SOPHIA'S POV

The rain had come back and was tapping softly against the glass window of the study inside Lucas's mountain villa. The room smelled of old paper, shiny dark wood, and strong, bitter coffee.

I sat behind the heavy oak desk and stared at the glowing screen of Lucas's locked laptop. The silver dragon crest of the Vance Syndicate stared back at me like a silent threat.

"The Vance Syndicate doesn't make random business moves," Lucas said, leaning against the edge of the desk. He held a cup of black coffee, and his knuckles were white against the cup. His eyes were dark and heavy with the tiredness of...