Chapter 24

• The next morning, Dante was up before sunrise. His phone buzzed softly on the nightstand, and as he reached for it, the recessed ceiling lights gradually brightened to a warm, golden hue. He rose from the bed, his bare feet brushing against the cool marble floor.
• In the bathroom, glass and chrome fixtures gleamed under the LED lighting. The rainfall shower misted steam into the air, the scent of his cedar-amber body wash lingering faintly. He towel-dried, dressed in tailored navy trousers, a white shirt pressed to perfection, and slid his feet into black loafers. His wristwatch—a custom Patek Philippe, matte black with sapphire detailing—clicked neatly into place as he checked the time.
• He headed down the floating staircase, framed in glass and steel, and walked through the hallway toward the dining area. The quiet hum of the climate control system filled the air, and sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long lines across the smooth marble tiles.