The trip back from the front lines of the financial war felt short and full of anxiety. I had won the market battle that nearly collapsed the Syndicate, but the victory left a gaping wound in the organization's structure. Now, it was time to make sure 'home' remained intact.
I landed in New York and went straight to Valerian. Lianna waited for me in the lobby, no longer pretending to be professional, but embracing me with bone-crushing strength. The hug was more real than all the financial victories I'd achieved.
"You're back," she whispered into my shoulder, her voice full of relief.
"I'm back," I replied, inhaling her perfume, the vanilla scent I'd missed for so long. "I sorted out the chaos. Elara escaped, but we destroyed the North's core support. Valerian is safe?"
"Safe," she sai
