Asa's POV
The file lay between us on the table like a live grenade. Lydia’s fingers lingered on it for a moment before she finally slid it toward me.
“Everything?” I asked.
“As much as I could gather in one hour.” she replied, lighting a cigarette. “Names, locations, financials… and one picture that might interest you.”
I flipped the folder open and saw typed reports, photographs, maps of Europe with red circles marking cities like Prague, Naples, and Lagos. It was an empire hiding behind smoke. Then I saw the picture she meant — Dario Alvez.
He was standing in front of a bar somewhere in Lisbon, face partly shadowed but still clear enough for recognition.
“Dario Alvez.” Lydia said softly. “Your Syndicate’s leader. Do you remember him?” she asked.
“No.”
She smiled faintly, not bec
