Asa's POV

The file lay between us on the table like a live grenade. Lydia’s fingers lingered on it for a moment before she finally slid it toward me.

“Everything?” I asked.

“As much as I could gather in one hour.” she replied, lighting a cigarette. “Names, locations, financials… and one picture that might interest you.”

I flipped the folder open and saw typed reports, photographs, maps of Europe with red circles marking cities like Prague, Naples, and Lagos. It was an empire ...