Chapter 10 - A New DawnThe elevator chimes echoed softly as Detective Miller stepped into my private office.
She was sharp, dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, with piercing blue eyes that missed nothing. She didn't look intimidated by the floor-to-ceiling windows or the imposing presence of Markus standing near the door.
Instead, she walked straight up to my desk, pulled out her badge, and laid a single polished silver lighter right in the center of the mahogany wood.
My lighter. The one I had left behind at the warehouse control room.
“Mr. Marino,” Detective Miller said, her voice steady and professional. “They told me the Harbor King doesn't leave his mansion. But it seems rumors of your limitations have been greatly exaggerated.”
I didn't flinch. I slowly leaned back in my leather executive chair, resting my hands comfortably on the armrests, before standing up to my full height.
“Rumors in this city, Detective, tend to be very unreliable,” I replied, my voice calm and measured. “Especially when people mistake caution for weakness.”
She studied me for a long moment, a faint, knowing smile touching the corner of her lips. She didn't pick up the lighter; she just slid it across the desk toward me.
“Maybe so,” Miller said softly. “Or maybe some men just need a little reminder of what they’re capable of when the fire gets too close.”
She turned on her heel and walked toward the private elevator without another word, leaving the silver lighter resting safely on my desk.
I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the bustling harbor below. The morning sun was breaking through the heavy clouds, casting a golden glow across the water where ships sailed freely in and out of port.
My legs felt strong beneath me. My mind was clear.
The wheelchair was gone for good. And as I watched the city wake up beneath the brilliant light of a new day, I knew one thing for certain:
May you like
The Harbor King was finally home.
What secret do you think Detective Miller is hiding about Audrey's past?
