The night pressed against the windows like a tide of shadow, heavy and relentless. Alyssa stood in the center of her office, fingers clenched around a stack of reports she could no longer read. Her pulse throbbed with the remnants of fury—fury at Davin, at Lionel, at the entire board…

And at Ethan.

The door slammed open.

Ethan stepped in, chest rising and falling with barely contained rage.

“Why didn’t you tell me you confronted Lionel?”

Alyssa didn’t turn. “Because I didn’t need your permission.”

He took another step, voice rising. “Permission? Alyssa, this is dangerous. Davin isn’t going to sit quietly while you dismantle his network.”

She finally faced...