within Marcus Adeniyi's own inn

-a trusted lieutenant, someone Marcus had co

out? And what price would be paid if the wro

e emerged from the shadows of the hallway, his usual cold, u

," he said, his voice l

gers trembling slightly. "Yes, but they've only raised more questions." She finall

sizing up its prey. "Betrayal runs deep

, here I am, trying to find

"You're learning fast. That's good. Becaus

what now? We can't just wait f

ped behind his back. "We draw a line in the sand.

e a heavy fog. This wasn't a game anymore. It

-

p of the city still hung, Lara and Marcus s

al territories were marked in red and blue. "Every inch of turf is a battlegroun

d to protect the people who are still loyal. S

"And weed out t

im, her voice firm

"Why? Because you want to save your brother-or b

She hadn't thought about it in thos

ession softened-not with affection, but with a grudging respe

-

and late-night strategy sessions. Lara found herself drawn deeper into Marcus

als-how a glance could betray a secret,

rust remai

lf alone with Elias, Marcus's lieutenant who had once warned his boss about her. H

dangerous game," E

aze steadily.

idn't reach his eyes

here," Lara replied evenl

ecause the moment you let you

ck, a fragile alliance forged in

-

. She had no idea where he was, or if he was even alive. The knowledge clawe

m-her phone vibrating on the nightstand. She

re's something you nee

. Was this another

city, opportunities to gain the upper hand were ra

-

t of the estate under the cover of darkness. The city felt colder now,

es creaking ominously in the wind. She hesitated fo

r one figure standing in the shadows-a wo

ice low. "I've been watching. You

s contains proof of the betrayal inside Marcus's circle-names, dat

led as she took the

"Because the enemy is closer than you think. And bec

d of footsteps echoed from outside.

-

silence. Marcus stood waiting in the moonlit co

e been through a sto

zing in her eyes. "I've found the tr

tant respect. "Good. Because if you want to live here, you need

settling over them both. "Then let'

fleeting touch charged with u

lefield

survival had o

-