Bastian and one of our top enforcers, Jax, posted up near the bottom of the grand staircase, their dark eyes scanning the perimeter and keeping a watchful eye on the crowd as the heavy double doors of the mansion swung open.
Inside, a sprawling foyer with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a crowded ballroom stretched out before us. Waiters in crisp white jackets circulated with trays of champagne, and wealthy, powerful figures mingled in clusters across the polished marble floor.
"Ah, Drakon! You actually made it," a booming, deep voice called out over the sound of the live string quartet.
A tall man in a tailored grey suit stepped out from a group of guests, holding a tumbler of scotch. His hair was streaked with silver, and his sharp, calculating eyes immediately darted from
