Chapter 33: The Ledger’s Shadow

The night air was thick with tension as Liam gripped the steering wheel, weaving through the city streets at breakneck speed. Nathan sat beside him, scanning through his phone, while Seraphina sat in the back, her fingers tapping against her thigh in restless anticipation.

"The ledger is at the Halverson Auction House, isn't it?" Nathan finally spoke, his voice low but sure.

Liam's jaw tightened. "Yes."

Seraphina exhaled sharply. "Then we're walking into a trap."

Liam didn't argue—because she was right. The Halverson Auction House wasn't just a place where the wealthy bid on art and rare artifacts. It was a fortress, one where every transaction was shadowed by power, crime, and hidden agendas.

And if the ledger was there, it meant only one thing: Someone wanted it sold to the highest bidder.

Or worse—they wanted it destroyed.

Nathan clenched his fist. "We need a way in."

Liam pulled out the black deluxe card Vaughn had given him earlier. "We have one."

Seraphina smirked. "I hope you're ready to play billionaire, Liam."

Liam didn't respond. He wasn't just ready—he was born for this.

---

The Halverson Auction House stood like a temple of wealth, its grand marble columns gleaming under golden chandeliers. High-profile guests in designer suits and glittering gowns moved through the lobby, each of them carrying an air of privilege and secrecy.

Liam adjusted his tailored black suit, his expression unreadable. Nathan walked beside him, his own appearance refined but edged with the sharp awareness of a man who never let his guard down.

Seraphina, however, was in her element. Draped in a silver evening gown, her presence turned heads as she strode forward with effortless confidence. "Try to keep up, boys," she murmured.

They approached the security checkpoint, where a man in a white tuxedo extended a scanner. "Identification?"

Liam handed over the black deluxe card.

The man's gaze flickered with recognition, and without hesitation, he stepped aside. "Welcome, Mr. Calloway."

Nathan muttered under his breath, "That card just put you in the same league as some of the most dangerous men in the world."

Liam only smirked. "Then let's make it count."

-

The main auction hall was an opulent arena, its walls adorned with priceless artwork. At the center stood a massive stage, where an auctioneer was already calling out bids for a diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg.

But Liam's eyes weren't on the jewelry.

They were on Eve.

She stood at the far end of the room, a glass of champagne in hand, speaking to a man with silver hair—Vincent Laurent, one of the most feared figures in underground finance.

Nathan followed his gaze. "She's already making moves."

Seraphina's voice was tight. "We need to get to that ledger before she does."

Liam nodded. "Find out where they're keeping the restricted items. I'll handle Eve."

Nathan and Seraphina split off, leaving Liam to make his way toward Eve. She spotted him instantly, her lips curling into an amused smile.

"Liam," she purred. "I was wondering when you'd arrive."

Liam didn't bother with pleasantries. "Where's the ledger?"

Eve's smile widened. "Oh, darling, if you have to ask, you're already behind."

Liam's blood simmered. "I don't have time for games, Eve."

Eve took a slow sip of her champagne. "Then you're in the wrong place. Because this is all a game."

Before Liam could push further, the auctioneer's voice boomed through the hall.

"Next item—Lot 47. A mysterious leather-bound ledger rumored to contain encrypted financial records spanning two decades."

A collective hush fell over the room.

Liam's pulse spiked.

This was it.

The ledger was about to be sold.

---

The bidding started immediately.

Laurent raised his hand. "Two million."

A woman in a crimson dress countered. "Three."

Eve chuckled, lifting a single finger. "Five million."

Liam didn't hesitate. "Ten."

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd.

Laurent turned his sharp gaze toward Liam. "Fifteen."

Seraphina's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Liam, this isn't just an auction—it's a battlefield."

Liam knew she was right. But he also knew he couldn't lose.

Eve leaned in, whispering, "You're playing a dangerous game, Liam."

Liam's voice was steel. "Then let's raise the stakes."

He lifted his hand.

"Twenty million."

The room fell silent.

The auctioneer blinked. "Twenty million going once—"

Laurent hesitated. Then, slowly, he sat back.

"Going twice—"

Eve simply smiled.

"Sold."

Liam exhaled. The ledger was his.

But even as he stood to claim it, he knew—the real fight was only beginning.

Because power like this?

It didn't come without a price.

---

As Liam stepped forward to claim the ledger, the room felt suffocating. Eyes burned into him from all directions—some filled with curiosity, others with deadly intent.

Nathan's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Liam, get out of there. You just painted a target on your back."

Seraphina chimed in, "Laurent doesn't lose gracefully. He's planning something."

Liam already knew that. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't over.

The auctioneer handed him the old leather-bound book, its weight heavier than he expected. He barely had time to study it before the air shifted.

Eve stepped beside him, her perfume laced with danger. "You didn't really think this would be that easy, did you?"

Liam's grip on the ledger tightened. "Step aside, Eve."

She tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Oh, I would, but…" She leaned in. "You have company."

A cold barrel pressed against his back.

Liam didn't flinch. He already knew who it was.

Vincent Laurent.

The older man's voice was like steel wrapped in silk. "I don't appreciate being outbid."

Liam smirked, tilting his head slightly. "I don't appreciate being threatened. Yet here we are."

Laurent chuckled darkly. "Hand over the ledger, boy. Or I'll put a hole through you right here."

Liam's heartbeat remained steady. "You won't."

Laurent's grip on the gun didn't waver. "And why is that?"

Liam's gaze flickered toward the balcony above. "Because if I die, my associate will put a bullet in your head before you even hit the ground."

Laurent followed his eyes, and there, barely visible in the shadows, was Nathan—sniper rifle in hand.

For the first time, Laurent hesitated.

Liam seized the moment. With a sharp twist, he knocked the gun aside and rammed his elbow into Laurent's ribs. The older man stumbled, but Liam didn't stick around to admire his work.

He bolted.

Seraphina was already moving, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she intercepted him at the exit. "I have a car waiting. Move."

Liam didn't argue.

Behind them, chaos erupted. Laurent's men surged forward, but Nathan was already covering them, sending a warning shot that shattered a nearby chandelier.

Security flooded the auction house.

Liam and Seraphina disappeared into the night.

---

The black sports car tore through the city streets, the roar of the engine drowning out the sound of sirens in the distance.

Nathan's voice came through their comms. "I lost them. You good?"

Liam exhaled, his grip still tight on the ledger. "For now."

Seraphina glanced at him. "We need to open it."

Liam nodded. He ran a hand over the worn leather, then slowly pried it open.

What he saw made his stomach drop.

The pages were filled with names, numbers, accounts—secrets that could burn entire empires to the ground.

Seraphina's breath hitched. "Liam… do you realize what we're holding?"

Liam closed the book, his expression unreadable. "Yeah."

Nathan's voice cut in. "What's in it?"

Liam looked out at the city lights, his mind racing.

Power.

And a death sentence.

"Everything," he said finally.

And for the first time in his life, Liam wasn't sure whether he had just won—or sealed his fate.