The silence in the foyer was heavy enough to fracture.
Julian Vance stood just inside the threshold, unbothered by the leveled pistol in Bella’s hand or the lethal, predatory tension radiating from Damien.
He took a slow, deliberate sip from his ceramic cup, his dark eyes calmly measuring the room as if he were inspecting a vacation rental rather than standing face-to-face with an enraged Alpha and a woman who had recently vaporized an elite Council enforcer.
"A partnership," Bella repeated, her voice a low, razor-sharp hiss. She didn't lower her weapon by a millimeter. "The Council is dead, the syndicate's local cell is fried, and the Spires are ash also. There is nothing left to partner over, Mr. Vance."
"Oh, my dear Bella—may I call you Bella? I feel we share a certain mutual exhau
