Twilight painted the old villa in shades of purple and gold when Ethan finally emerged, lingering in the doorway for a long moment before stepping into the gathering darkness.
Just as his engine roared to life, a man in mirrored sunglasses materialized in front of his car, blocking his path with deliberate arrogance.
"Move," Ethan snapped, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel, his gaze like shards of ice piercing through the windshield.
The stranger did not budge. His hands buried deep in his trench coat pockets, he leaned in with a smirk. "Hold your horses, Mr. Bennett. My boss sent me with something that will blow your mind."
With a theatrical flourish, he produced a flash drive and tossed it onto the hood with a metallic clatter. A mocking whistle pierced the air as he saunt
