The tires of Brandon's sleek black sedan crunched on the gravel driveway as he pulled into the mansion's sprawling parking lot. The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the manicured lawns in hues of orange and purple.

Stella's words echoed in his mind, sharp and chilling: "So he is planning to attack me, huh!" A knot of unease tightened in his stomach.

He switched off the engine, the silence of the car amplifying the frantic beat of his heart. He reached for his briefcase, the leather ...