Shadows of the untouchable

a background Sophia barely registered. She sat near the window, clutching the worn envelope Victor had handed her. Every so oft

them-she hadn't exactly been forthcoming about where she was going or what she was doing. Not because she didn't trust them, but because saying it

he couldn't afford to waste time; the contents of that envelope needed to be analyzed and cross-referenced with her existing research. I

she couldn't shake:"If Sterling finds out what y

s of the city. She pulled her hood up against the chill and slipped into the flow of ped

The faint hum of the fridge and the muted noise of the city outside were the only

it for a moment before carefully opening it, her fingers trembling slightly. Inside was a s

man named Darius Cole, discussing offshore accounts and massive transfers of money. The languag

g into overdrive. She quickly realized that these weren't just pieces of evidence; they were p

name kept appearing in the documents,

name into her search database, cross-referencing it with everything she

out of her thoughts. This time, she

ring the call and trying

mix of relief and irritation. "You've bee

at the stack of papers on her coun

ease tell me you're not do

ated. "Defin

ng with fire. Sterling isn't just some corrupt bus

than she intended. She softened it immediately. "I'm sorry

me you'll check in. Liam's been

id. "And thanks, Mi

The name Lucien Graves nagged at her. If it wasn't in her notes, and

back into the envelope. If she couldn't find answers on

-and-chrome high-rises of Sterling's empire. Inside, the smell of coffee and old paper filled the air

is desk as Sophia walked in. His usual smirk

a said, setting the envel

n eyebrow. "W

eaves came through. But there's some

ts, his brow furrowing. "Holy shit," he muttered under his brea

this name: Lucien Graves. It's all over these papers, but I ca

Graves..." He muttered the name like it was a riddle. "Let me dig around

pulse quickening.

Victor's evidence was powerful, but it was also dangerous. And if Sterli

she had to keep

rrounded Elijah Sterling we

t going to stop until t