The leather of the steering wheel creaked beneath Ethan's grip as he shut the car door, sealing himself into the ensuing silence.

"Damn it!" He growled, banging his palm against the steering wheel.

Through the windshield, the glass-and-steel McQueen Construction headquarters towered against the darkening sky, storm clouds gathering on the horizon, a fitting comparison to his current predicament.

Ethan exhaled slowly, watching his knuckles whiten as he squeezed the wheel. His right ...