The sirens grew louder. A distant wail that signaled the final collapse of Ronan Vale's empire.
Moris Sinclair stood motionless, watching Ronan's face twist from smug confidence to barely concealed rage. The predator had become the prey.
The spotlight bore down on Ronan and his men, illuminating their helplessness. His people shifted uneasily, eyes darting around, their fingers twitching toward their weapons. But they knew the truth.
There was no way out.
Check, But Not Mate
Ronan exhaled slowly, straightening his suit jacket. The flicker of fury in his eyes was masked by something else—calculation.
"I'll give you credit, Sinclair," he said, voice eerily calm. "I underestimated you."
Moris took a step forward. "That was your first mistake."
Ronan smirked. "And my second?"
Moris leaned in slightly. "Thinking you could play my game."
A slow clap echoed from behind them.
A new voice. Low. Amused. Dangerous.
Moris turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows—a man in his late forties, sharp eyes glinting with amusement. Victor Mendez.
Sarah sucked in a breath. Isabel's eyes narrowed.
This was unexpected.
Victor Mendez wasn't just another businessman. He was a name spoken in hushed whispers. A kingmaker. A ghost in the power plays of the elite.
And he had just walked into the middle of their war.
A New Player on the Board
Victor's presence changed everything. The weight of his gaze fell on both Moris and Ronan.
"You boys have made quite the mess," he said, strolling leisurely into the space between them. "You know, I usually stay out of these little rivalries. But this?" He gestured around. "This is entertaining."
Moris's jaw tightened. He didn't like surprises.
Ronan's smirk returned. "And here I thought you were just watching from the sidelines."
Victor tilted his head. "I was. Until you both made a mistake."
Moris's eyes locked onto his. "Which is?"
Victor's smile was slow, deliberate. "Forgetting that no matter how powerful you think you are, there's always someone bigger."
The sirens were almost upon them. The police would be here any second.
Moris had planned for everything. But not this.
Ronan wasn't backing down. He wasn't afraid anymore.
Because he had Victor Mendez.
And that changed the game entirely.