Elijah paced across his office, the tension in the air thickening with each passing second. Doug stood nearby, his face grim as he delivered the latest update."Duke West’s men are already making moves, Marshal," Doug said."They’ve infiltrated some of the key personnel tied to Sophia’s deal with Lando Yale. William Winter is also playing his part, trying to sabotage it from the inside."Elijah clenched his fists. He had expected this, but the sheer coordination of the attack showed how determined Duke West and William Winter were to ruin Sophia’s progress—and his."We can’t let them win," Elijah said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him."This deal is too important for Sophia. I want you to secure every corner, Doug. No loose ends."Doug nodded sharply."Already on it. I’ve got eyes on Yale’s top advisors, and we’ve neutralized a few of Duke’s informants. But it’s a battle now. Duke’s going to push harder."Elijah’s jaw tightened. He had dealt with Duke West before,

Elijah stood in his study, going over the plans laid out before him. His mind was sharp, calculating every possible angle, every move Duke West and William Winter might make. He needed to get ahead of them.This time, he’d lure Asher and the remnants of the Shaw brothers' forces into his trap, weakening Duke West’s resources in one decisive move.Doug entered, his expression grim but resolute."Marshal, our men have confirmed Asher’s gathering Zack and Kevin Shaw’s remaining forces.""Perfect," Elijah replied, his voice edged with determination."Make sure he’s led straight into our setup. I want Asher to believe he’s closing in on me, not the other way around."Doug nodded, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "He’ll walk right into it. Just say the word.""Then let's start," Elijah ordered, his tone final....The tension between Elijah and Sophia had been thick lately, and Elijah could feel it growing by the day.Sophia had been hurt by her family’s manipulations and was dea

Back at Arthur Palace, Sophia paced the long hallway, worry etched across her face. Elijah’s strange behavior and frequent absences had started to weigh on her heavily.It wasn’t just the secrecy that troubled her—it was the feeling that he was involved in something dark and dangerous, something he was determined to keep her from understanding.Finally, she called Doug, hoping for some answers. She waited as the line connected, her fingers tapping nervously against the phone."Doug, can you tell me where Elijah is?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.Doug hesitated."Miss Sophia, the Marshal is… handling important matters. He’s doing everything he can to protect you and the life you both have."Sophia sighed, frustration clear in her voice."I just wish he’d tell me the truth. It feels like he’s slipping away, and I don’t know why."Doug’s voice softened."He’s doing all of this for you, Miss Sophia. He’s protecting everything that matters most to him. Just trust him… he’ll come b

Sophia sat alone in the dimly lit living room, frustration radiating from her as she looked at the clock. Elijah had managed to slip in after she’d fallen asleep last night and had left again before she’d even woken up. It felt like he was there, just beyond her reach, but distant enough to leave her feeling alone. She took a deep breath, her thoughts swirling as she paced back and forth.Just as she was debating whether to call him, the door opened, and Elijah stepped in, his face showing signs of exhaustion. “Elijah,” she said, her tone tense. “Sophia,” he acknowledged with a soft nod, closing the door behind him.

The cold night air whipped through the empty alley as Elijah faced Duke West in a standoff, each man’s stance mirroring the other’s intensity.The city lights cast long shadows across the walls, adding to the tension that hung between them.The silence between them felt heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of skirmishes as their men clashed in nearby streets.“You’ve become predictable, West,” Elijah taunted, his eyes narrowing as he took a step forward.“Always hiding behind an army. When was the last time you fought for yourself?”Duke West’s lips curled into a cold smile.“Is that what you think? That I hide behind others?” He paused, letting his words sink in.“Control, Elijah. True control comes from knowing when to use power and when to let others wield it for you.”Elijah’s expression didn’t falter.“That’s not control—it’s cowardice. Real strength doesn’t hide in the shadows.”Duke let out a mocking laugh, slowly circling Elijah, sizing him up.“You’re strong, yes. But you