Page 3 of High Reward

Luke and Matteo are already seated at the long conference table. Luke looks freshly showered, dressed in a crisp black shirt and slacks like he’s heading to a business meeting instead of an emergency gathering at dawn. Matteo, by contrast, still wears the designer clothes from whatever industry party he attended, a silver-gray suit with the tie loosened and hair slightly disheveled.

“This better be worth dragging me out of bed,” Matteo says, dark circles under his eyes. “I was having the first decent night’s sleep this week.”

Luke doesn’t look up from his tablet. “Owen texted that it’s about Hunter Novak. I’m assuming that means it’s worth your beauty sleep.”

Tobias moves to the coffee machine in the corner, flicking it on. “You’ll want to be wide awake for this.”

I take my position at the head of the table, standing rather than sitting. Owen moves to the wall of monitors and activates the signal jammers. A soft beep confirms we’re secure. No calls in or out, no digital surveillance possible.

“Phones in the box,” Owen says, sliding a metal container down the table. Everyone complies without argument. It’s become protocol for our most sensitive discussions.

I plant my palms on the polished surface of the table, looking at each of my partners before I speak. “As you’re aware, Trinity Novak was shot while walking out of the attorney’s office with Lili, Hunter, and me today.”

Luke’s jaw clenches, and he unbuttons the top button of his dress shirt. “I’d heard but not details. How bad was it?”

“Bullet near her spine. She’s in surgery now, or was, last I heard. Outcome uncertain.”

“Fuck,” Matteo hisses. “I was hoping for better news.”

I continue. “Hunter Novak called me tonight. Not any of you, me specifically. He blames us for bringing this war to his doorstep. He blames me for kidnapping Draven’s wife and escalating a conflict that got Trinity caught in the crossfire.”

I let that sink in, watching their expressions shift from shock to calculation.

“He’s given me an ultimatum. Seven days to put Phineas Draven either in prison or in the ground. If I fail, he’s coming for all of us. He’ll ‘dismantle everything we’ve built’ and put me ‘in the ground beside Draven.’ Those were his exact words.”

Matteo slams his fist on the table, the sound ricocheting off concrete walls. “This is bullshit. This is an attack on all of us.”

“Yes. Which is why I called this meeting. Hunter specifically threatened me but made it clear he’d take all of you down too. The High Card. Sin City Subs. Everything we’ve built.”

Luke leans forward. “Did he specify what would satisfy him? Draven arrested on what charges?”

“He doesn’t care. Prison or dead. Those were his options. And if Trinity dies in surgery or ends up paralyzed, there’s no deal at all. He’s coming for me regardless.”

Tobias places coffee mugs in front of each of us. “And the women? Grace and Liliana?”

My jaw clenches. “He said he’d bury Lili between me and Draven if Trinity dies. Called her ‘Draven’s wife’ still. He acknowledged Grace is innocent but said he’d leave her to mourn us.”

Matteo’s expression darkens. “He won’t touch them.”

“No,” I agree. “He won’t.”

Owen steps forward, distributing folders he’s pulled from his briefcase. “There’s more. A second threat we need to address.”

I take a deep breath. “I’ve had my father put security on my house, but we need to handle this ourselves too. Owen, tell them about Sampson Lindon.”

Owen taps his folder. “Grace’s ex-boyfriend from her college days. Sampson Lindon committed suicide six months ago. His wife, Kara, is now a wealthy widow. And Grace’s name was in the suicide note.”

Luke opens his folder, scanning the contents. “What exactly did the note say?”

Owen pulls out a photocopy. “‘She stole my will to live,’” he reads. “According to my sources, Kara has been obsessed with finding Grace ever since. Blame and grief turned to revenge.”

I study the photograph in the file. Kara Lindon is smiling and holding a glass of champagne at a charity gala three monthsago. Sleek blond hair, cold eyes, expensive jewelry. The kind of woman who knows how to weaponize her privilege.

“Grace has never mentioned anything about him killing himself,” I say. “I doubt she knows.”

“What exactly was their relationship?” Tobias asks. “I know they were in some kind of throuple in college, but details are sparse.”

I shake my head. “Grace doesn’t talk about it much. Just that it ended badly. That they were controlling, manipulative. She hid a lot of it from me, but I saw enough to know it was toxic, and I encouraged her to leave every time she came to me upset about something they’d done. That’s probably why she hid it.”