The night air was thick with tension as Caldwell''s sleek ck car pulled up outside Roman Volkov''s office building. The streets of Havenwood City were quiet, most residents tucked away in their beds, unaware of the power shift about to ur.


    "Is everything ready?" Caldwell asked, straightening his tie in the rearview mirror.


    Franklin Duval nodded beside him. "All exits are covered. We have ten men stationed around the perimeter."


    I smiled to myself. With Liam Knight imprisoned and facing execution, there would never be a better opportunity. Roman Volkov''s reign over Havenwood''s business world ended tonight.


    "Remember," I instructed Franklin, "I want this clean. No unnecessary bloodshed."


    "Of course, Mr. Caldwell."


    We stepped out of the car and approached the building. Two guards stood by the entrance, immediately tensing at our approach.


    "Mr. Caldwell," one said nervously. "Mr. Volkov isn''t expecting visitors thiste."


    "I''m sure he''ll make an exception," I replied smoothly, continuing forward without breaking stride.


    The guards exchanged uncertain nces. They knew who I was—everyone in Havenwood did—but they also had orders.


    "Sir, we can''t—"


    Franklin moved with frightening speed. Before either guard could reach for their weapons, both were unconscious on the ground.


    "Efficient as always," I remarked, stepping over their bodies.


    We took the elevator to the top floor where Roman''s office was located. Two more guards waited outside his door. They reached for their guns when they saw us exit the elevator.


    "Stop right—"


    They never finished. Franklin''s palm strike sent one flying against the wall while the second dropped with a precise nerve strike to his neck.


    I straightened my cuffs and knocked on Roman''s door.


    "Enter," came his voice from within.


    Roman looked up from his desk, his eyes widening as he saw me walk in with Franklin and two more of my men behind me.


    "Caldwell? What is the meaning of this?" He stood abruptly.


    ric, his trusted associate, moved to stand between us, his hand moving toward the weapon hidden beneath his jacket.


    "I wouldn''t," Franklin warned, his voice soft but menacing.


    Roman''s eyes darted between us. "If you''re here to negotiate, this isn''t the way."


    Iughed, the sound echoing in the spacious office. "Negotiate? No, Roman. I''m here to inform you of your retirement."


    Understanding dawned on his face. "You think because Liam Knight is gone, you can just walk in and take over?"


    "That''s exactly what I think," I replied.


    Roman reached for his desk drawer, but Franklin was faster. In a blur of movement, he crossed the room and mmed Roman''s hand against the desk.


    "Please don''t make this messy," I sighed.


    ric lunged forward, but my other men restrained him, twisting his arms behind his back.


    "You''ve had a good run," I told Roman, circling his desk. "But times are changing. With Liam Knight facing execution tomorrow, you''ve lost your most powerful protector."


    Roman''s eyes shed with anger. "You overestimate your position, Caldwell. Even without Liam, I have connections—"


    "Your connections won''t help you," I cut him off. "I''ve spent months preparing for this moment. Your allies have been neutralized or bought off. Your security has beenpromised."


    To prove my point, I opened his safe with thebination I''d obtained weeks earlier and removed the files inside.


    "How did you—"


    "Know yourbination?" I smiled. "I know everything about you, Roman. Your weaknesses. Your secrets." I tapped the files. "Your offshore ounts."


    The color drained from his face.


    This version was sourced from *.


    "You have two choices," I continued. "Leave Havenwood quietly with enough money to start over somewhere else, or resist and lose everything—including your life."


    Roman looked at ric, still struggling against his captors, then back to me. His shoulders slumped slightly.


    "What do you want?"


    "Your business holdings. Your contacts. Your influence. I want it all signed over tonight."


    I ced a stack of documents on his desk.


    "You''re a practical man, Roman. Don''t die for pride."


    For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. Then, slowly, Roman reached for a pen.


    "You won''t get away with this," he muttered as he began signing.


    I ced a hand on his shoulder. "I already have."


    ---


    In his modest home across town, William Vance paced the floor, his phone pressed to his ear.


    "Yes, I understand. Thank you for trying." He hung up, his face etched with defeat.


    "Another dead end?" ra asked from the doorway, her eyes filled with concern.


    William nodded, sinking onto the sofa. "That was myst contact at the Martial Arts Association. No one''s willing to help Liam. The Thornton family''s influence is too strong."


    ra sat beside her father, taking his trembling hands in hers.


    "There must be something we can do," she whispered. "We can''t just let them execute him."


    William shook his head, looking years older than he had just days ago. "I''ve tried everything, ra. Called in every favor. No one wants to challenge Conrad Thornton."


    "What about Miss Ashworth? Liam saved her life. Surely the Ashworth family could—"


    William looked up suddenly, hope flickering in his eyes. "Of course! Why didn''t I think of them sooner?"


    "Do you have her number?"


    "No, but I know someone who does."


    He scrambled for his phone again, dialing quickly. After a brief conversation, he scribbled a number on a notepad and handed it to ra.


