LOGINColllenI 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
SavannahI woke up before my alarm that morning, mostly because my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing on the nightstand. It took me a second to actually reach for it, and when I did, I saw Julian’s name lighting up the screen. Three missed calls, one message, and the time stamp told me he’d been up way too early for anyone’s good.‘Meet me at the river. Please.’ That was his message.Sent at 4:07 a.m.I sat there for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light, wondering what exactly could’ve pushed him into this level of urgency. I already had a feeling, but I pretended I didn’t. It’s easier that way sometimes. Still, I got dressed without overthinking it and left the house quietly, the early morning air hitting me with that crisp chill that always wakes you up faster than coffee.The walk to the river was quiet. There were no cars yet, no students trudging to class, no families out for their weekend jogs. Just me and the fog sitting lazily over the water. I spotted Julian before he no
JulianI knew the FBI wasn’t finished with me, but I didn’t expect the knock on my door to feel so terrifying. It was early, too early for anyone normal to be awake, but that’s when the pounding starts. Three heavy hits that were not polite or patient. But then again, I never knew the feds to operate ever so calmly. I drag myself from the couch, the remnants of last night’s headache still dragging behind my eyes. I barely twisted the lock before the door was shoved inward, nearly slamming into me. And there he was, the FBI agent. The same one who has been circling my life like a vulture for the past few days. Only this time, he wasn’t pretending to be friendly.“We’ve got a problem, Julian,” he snapped, and stepped inside like he owned the place. His eyes swept the room with a cold assessment that made my skin crawl. “A big one.”Despite his rudeness, I slowly shut the door tight. “You don’t get to barge into my home like that.” I blurted.He turned to me, and his expression never ch







