Chapter 38: The Chain Reaction

The world moved fast, but the fall of Zayne Lancaster moved even faster.

By morning, every major news outlet had the footage—Zayne, in handcuffs, being led into the station, his face drained of its usual arrogance. The media feasted on the scandal, speculating on the extent of his crimes. Analysts dissected his downfall, competitors swooped in like vultures, and once-loyal associates erased all traces of their ties to him.

Zayne Lancaster, once untouchable, had become a liability.

And liabilities didn't last long in the world of the elite.

Blackwood HQ – A Game of Ghosts

Ethan skimmed through his tablet, reading reports while Chris sat at his desk, fingers steepled in thought. The office was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside.

"Zayne's done," Ethan said, placing the tablet down. "The Feds are tearing through his finances. His assets are frozen. His investors are jumping ship."

Chris nodded, unsurprised. "And Wren?"

Ethan smirked. "Pretending he never knew the guy. Typical." He leaned back. "But something's off. Wren's too quiet. He should be scrambling, making moves, covering his tracks."

Chris's gaze darkened. "He's waiting."

"For what?"

Chris tapped his fingers against the desk. "For me to overplay my hand."

Wren was a strategist. Unlike Zayne, who relied on connections and brute force, Wren thrived in shadows. He didn't act without reason. If he hadn't made a move yet, it meant he was weighing his options.

"He knows I'm behind this," Chris murmured. "But he still doesn't know who I really am."

Ethan chuckled. "And he won't. Not unless we want him to."

Chris's lips twitched. That was the advantage of playing from the shadows—control. While others scrambled to react, he dictated the game's pace.

But Wren was still a loose end.

And loose ends had a way of unraveling.

Skylar's Apartment – Unfinished Conversations

Skylar sat curled up on the couch, the news playing on low volume. Zayne's arrest had been all over social media, but it wasn't just his downfall that unsettled her—it was what he had said to her before it all crumbled.

"Enjoy this while it lasts."

What had he meant?

And why did it feel like he hadn't been talking about their brief encounters, but something bigger?

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.

She hesitated before standing and opening it.

Chris.

Dressed casually, hands in his pockets, but his expression unreadable.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," he echoed. A pause. Then, "Can I come in?"

She stepped aside, letting him in. He walked in slowly, scanning the apartment like he was checking for something. Or someone.

She frowned. "You think I'm in danger?"

Chris met her gaze, and for a moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes. Not fear.

Calculations.

"Not directly," he admitted. "But I don't like loose variables."

Skylar folded her arms. "Meaning?"

Chris sighed, moving closer. "Zayne wasn't acting alone. And people like him don't just disappear without consequences."

Skylar swallowed. "So… what happens now?"

Chris's expression hardened, but his voice softened when he spoke.

"Now," he said, "we see who

comes knocking next."

Because Zayne was gone.

But the game was far from over.