The penthouse was silent except for the faint hum of the rain against the glass.
Ava sat on the edge of the leather sofa, the flash drive resting in her palm like a loaded gun. Liam stood near the desk, sleeves rolled back, every line of his body rigid.
Neither of them moved for a long time.
“Last chance to walk away,” Liam said finally, his voice low, deliberate. “You plug that in, you can’t unsee it.”
Ava met his eyes. “That’s the point.”
He exhaled sharply, then crossed to the desk and slid his laptop toward her. The drive clicked into place with a muted sound that seemed too small for how heavy it felt.
The screen went black for three seconds, then filled with a single folder. No labels. No dates. Just a symbol — a jagged black crown.
Liam’s jaw flexed. “He’s sending a message.”
