Chapter 27: The Shadow’s Gambit

The armored car sped through the rain-slicked streets, its engine growling like a beast barely restrained. Liam sat in the back, his fingers curled into tight fists as the city lights blurred past. Across from him, Seraphina crossed her legs with practiced elegance, inspecting the bloodstains on her dress as if they were nothing more than wine spills.

Alec drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel. The tension inside the vehicle was thick—a storm waiting to break.

"You want to tell me what the hell that was?" Alec finally snapped, his voice edged with frustration. "Dante Velasco? Alive? And playing puppet master at a damn underground auction?"

Liam didn't answer immediately. His mind was too busy reconstructing every detail, every subtle movement, every calculated smirk Dante had made.

"I don't know how," Liam finally said, his voice tight. "But he's not just alive. He's in control. And that makes him dangerous."

Seraphina chuckled softly. "Dangerous is an understatement. That man didn't flinch once, not even when you fired at him." She leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. "I've seen warlords, assassins, and billionaires who think they rule the world. But Dante? He's playing a game at a level we don't even see yet."

Liam exhaled sharply. He had spent years learning to read people, to dismantle their lies, their masks. But Dante Velasco?

He was unreadable.

Alec made a sharp turn, taking them through a narrow alleyway before emerging onto the main road again. "We can't just let this go," he muttered. "He's up to something. And I don't like that he let us walk away."

Liam's eyes darkened. Dante could have ended them. He had the men, the resources. Instead, he had let them escape—like he wanted them to.

And that unsettled him more than anything.

---

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a discreet safe house on the outskirts of the city. A nondescript warehouse, reinforced and heavily guarded by men who owed their loyalty to Liam's unseen network.

The second they stepped inside, a man in his early thirties—Nathan Cross—strode toward them, his expression grim. He had the look of someone who had spent too many years in the shadows. Military training, scars hidden beneath his sharp suit, and a demeanor that screamed deadly precision.

"We have a problem," Nathan announced.

Liam sighed. "We already know."

Nathan shook his head. "No, you don't." He slid a tablet across the table, the screen lighting up with a high-profile bank transaction.

"The auction wasn't just about stolen artifacts or black-market trades," Nathan continued. "It was about power. And Dante Velasco? He just transferred fifty million dollars into an offshore account."

Liam frowned. "So?"

Nathan tapped the screen again. "The recipient? The Council of Shadows."

The room fell silent.

Even Seraphina's smirk faded.

The Council of Shadows—a secretive group known for controlling the world's dirtiest deals, from arms trafficking to political assassinations. Their involvement meant one thing: Dante wasn't just back. He was making a move.

Liam's mind was already racing.

The Black Card.

The auction.

The Council of Shadows.

Everything was connected.

Seraphina ran a hand through her hair, her usual confidence laced with something new—concern. "If he's working with them, then whatever he's planning… it's bigger than we thought."

Liam turned to Nathan. "Do we know what the money was for?"

Nathan hesitated. "Not yet. But there's more." He swiped to another screen. A photo.

A woman.

Late twenties, dark eyes, high cheekbones, a cold beauty that demanded attention.

Seraphina exhaled sharply. "That's Isabella Dante."

Alec's eyebrows shot up. "As in—"

"Yes," Seraphina cut in. "Dante Velasco's sister. The one who vanished years ago."

Liam's pulse quickened. Isabella Velasco. Thought to be dead. A woman who had once been whispered about in the underworld—the Ice Queen, the one who could manipulate men and break empires.

And now?

She was back.

And Liam had a feeling her return wasn't a coincidence.

---

Before he could respond, Nathan's phone buzzed. He checked the screen and his expression turned to stone. "You need to see this."

He turned on the large monitor in the room. A news broadcast flickered to life.

"Breaking News—International Authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of Liam Velasco, accusing him of orchestrating the massacre at last night's underground auction…"

The words hit like a punch.

The screen displayed Liam's face. A forged narrative.

Seraphina let out a low whistle. "Well… that's one way to get you out of the picture."

Alec cursed under his breath. "That bastard. He's setting you up."

Liam's jaw clenched. Dante hadn't just outplayed him.

He had framed him.

And now?

Liam wasn't just hunting the truth.

He was hunted.

---

Nathan leaned forward. "We need to move. Now."

Liam shook his head. "Running makes me look guilty."

Nathan swore. "Liam, you've been framed for mass murder. You don't get to fight this in court. You get disappeared. And not in a good way."

Seraphina tilted her head. "If we're going to run, let's do it in style."

She slid a sleek black card across the table.

Liam recognized it instantly. A Diamond Deluxe Card. Unlimited funds. Access to elite networks, private jets, and the kind of backdoor exits only the ultra-rich knew about.

Alec whistled. "You've been holding out on us, Sera."

She shrugged. "I like to keep a few surprises."

Nathan nodded. "Good. Because I already made a call. There's a jet waiting at Blackgate Airfield."

Liam took a deep breath. This was happening.

They were no longer just chasing the truth.

They were running for their lives.

And Dante Velasco?

He was already three steps ahead.