The cool night air of the Byron Estate felt like a victory lap. Max stood behind Ruby, his hands resting on the balcony railing, boxing her into the safety of his shadow.
He had just finished promising her, vowing with the weight of his entire empire, that this mansion was a fortress. That within these walls, she was untouchable.
Then the red dot appeared.
It was a tiny, shimmering speck of light, no bigger than a ladybug, dancing over the stone. Ruby froze. She watched it skip across her knuckles, then crawl up the silk of her sleeve toward her chest.
The realization hit her like a physical blow. For the first time since this nightmare began, the bravado she had built up crumbled.
"Max," she whispered, her voice paper-thin and trembling. "Max, what is that?"
Max's eyes dropped from the horizon to her shoulder. The blood drained from his face. In the world of high-stakes hits, a red dot wasn't just a light; it was a signature. It was the Blood War, knocking on his front door.
