**Emilio's Penthouse — 5:36 AM**
The lights stayed off.
Emilio blinked up at the high ceiling, breath ragged, muscles sluggish.
He was alone.
The syringe had rolled off the velvet couch. The recording device was gone. So were his shoes. His shirt was damp with sweat and shame.
But he was alive.
Barely.
**Maroni Estate — Emerie's Guest Suite**
Emerie sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by paper.
Documents, depositions, voice memos, USB drives.
Her laptop glowed faintly beside her. The ledger was open.
**Folder: FINAL PHASE
Tag: Emilio / Incident / Executable**
She stared at a black screen with one white box:
> "DISSEMINATE PACKAGE?"
Two buttons: **YES** / **NO**
She didn't click. Not yet.
Not until she had the one thing she wanted:
A name spoken under regret—not p
