Chapter 365

• Thomas still sat on the couch, his gaze fixed on his wristwatch. He was about to stand and go get Marek himself, but just as he glanced once more toward the stairs, he saw Marek descending.
• There was a certain stillness about Marek, the kind that made even the air hesitate. His black shirt hung open at the collar, sleeves rolled just above his forearms, revealing pale skin marked with old, unflinching scars.
• His boots echoed against the marble steps—slow, deliberate. Like the man himself, every step carried weight.