By the time night fully settled over the city, the hours seemed to have slipped by unnoticed.
After dinner, Matthew Powell spent a short, quiet stretch of time with his wife and child. The warmth of the family table—simple conversation, ordinary laughter—stood in sharp contrast to what awaited him outside. Once everything was settled and the household lights dimmed, he left alone.
His destination was the Supreme Club.
This place was the stronghold of Joseph Bailey, and when it came to Joseph, Matthew held a rare measure of respect. Over the years, the underground world of Valor City had remained unusually orderly under Joseph’s control. He ran his territory with discipline, enforcing boundaries with precision. More importantly, he followed the rules set by The Obsidian Circle to the let
