Elijah paced in his study, his mind swirling with frustration.The file on Marcus lay open on the desk, the evidence staring him in the face, but something didn’t feel right.He had confronted Marcus earlier that day, but the man had vehemently denied any involvement in the sabotage or any connections to the syndicate.“I’ve never betrayed you, Marshal,” Marcus had said, his voice steady but strained.“I’ve fought by your side for years. Why would I turn on you now?”Elijah’s instincts told him there was more to the story, but without solid proof, he couldn’t make his move.&nbs
Sophia lay in bed, her breaths soft but steady. The improvement in her condition was slight but noticeable.The fractures that had caused her the most pain were healing, and she could walk again, albeit slowly. Bandages still framed her pale face, but the worst seemed to be over. Elijah watched her carefully, his heart tight with a mixture of relief and frustration.“Take it easy, Sophia,” Elijah said softly as he stood beside her. His voice carried a deep undercurrent of concern. Sophia smiled weakly as she slowly took a few steps with his help.“I’m trying, Elijah. It just feels good to be up again, even if I can’t do much.”Her strength was returning, but the toll on both of them had been severe.Elijah hadn’t slept properly in days, his mind consumed by the enemies closing in on all sides. But none of that mattered when he saw Sophia moving, alive, and slowly recovering.But something still bothered him.He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Sophia, has anyone else give
Elijah stood by the large window of Arthur Palace, the evening sun casting an orange glow across the room.His mind raced with conflicting thoughts as he prepared for his confrontation with the Cobra.He knew that Asher was the real enemy, the mastermind behind everything that had happened to Sophia. But ignoring the Cobra's challenge wasn’t an option—he couldn’t risk losing valuable intel. “Doug,” Elijah called out, his voice low but firm.Doug, always alert and ready, entered the room. “Yes, Marshal?”“Have you gathered everything on the Cobra’s movements?”Doug nodded, handing Elijah a folder.“We’ve traced his recent activity to a safe house outside the city. It’s heavily guarded, but we can breach it if needed. He’s waiting for you.”Elijah’s eyes narrowed as he flipped through the documents.“The Cobra won’t be expecting me to come alone, but I’ll handle this personally.”Doug gave a nod, though his eyes held concern.“Marshal, are you sure? We know Asher’s the one pulling the
Elijah's mind was sharp, focused on the task ahead. He had left Doug in charge of monitoring Sophia’s safety, ensuring no traps could be sprung in his absence.This was it—the final showdown with the Cobra.His thoughts drifted to Sophia for a brief moment as he tightened the straps on his tactical gear.She was healing, but he could still see the worry in her eyes.The pain in her ribs had subsided, but the emotional wounds were still raw. It made him even more determined to end this—once and for all.He glanced at the message on his phone again, the Cobra’s challenge burned into his mind.
Elijah entered the grand ballroom, his eyes scanning the crowd. The air was thick with wealth and power—two things he’d grown used to manipulating.As he walked through the elegant space, dressed in a sharp black suit and his “James Hamesworth” persona firmly in place, his mind was focused.Tonight wasn’t just about blending in—it was about playing the game with Olivia and the Winters.Olivia spotted him the moment he arrived. Her face lit up, and she glided toward him, her silk dress clinging to her curves.She was stunning, as always, but Elijah wasn’t here for that. His eyes remained cold, though he allowed a small, flirtatious smile to curl at the edges of his lips.“James,” she breathed, reaching out to touch his arm. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come.”Elijah tilted his head, flashing her a charming grin.“I wouldn’t miss it, Olivia. After all, you promised me a surprise.”She laughed, a sound that might have fooled anyone else into thinking she was simply a woman in lo
Sophia stepped into the office building, the familiar scent of coffee and polished wood hitting her as she crossed the lobby.It had been weeks since she’d last been there, and while her physical wounds were healing, the emotional ones still lingered.Her ribs ached with every step, but it was nothing compared to the tightness in her chest at the thought of facing her family again.As she reached the top floor, the tension in her shoulders grew. The Donald family wasn’t known for its warmth, and after the phone call with her grandfather, Ethan, Sophia knew she wasn’t going to get a warm welcome.The moment she entered the boardroom, her grandfather’s sharp gaze landed on her.
Elijah stood in front of the large map spread across his desk, his sharp eyes scanning the different points of interest marked on it.The hunt for Alan Shaw had begun, and he knew exactly how to draw him out.The Shaws had lost everything—thanks to Elijah—and Kevin Shaw had made it his life’s mission to seek revenge.But Alan, Sophia’s ex-fiancé, was the one who would make the first move, and Elijah was ready to end this.Doug entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him."Marshal, we’ve confirmed Alan’s location. He’s been gathering a few loyal men. They’re planning something, but it’s unclear what exactly."Elijah’s jaw tightened. "It doesn’t matter. We strike first."Doug nodded, stepping closer to the desk. "He’s holed up at a warehouse outside the city. Not heavily guarded, but enough men to make things messy if we aren’t careful."Elijah’s eyes darkened. "We’ll lure him out. I want him isolated. This ends tonight."...Meanwhile, at Arthur Palace, Sophia lay on the couc
Elijah paced the length of his office at Arthur Palace, his mind racing. Alan Shaw was dead, but that wasn’t the end of it. Kevin Shaw, Alan’s father, was already plotting revenge, and this time, it wasn’t just a personal vendetta. It was something much bigger."Marshal," Doug said, stepping into the room."It’s confirmed. Kevin Shaw has been working with Duke West. They’re planning something big."Elijah stopped pacing and turned to face Doug, his jaw clenched. "What are we looking at?"Doug’s eyes were serious, his voice low. "Kevin’s filled with rage after Alan’s death. He wants your head, but it’s more than that now. Duke West is using Kevin’s anger to his advantage. They’ve mobilized a force—something much larger than just revenge. They’re coming for you, and they’re coming hard."Elijah’s fists tightened. "So, Kevin’s not just trying to avenge his son. He’s trying to reclaim his family’s lost honor.""Exactly," Doug replied."And Duke West sees this as an opportunity to weaken y