Maya's mask shattered. Her manicured nails clawed at the desk as she screamed, *"It was just supposed to be a threat! Victor promised no one would get hurt!"* A glob of spit landed on the polished wood between us.
Liu Chen moved like a snake striking. *"You stupid—"*
CEO Li's security team swarmed him, but not before Liu Chen's fist connected with Maya's jaw. The *crack* of bone echoed as she crumpled.
The metallic tang of blood filled the air as Maya spat out a tooth.
Liu Chen's thrashing knocked over a lamp, sending shadows dancing across the walls like specters.
*As they dragged Liu Chen away, he spat: "Victor Lee owns the courts! You'll never win!"*
CEO Li calmly wiped Maya's blood from his cuff. *"We'll see about that."* He opened a drawer, revealing a **second safe**—smaller, biometric. The scan of his retina made it hiss open.
Inside:
- A USB labeled *"Erebus Final"*
- A **child's drawing** of a woman hanging from a tree, my sister's name scribbled beneath
*"Your sister got too close to the heart of it,"* CEO Li said, sliding the USB toward me. *"Now you have a choice—walk away, or see how deep the rabbit hole goes."*