CHAPTER 34: SHADOWS AT THE RIVER
Rain began falling over Manhattan just after midnight, turning the city streets slick with silver reflections and restless movement. From the penthouse windows, the storm made New York look colder than usual, harder somehow, like the entire city sensed the tension building beneath its skyline. Vivian stood near the kitchen counter watching Sebastian prepare as though he were leaving for a business meeting instead of walking toward what could easily become an ambush. That calmness unsettled her more than panic would have. He moved with careful precision, fastening his watch, adjusting the sleeves of his dark coat, every motion controlled. She hated how normal he made danger look. Naomi sat on the couch with a laptop open, tracking every bit of information
