Chapter 28 · Traitor's Invite

"Put the phone down, Evelyn. Now."

Kane’s hand clamped around her wrist, his grip tight enough to bruise. He didn't just take the device; he ripped it out of her hand. The screen was still glowing, a jagged neon-green map pulsing with a single, blinking red dot.

"Get off me!" Evelyn wrenched her arm back, her chest heaving. She stepped into his space, her boots clicking sharply against the metal floor of the safehouse. "It’s a direct line. He’s not just playing games anymore, Kane. He’s inviting us."

Kane didn't look at her. He stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing. "Inviting us? Since when does Marcus invite people to dinner without a knife at their throat?"

"Since he knows we're the only ones who can actually track the remaining shards," she snapped. She reached for the phone again, but Kane stepped back, holding it high above his head. He was a head taller, broader, and currently radiating a level of aggression that made the air in the room feel heavy.

"You’re naive," Kane spat. "You think because you’re a syndicate heiress you know how this works? This isn't a business merger.