Adrian’s POV
The penthouse is a haven of flickering firelight at midnight, the city’s glow muted beyond the windows, casting a warm sheen across the hardwood floor strewn with blueprints and USB data from the conference debacle. The air carries the faint scent of cedar from my cologne, mingled with the lingering warmth of Serena’s presence—her hand in mine during the fight, her breath against my neck as we strategized. I stand by the fireplace, my shirt sleeves rolled up, the faint scratches from our shared tension visible on my chest, a testament to the moments when fear drove us into each other’s arms. Elena’s clinic takeover plan, the coerced video of Jake, and Lila’s arrest have shifted the battlefield, but her escape with Nadia leaves a void of uncertainty. I’m Adrian Knight, a man w
