The water hit Lucifer like a slap.
Cold first.
Then hot.
Then scorching.
He didn't adjust it.
He let it burn.
His mind ran in vicious, tangled loops:
You failed to sell Sofia.
No, not failed. Interrupted. The auction was halted, but the asset was merely diverted.
You kidnapped Vincent instead.
That was smarter. He is the weak link, the critical pressure point.
Was it? Marcus will explode. He won't just explode; he will launch a methodical campaign of retribution that will tear through the entire city grid. Marcus only respects strength, and failure is weakness.
Good. Let him. Let him see what it costs him to forget who truly controls the board. Let him understand the gravity of this tactical move.
You're slipping, Lucifer. You allowed the operation to degrade into a street fight. You let a target slip away.
