The fear in her uncle's eyes was palpable, and Ciara took a certain satisfaction in the fact that she was finally controlling the situation. The tables had turned, and now she was the one calling the shots. She was savoring every moment of it.

“Your promises mean nothing to me, Uncle,” Ciara said, her voice as cold as ice. “All I care about is the fact that you've broken my trust and the trust of my father, who trusted you above all else. And now you're going to tell me where that information is, or you'll face the consequences. Do you understand?”

Brandon's face was now a mask of terror,...