Elena's POV
The meeting with the reporter was set for a small, quiet diner on the edge of the city. Early morning light filtered through dusty windows as Adrian and I sat across from a man who looked like he'd been running for years.
His name was now Thomas Reed, but the old articles called him David Harlan. He kept glancing at the door, fingers tapping the table like he expected trouble any second. His hands were scarred—a burn mark across his left knuckles. He caught me looking and tucked it under the table.
"You're the ones asking about Emily Sterling," he said, voice low. His eyes flicked to me, then Adrian. "The ones who brought Vanessa down."
Adrian nodded. "We need the truth. All of it."
David took a slow sip of coffee. His hands shook slightly, sloshing the liquid. He set the
