The Rivera estate was silent except for the ticking grandfather clock in the hall and the faint hum of night insects beyond the tall windows. Damien Rivera stood alone in his office, staring at the map of the city pinned against the corkboard. His dark eyes followed the red string that crisscrossed between photographs of Valcov’s known associates. A single pin glowed under a desk lamp. Valcov’s mid-tier enforcer, whose name had surfaced in whispers from him during the last interrogation.
Luke entered quietly, closing the heavy door behind him. “You’re still awake,” he said, his voice a low rumble.
Damien didn’t look up. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“You should be resting,” Luke reminded him. “That surgery wasn’t long ago.”
“I rest when Sera is safe,” Damien replied. He pulled a folded sheet of pa
