The city below glimmered with thousands of lights, but inside the penthouse, shadows seemed to crawl along the walls, filling every corner with unease. Justina Ashes paced the living room, fingers brushing against the edges of scattered files, every movement betraying a mind racing with worry.

Carson Wills stood at the window, back to her, hands clenched at his sides. His jaw was rigid, and the tension in his posture spoke volumes. “The closer we get to the truth,” he said without turning, ...