A little girl stood in the rain trying to sell her rusty pink bicycle so she could buy food for her starving mother. I thought I was about to make a simple act of kindness—but within minutes, I uncovered a story of greed, corruption, and theft that reached far beyond one struggling family. By the time she finished speaking, I had already decided someone was going to answer for what they had done.

Victor’s secondary security convoy tore through the streets, sirens blaring as they rushed toward the Grand Regency Hotel. Rain continued to pour, slicking the asphalt, matching the dark storm inside Victor’s mind.

By the time Victor arrived at the hotel's underground parking level, the area was cordoned off. Two of Vance's hitmen lay restrained on the concrete, disarmed by Romano's elite guards. However, Victor's black SUV had its rear window smashed, and the rusted pink bicycle was missing.

Marcus approached Victor, wiping blood from a minor cut on his cheek. "They had a six-man team, Mr. Romano. They pulled a flash-bang grenade in the lower deck. We secured Mrs. Hayes and the kids instantly—they’re completely safe in the high-security bunker upstairs. But they got away with the bike."

Victor didn't panic. Instead, a slow, icy smile spread across his face.

"Did you think I would leave the master evidence inside an unattended vehicle, Marcus?" Victor asked quietly.

Marcus blinked, then grinned faintly. "You had Ryan extract the drive as soon as we got to the hotel."

"Two hours ago," Victor confirmed, pulling a slim, silver micro-drive from his pocket. "What they stole was just a rusted piece of steel. But Marcus Vance doesn't know that. He thinks he has the only thing that can put him in prison."

"So Vance thinks he's won," Marcus said.

"He thinks he has leverage," Victor corrected. "Which means he is about to make his fatal mistake."

Victor turned to Ryan, who had just arrived with a laptop squad. "Ryan, leak a rumor through our intelligence channels that we are willing to negotiate a silent settlement with Vance if he returns the stolen 'property' tonight at his private estate."