Chapter 1:

Mutual Friends

The bar was loud, the kind of noisy that made you lean in closer just to hear someone. I nursed my beer at the long table our group had claimed near the back, half-listening to Mark ramble about his latest promotion while my eyes scanned the door. College buddies reuniting same old crew, just older, more tired, and with better salaries.

Then he walked in.

Tall, clean-cut guy in a crisp button-down that looked like it had never seen a wrinkle in its life. Dark hair, sharp jaw, the kind of face that probably got him whatever he wanted without much effort. Mark jumped up immediately....