The dimly lit warehouse just outside the city felt like the eye of a storm. It was isolated—secluded from prying eyes—but for Julian, it was perfect. Too perfect.
His plan was simple: lure Victor Crane’s network into a meeting with a supposed informant. The idea was to bait Crane’s people into revealing their next move, forcing them to expose themselves before Julian could take control.
But something about the setup didn’t sit right. Julian was always meticulous, always calculated, but tonight—his instincts itched with suspicion.
Cecile was already in place, working from the shadows, as usual. Her contacts had been reliable so far, but tonight’s operation was more dangerous than anything they’d done before.
Julian stood by the car, his gaze scanning the perimeter. His security team was
