MasukSavannahI’d dreaded this day for weeks now, but somehow I also knew that I couldn’t run away from it for so long. I got to the building thirty minutes early, hoping I would have some time to calm down, but I didn’t. The quiet hallway outside the boardroom felt heavy, almost like it already knew what was waiting for me on the other side of the door. I stood there for a moment, breathing slowly, telling myself it would be fine, that I had handled worse, that I could still turn things around.But then someone opened the door and called me in. The room was colder than usual. Twelve board members sat around the long, polished table, all of them watching me with the same blank expression. My father wasn’t here today, but I still felt him hovering in the back of my mind, the way I always did in moments like this.I heaved a deep breath and sat down quietly. The chairman leaned forward with a calm look and then began. “Ms. Ford,” he said, “why don’t we begin with your progress? These past mo
ColleenI didn’t rush when I walked into the dining room. If anything, I slowed down a little just to irritate them. The whole room was set up like a scene from one of those old family photos we used to take, long table polished until it reflected the ceiling lights, chairs aligned too neatly, and everyone sitting with that stiff, practiced posture they always used whenever something “important” was happening.As I stepped inside, I let the door close behind me, not bothering to hide the amused smirk on my face. It felt appropriate. After all, this was the same family that tossed me out like a bad investment. Now they had summoned me back as if I was supposed to be grateful for the invitation.Uriel was the first to look at me; her expression was already tight. My cousin, Leora, avoided eye contact, which made sense. She never did well with confrontation. And then there was William, my father, sitting at the head of the table with the same unreadable expression he always wore. I pann
ColllenI was scrolling through some of the hidden files I had on the Crow and his partnership with my family when I heard a sudden knock on the door. For a moment, I hesitated to open it, but then I heard the knock again, and this time I stood up and cautiously approached it. When I opened it, I saw Frank standing outside my door just after noon, holding a cream-colored envelope like it was something sacred. He was our family butler, and I’d seen that stationery enough times to know exactly where it came from, which was why I didn’t touch it at first. I just looked at him, half amused, half confused.“What’s this supposed to be?” I asked.He didn’t answer right away. He simply extended the envelope toward me, his expression flat in that overly professional way he’d perfected after decades of serving my family. “A message from the house,” he said flatly.At first, I hesitated, but then I took it, mostly because he wasn’t going to leave until I did. The paper was thick, the seal press
UrielFor the longest time, I stood just inside the doorway with my arms crossed, watching the room settle into an uneasy silence. Savannah’s words were still fresh in my mind, and every moment that passed, it felt sharp across my skin. The way she had spoken about Colleen, the way she’d tried to make sense of it all. It wasn’t just the betrayal or the audacity of working with the Fords; it was the fact that he had slipped past all of us, moving through both sides like he belonged nowhere and everywhere at once. His actions were the kind that made you question how well you really knew anyone in your family.Father sat at the head of the table, his posture straight, and his hands resting calmly, yet you could feel the tension rolling off him like waves. He never rushed to judgment, never showed his cards too early. And even now, after hearing everything I had to tell him, he didn’t raise his voice, didn’t slam a hand on the table, or declare war immediately like I’d secretly hoped for.
SavannahThe park was quiet at this hour. It was just a few scattered gym equipment, some rusted metal structures, and the soft hum of boats somewhere farther out. It didn’t take long before another familiar black sedan pulled in, stopping with the kind of sleek precision that made it clear the driver wasn’t here for anything casual.I watched as a few men stepped out, flashing their weapons just enough for us to know bro to try anything stupid. I didn’t need anyone to tell me. This was the cartel, and in that moment, it made me wonder how a man who had pledged to uphold justice and fight crime could turn around to work with people like these.Still, the FBI agent didn’t bark or sneer; he just stood there like someone whose time wasn’t supposed to be wasted.His eyes flicked between me and Julian, taking in the spacing between us, our posture, the way we stood slightly aligned instead of scattered. “So,” he said, crossing his arms, “which of you is talking today?”“I am.”Julian staye
SavannahBy the time the sun rose, the weight of everything finally settled in a way neither Julian nor I could ignore. We had been dancing around the situation for days, pretending we still had enough space to maneuver, enough excuses to buy time, and enough distance to stay untouched. But the truth was clearer now than ever: none of that was true anymore. Not for him or for me. And definitely not for whatever was unfolding around us at this point.We were running out of room, and I could feel it. Julian stood still with his hands on his hips and his eyes fixed on the distance ahead. And me? I just stood there, watching him think through all the same conclusions I had already arrived at hours earlier. The silence between us wasn’t heavy this time; it was simply… honest. Like we had finally run out of places to hide.“So,” he finally said, looking over at me. “What now?”“We start acting,” I said firmly.He blinked once, slowly, as if he needed a second to replay the sentence. “Meanin







