Page 125 of The Art of Ruin

“There absolutely is.”

Before I can respond, the office doors slam open, hard enough that every conversation outside the glass walls cuts off almost immediately.

Three men step inside first.

Dark jackets.

Federal badges.

And behind them—a dozen uniformed officers.

The shift in the room is immediate. Cold and sharp and familiar in a way I fucking despise.

The lead agent steps forward. “Adriano Mancini?”

I rise slowly from my chair. “Yes.”

He holds up paperwork. “We have a warrant to search these premises in connection with an investigation into illegal weapons trafficking through ISM shipping subsidiaries.”

For one second, nobody speaks.

Then Matteo laughs.

Not because anything is funny. Because it fucking isn’t but because he’s angry enough to bite through concrete and that’s his way of dealing with it.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he says, already pushing out of his chair.

Nico stands too, much more slowly, one hand flattening hard against the desk. “Weapons trafficking?” he repeats, his voice dangerously calm. “Through ISM?”

The agent doesn’t react. “Sir, I’m going to need everyone to remain cooperative while we conduct the search.”

“Cooperative?” Matteo echoes. “You storm into our offices in the middle of the day, accusing us of running guns through a memorial company named after our mother, and you want us to cooperate?”

“Matteo,” I say quietly.

He stops talking immediately and glares at me. We have a silent conversation without words as only brothers can and he nods.

I hold my hand out for the warrant. The paper crackles slightly between my fingers as I scan it, forcing myself to read slowly despite the anger already moving under my skin.

ISM Holdings.

Subsidiary shipping lanes.

Anonymous tip.

Probable cause.

And then—the judge’s name.

My eyes narrow slightly.

Judge Lawrence Bale.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Because Bale’s name surfaced two weeks ago during a background review Rossi conducted into Jasper’s financial network. Nothing criminal, nothing concrete, but enough political overlap to stand out—charity events, campaign donations routed through the same investment groups Jasper’s company favors, private club memberships.