Dorian Vance did not move. He stood on the polished granite floor of the eighteen-floor corridor, watching a dog that had killed two men in defense of his estate press his massive,

The convoy of three black armored SUVs moved swiftly through the freezing rain, gliding along the deserted stretch of the Interstate toward the wealthy suburb of Lake Forest.

Marin sat in the back seat of the middle SUV, wrapped in a thick wool coat Dorian had given her. Titan sat beside her, his huge body providing a comforting warmth against the leather interior.

Inside the iron gates of the Boyd estate, two security guards stood near the front door. But when they saw the lead SUV’s plates and recognized Dorian Vance stepping out into the slush, they immediately backed away, dropping their heads in silence.

Dorian didn't bother knocking. Marcus used a heavy iron passkey to release the electronic lock, and the heavy double doors swung open into a magnificent marble foyer illuminated by a crystal chandelier.

From the top of the grand staircase, Garrett Boyd appeared, carrying two heavy leather duffel bags. He was wearing an expensive cashmere sweater, but his hair was uncombed and his face was slick with sweat.

When he saw Dorian standing in his foyer, he froze, dropping both bags onto the carpeted stairs.

"Dorian..." Garrett stammered, his voice cracking. "What... what are you doing here? I was... I was just heading to the office to gather the reconciliation files—"

"Save it, Garrett," Dorian said, walking slowly into the center of the foyer. "Midway Airport at 7:00 AM. A Gulfstream G450 bound for Saint Martin. You packed four million in bearer bonds and three passports."

Garrett backed up two steps, looking frantically toward the back exits. But two of Dorian’s men were already standing in the hallway behind him.

"Dorian, listen to me!" Garrett pleaded, extending a trembling hand. "I can explain! It wasn't my idea! Arthur... your uncle Arthur forced me into it! He controlled the construction permits! If I didn't funnel the funds through Apex, he threatened to ruin my family!"

"You ruined your own family the day you put a forged signature on Daniel Caldwell’s death record," Dorian said coldly.

Garrett’s eyes widened. For the first time, he looked past Dorian and noticed the woman standing near the front door, wrapped in a dark coat, supported by a heavy black cane that Marcus had provided for her.

"Marin..." Garrett whispered, his lips turning blue.

Marin walked forward, her cane clicking rhythmically against the white marble floor. Titan walked at her left side, his ears pinned back, his dark eyes locked onto Garrett with lethal focus.

She stopped at the foot of the stairs, looking up at the man who had ordered her life destroyed.

"My husband was twenty-eight years old," Marin said, her voice clear, strong, and completely devoid of fear. "He worked twelve hours a day so we could buy a small house with a yard. He trusted your company. He trusted your supervisors."

"Marin, please..." Garrett choked out. "I signed a check... I gave you an emergency allowance—"

"You gave me three thousand dollars for a funeral and forged his name to steal his insurance," Marin interrupted, her gray eyes burning like cold steel. "You hid behind lawyers, behind Roland Pike, behind dark hallways. You thought I was nobody because I cleaned your floors."

She took one step up the stairs.

"Look at me, Garrett," she commanded.

Garrett, trembling so violently he could barely hold himself upright, forced his eyes down to meet hers.

"I am the nobody who is going to watch you lose everything," she said softly.