THE TICKING VEIL

Elena lowered the phone, her green eyes wide with sheer panic. The illusion of royal invulnerability had shattered in a matter of seconds.

"Take him," she snapped hysterically at her two guards. "Take his phone, get the master decryption keys, and let's go!"

The two men stepped forward, reaching beneath their jackets for concealed firearms. But before their fingers could clear leather, the penthouse double doors were breached with explosive force.

Leo and four tactical Thorne security operators swarmed the room, weapons raised with absolute precision.

"Drop your weapons! Hands where we can see them!" Leo commanded.

The two guards immediately raised their hands, dropping their pistols to the hardwood floor with dull thuds. Elena staggered backward against the wooden grandfather clock, her designer heels slipping on the rug.

"Gabriel... please," Elena stammered, tears of terror finally breaking through her makeup. "It was my father! He forced me into this! He told me if I didn't get Marcus's shares, he would disown me... leave me with nothing!"

Gabriel rose from his chair, walking slowly toward her. He towered over her, his dark eyes devoid of hatred, filled only with profound, devastating pity.

"Marcus considered you family," Gabriel said softly. "He bought you that emerald necklace for your graduation. And you stood by while your father crushed him beneath steel."

"I had no choice!" she sobbed.

"We always have a choice, Elena," Gabriel replied, picking up the small listening bug from his desk and dropping it into her open, trembling palm. "You chose power over humanity. And this is what power costs."