“Elijah, you have to let me do this,” Sophia said firmly, standing across from him in the dimly lit war room at Arthur Palace. Her arms were crossed, her gaze unyielding. Elijah leaned forward, placing his hands on the table as he studied the map laid out before them. “Sophia, this isn’t just dangerous—it’s reckless. Nathaniel is waiting for us to make a mistake, and putting you in his line of sight is exactly what he wants.” Sophia’s eyes softened for a moment, but her voice remained steady. “If we keep waiting, he’ll destroy everything we’ve worked for. The syndicate is losing ground, and this is our chance to end it. You said it yourself—Nathaniel won’t stop unless we force him out of hiding.” Elijah straightened, his jaw tightening. “And you want to use yourself as bait?” “Yes,” she said without hesitation. “But not without precautions. I trust you and Doug to ensure this plan works.” Doug, standing nearby, cleared his throat. “Marshal, with all due respect, Mrs. Norton

The secluded villa stood nestled among rolling hills, the golden glow of the setting sun spilling across the terrace. Sophia stepped out onto the balcony, her gaze sweeping over the tranquil landscape. The sound of the door clicking shut behind her drew her attention. She turned to see Elijah approaching, his expression softer than usual.   “You didn’t have to do all this, Elijah,” she said with a small smile, gesturing to the villa. “But it’s perfect.”  He stepped closer, his hand brushing hers as he leaned on the railing. “We needed this,” he said simply. “After everything, I thought you deserved a break—a moment to breathe.”   Sophia turned her body toward him, searching his face. “And what about you? Don’t pretend you don’t need this just

The warehouse district was eerily silent as Elijah and Doug closed in on the location where Sophia was held. The faint signal from her tracking device had led them to a decrepit shipping yard at the edge of Evendore. “Marshal,” Doug said, lowering his binoculars as they crouched behind a stack of rusted crates, “I count eight armed men patrolling the perimeter. Likely more inside.” Elijah’s eyes were cold as he studied the area. “We move quickly. Take out the guards silently, and create a diversion if necessary. Sophia’s safety comes first.” Doug nodded. “Understood, sir.” ...The plan unfolded with precision. Elijah moved like a shadow, neutralizing two guards without a sound, while Doug created a distraction by triggering a stack of metal pipes to collapse on the far side of the yard. The sudden clatter drew several of the remaining guards away. Elijah slipped into the building, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with tension, and the faint hum of muffled voices l

The call came through at dawn. Elijah stood at the window of Arthur Palace, his jaw tightening as Doug relayed the situation. "Marshal, Nathaniel’s forces are moving on multiple fronts. They’ve hit one of Sophia’s key manufacturing sites and are making a push toward the palace. We’ve also got reports of an assault on Lando Yale’s headquarters." Elijah turned from the window, his eyes blazing with determination. "He’s desperate. He’s throwing everything he has at us because he knows we’re closing in." Doug nodded. "We’ve already begun mobilizing defenses, sir. But Nathaniel’s got numbers on his side." Elijah’s hand clenched into a fist. "Numbers won’t matter. He’s underestimated what we’re willing to fight for." ...Sophia entered the room, her face set with resolve despite the chaos. "I’ve just heard. They’re targeting one of my main factories. I need to go there." Elijah stepped toward her, his voice firm but gentle. "It’s too dangerous. You’ve already done enough—" "En

Evendore was alive with celebration. The city’s streets were flooded with joy, music, and laughter, a stark contrast to the chaos of recent months. Nathaniel Thompson’s defeat had brought relief to the people, and for the first time in what felt like ages, there was hope in the air. But inside Arthur Palace, Elijah Norton felt anything but peace. In his study, Elijah stood by the window, gazing at the flickering city lights. His hand rested on the Norton crest engraved into his desk, his fingers tracing the design absentmindedly. The room was dimly lit, the only sounds the crackling of the fireplace and the faint hum of the celebration outside. “Marshal.” Doug’s voice broke the silence as he entered the study. In his hand was a dossier filled with intelligence reports. “The situation is more complicated than we hoped.” Elijah turned to face him, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. “Let me guess—Nathaniel’s shadow still lingers?” Doug nodded grimly. “Yes, sir. We’ve i