Chapter 219

The rooftop of Kane Industries stretched out like a concrete garden forty stories above Manhattan’s glittering streets. Stefan stood at the edge, his hands gripping the safety railing as he looked out over the city that had witnessed so much pain and betrayal in recent months. The night air was cool against his face, carrying the distant sounds of traffic and the faint smell of rain that might come before dawn.

Hannah emerged from the rooftop access door, carrying two steaming cups of coffee from the break room downstairs. She had been working for sixteen straight hours, analyzing communication patterns and tracking James Whitfield’s movements, but she moved with the determined energy of someone who refused to let exhaustion slow her down.

“I thought you might need this,” Hannah said, offering Stefan one of the cups.

Stefan turned from the railing and accepted the coffee gratefully. Their fingers brushed as he took the cup, and both of them noticed the brief contac