As the car door opened, I stepped out feeling free and limitless. I adjusted my shirt to its proper fit, smoothing down the fabric as I finally exited the vehicle into the warm Italian air.

Ahead of me, I caught sight of my family through the tinted lenses of my sunglasses. They looked far less happy than when I had left them for America. All of this chaos was Shedrack's fault—but before I dealt with him, I needed to handle his shadow associate first.

They all stared in absolute shock, their faces  with the weight of shed tears as I began my approach. Before I had covered even half the...