XAVIER’S POV

Favors are currency. Threats are interest. When you need the truth fast, you stop pretending diplomacy is enough.

“Henry’s pockets aren’t deep enough to fund an empire’s betrayal,” I said, not looking up from the screen. The picture of the wiring ledger blurred into the room’s low light.

“Someone’s been laundering confidence through him. I want to know who cashes the checks.”

The Fixer exhaled a cigarette-scented laugh over the line. “You always liked clean ...