Morning light spilled across the Rivera estate’s training hall, turning the polished wood floor into rippling gold. Lila adjusted the padded mats one last time, her expression set in its usual calm focus. The faint sound of birds outside mingled with the faint echo of her boots on the floor as she arranged training knives and sparring pads. She was determined to make today’s session count. Amara had improved rapidly these past weeks, and Damien had trusted Lila to push her harder.
Lila tied her dark hair into a tight ponytail, exhaling slowly. Despite the chaos outside, the mafia trails, the Spider’s whispers, here she could impose order. But the estate was rarely truly quiet for long.
The door swung open. Heavy steps—confident, unhurried. Luke entered the room wearing a gray long-sleeve