    "Here. You call her. She might respond better to you."


    ra''s fingers trembled as she dialed. After three rings, a cool, feminine voice answered.


    "This is Isabelle Ashworth."


    "Miss Ashworth, you don''t know me. My name is ra Vance. I''m calling about Liam Knight."


    There was a pause on the line. "What about him?" The voice had lost its coolness, reced by sharp attention.


    "He''s been arrested by the Thornton family. They''re going to execute him tomorrow morning."


    The silence that followed was soplete that ra wondered if the call had dropped. Then Isabelle spoke, her voice tight with controlled fury.


    "Tell me everything."


    ra exined what had happened—Liam''s capture, his refusal to heal Tristan Thornton, and the scheduled execution. As she spoke, she could hear Isabelle''s breathing bing more agitated.


    "They dare?" Isabelle finally said, the words barely more than a whisper. "The Thornton family dares to touch what''s mine?"


    The possessiveness in her tone made ra realize how deeply Isabelle cared for Liam.


    "Can you help him?" ra asked, hope rising in her chest.


    "Where is he being held?"


    "The Martial Arts Association prison in Eldoria Province."


    "I''ll leave immediately," Isabelle stated. "Thank you for informing me, Miss Vance."


    "Will you be able to stop the execution?"


    Isabelle''s voice turned cold as winter. "They will not kill him. Not if they value their own lives."


    The call ended, and ra looked at her father, a mixture of hope and fear on her face.


    "She''s going to help."


    ---


    In her luxurious apartment, Isabelle Ashworth was already in motion. She pressed a button on her inte.


    "Have my car ready in five minutes. And contact my grandfather. Tell him it''s urgent."


    She changed quickly into traveling clothes, her mind racing. How dare they touch Liam? How dare they threaten his life?


    Her phone rang—her grandfather.


    "Isabelle? What''s happening?"


    "Grandfather, Liam Knight has been captured by the Thornton family. They n to execute him tomorrow morning."


    Michael Ashworth was silent for a moment. "Conrad Thornton has always been reckless, but this..."


    "I''m going to Eldoria. Tonight."


    "Alone? Absolutely not. The journey is too dangerous."


    "I won''t stand by while they kill him," Isabelle insisted, her voice breaking slightly. "Not after everything he''s done for me. For us."


    A heavy sigh came through the phone. "You''re right. Wait one hour. I''ll have eight Grandmasters ready to escort you."


    Relief flooded through her. "Thank you, Grandfather."


    "And Isabelle? If Conrad Thornton or any of his people harm a hair on your head, I will burn their family to the ground."


    The fierce protectiveness in his voice reminded Isabelle of the power her family wielded. For once, she was grateful for it.


    "I''ll be careful," she promised.


    After ending the call, she gazed at a photo on her bedside table—a candid shot of Liam smiling, unaware of the camera. Her fingers brushed over his face.


    "Hold on," she whispered. "I''ming for you."


    ---


    The morning sun rose over the prison in Eldoria Province, casting long shadows across the courtyard where a wooden tform had been erected during the night.


    Inside his cell, I sat cross-legged on the floor, my eyes closed in meditation. Despite themotion outside—guards preparing for the day''s main event—I maintained perfect stillness.


    Eamon Greene watched me anxiously from his bunk.


    "How can you be so calm?" he finally asked, unable to contain himself any longer. "They''re building your execution tform out there!"


    I opened my eyes, offering him a small smile. "Panicking won''t change anything."


    "But there must be something we can do! Some way to fight back!"


    I stretched, rolling my shoulders to work out the stiffness from sitting too long. "Perhaps. But not yet."


    Eamon moved closer, lowering his voice. "I could help you. I may be old, but I''m still a Grandmaster. Together, we might have a chance."


    Before I could respond, heavy footsteps approached our cell. Conrad Thornton appeared, nked by four armed guards.


    "Liam Knight," he called, his voice carrying authority. "I trust you slept well? Today is a significant day for you."


    I stood slowly, meeting his gaze. "Every day I''m alive is significant, Mr. Thornton."


    His jaw tightened at my calm demeanor. "You won''t be so philosophical when you''re facing the executioner''s de."


    "Perhaps not," I conceded. "But I''m curious—how is your son? Has he survived the night?"


    A flicker of rage passed over Conrad''s face. "No thanks to you. Other healers arrived from the capital this morning. They''re treating him now."


    "I''m d to hear it," I said sincerely. "I never wished him dead, despite what you might think."


    "Your wishes are irrelevant," Conrad snapped. "In one hour, you will be brought to the courtyard. Your execution will serve as a reminder of what happens to those who defy the Thornton family."


    With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, his guards following in perfect formation.


    Eamon waited until they were out of earshot before grabbing my arm. "This is ourst chance, Liam. We have to fight our way out!"


    I ced my hand on his shoulder. "No need."


    "What do you mean, ''no need''? They''re going to kill you!"


    A mysterious smile yed across my lips as I looked toward the window, where the first rays of sunlight were streaming in.


    "Trust me, Eamon. This game isn''t over yet."