Calvin’s POVAndrea leans forward, her elbows on the polished wood, while James paces in the corner with his phone in hand. I tap my pen against the edge of my notepad, not because I’m taking notes, but because it’s the only thing keeping me from snapping.“We’re not just dealing with a hostile inve
Stevie’s POVThe café is packed, but the noise fades into the background as I sit with my back to the wall, my leg bouncing under the table. It’s not nerves — I tell myself it’s not nerves — but a mix of adrenaline and sheer pissed-off determination. I know he’s going to show. Sterling’s the type wh
Calvin’s POVI stand at the head of the table, staring down the people I once thought I could trust. Some avoid my gaze, others sit with their arms crossed, brimming with defiance. I can feel my pulse pounding in my temples."Do you even realize what you’ve done?" I demand, my eyes sweeping across t
Serena’s POVThe moment I step into the conference room, the tension hits like a freight train. A mix of familiar faces and newer ones sit around the table, but it’s Elaine Marks — one of my longest-standing board members and someone I once considered an ally — who catches my attention. She’s seated
Bill’s POVJames sits across from me in my home office. He leans forward, tapping a few keys on his laptop. “It’s not just Titan Group,” he says, his voice low but sharp. “Sterling’s playing a long game. He’s systematically dismantling Calvin’s leadership while undermining Etoile de Collin. And I’v
Stevie’s POVI don’t know if it’s the hormones or the sheer stubbornness that’s keeping me glued to this desk, but either way, I’m not stopping. My laptop hums faintly as I scroll through another scanned document, one eye on the screen and the other on the clock. Calvin’s been busy with his own batt
Calvin’s POVAndrea leans forward, her tone razor-sharp. “Sterling’s been moving pieces for years, Calvin. Everything from these leaks to the smear campaigns — they’re deliberate. And now, with his influence over the board, he’s primed to make his final move.”I sit back in my chair, letting her wor
Serena’s POVI’m sitting at my desk, the sleek surface of it stacked with papers and files that shouldn’t feel so heavy. But they do. Each document is another piece of evidence that points to Sterling’s involvement in the chaos surrounding Etoile de Collin. Every thread I pull on unravels more than
Bill’s POVI ignore the pain in my ribs as I push through the doors of Calvin’s office. Every step sends a dull, burning ache through my side, but I don’t slow down. I don’t have the patience for weakness right now.Calvin and James are already at the table, hunched over a laptop, deep in discussion
Stevie’s POVThe house is quiet, the kind of quiet that feels rare lately.I rock Elijah gently, his tiny body curled against my chest, his breath warm and steady. His little fingers twitch slightly, grasping onto the fabric of my sweater in his sleep. I close my eyes for a moment, listening to the
Calvin’s POVThe study smells like coffee, old paper, and exhaustion. The kind of exhaustion that doesn’t just sit in your bones but in your mind, making every thought feel heavier than it should. The desk lamp flickers slightly, casting uneven light over the chaos of blueprints, files, and scattere
Serena’s POVThe house is finally quiet.I stand by the twins’ crib, watching their small chests rise and fall in slow, steady breaths. Their room is dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlight, casting gentle shadows along the walls. For the first time in what feels like forever, they’re both asle
Bill’s POVPain.That’s the first thing I register. A deep, dull ache pulsing through my ribs, spreading through my chest like a slow burn. It’s not unbearable, but it’s enough to remind me that I’m not at full strength. Not even close.I blink against the morning light filtering through the curtain
Stevie’s POVThe four of us sit in Bill and Serena’s living room, the weight of everything pressing down like a storm cloud.No one speaks at first.Bill is in a wheelchair, recovering from the gunshot wound that was meant for Calvin. His face is pale, drawn tight with exhaustion, but his eyes are s
Calvin’s POVI should’ve done this sooner.For months, I’ve been playing defense, trying to keep my family safe while Sterling takes shot after shot. I’ve been reacting, scrambling to patch the holes he punches in our lives.But that ends now.Bill is in a hospital bed because of him.My son was nea
Serena’s POVI don’t move from Bill’s side.The hospital room is dim, the only light coming from the monitors next to his bed, casting a soft glow over his face. His breathing is steady, but the sound of it isn’t enough to calm me. The machines beep in slow, measured rhythms, a reminder that he’s st
Stevie’s POVThe call comes in just after midnight.I almost don’t answer.Elijah finally went down an hour ago, and I was hoping for maybe one solid stretch of sleep. But my phone vibrating on the nightstand sends a jolt through my system.No one calls this late unless it’s bad news.I grab my phon