Igor’s jaw tightened.

"Think about it, Igor," Luca continued, watching the other man carefully. "Not just running away and starting over somewhere small. Not just surviving."

He leaned closer.

"Power."

The word dropped like a stone.

"For her," Luca added softly.

It was a lie.

Or at least, mostly a lie.

Honey knew better than to try to ruin the Van Dorens, yes. That much was true. Her obsession had been focused on Brandon, Brett’s the heir, the weak link, the man she believed she could manipulate and destroy.

But Luca knew something important about grief.

It reshaped the truth.

And for a man like Igor, drowning in loss and rage, this version of events would make perfect sense.

Igor said nothing.

He stood motionless beside the railing of the docked boat, staring out at the black water stretching endlessly before them. The dim harbor lights cast fractured reflections across the surface, turning the waves into shards of liquid gold and shadow.

For several long seconds, neither man spoke.

The only sound was the quiet lapping of the water against the hull.

Luca swallowed.

He suddenly felt very aware of how close he was standing to the edge of the dock... and how easily a man like Igor could push someone overboard.

Finally, Igor turned.

His heavy gaze moved slowly from the water to Luca’s face, studying him with an intensity that made Luca’s stomach tighten.

"Show me," Igor said.

The words were not loud.

But they carried the weight of a command.

Relief surged through Luca so strongly that he nearly laughed.

Instead, he forced himself to move slowly and calmly.

His fingers slipped into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a thick manila envelope. Even in the dim light, the shaking of his hands was impossible to hide.

He held it out.

Igor took the envelope.

His large hands handled it with surprising care, as if the fragile paper inside might shatter if treated roughly.

Under the faint glow of a dock lamp, he pulled out the documents.

Crime scene photographs.

Official reports.

Witness statements.

Igor’s eyes moved steadily over the pages.

He studied each photograph carefully, his brow gradually tightening as he pieced together the fragments of information.

He was not an educated man.

Science and forensic reports were not his world.

But Igor knew one thing very well.

He knew how to recognize a lie.

And something about what he was reading did not sit right.

Minutes passed.

Luca shifted impatiently.

Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

"So," Luca said, crossing his arms, "tell me what you think."

Igor didn’t look up.

Instead, he turned another page slowly before answering.

"Why don’t you tell me what you think?" he said evasively.

Luca narrowed his eyes.

Ah.

So you want to play that game.

He studied Igor’s expression for a moment before answering.

You want to keep things close to your chest, eh? You big bastard.

"Well," Luca said with exaggerated patience, gesturing toward the documents, "I mean... it’s spelled out right there."

Igor remained silent.

Luca scoffed dramatically.

"Are you blind or something?" he continued. "Even a child could see the connection."

He tapped the photographs.

"The police just aren’t competent enough to put the pieces together."

That was when Igor finally looked up.

The force of his stare hit Luca like a physical blow.

Cold.

Sharp.

Predatory.

Luca shuddered involuntarily.

In that moment, a strange and terrifying realization struck him.

If he had not mentioned Honey’s letter earlier...

If he had tried to hide it...

He would probably already be dead.

Igor slowly set the documents down.

"So," he said in a low voice, "where does this link lead?"

His eyes bored into Luca.

"You have handed me one puzzle piece."

A pause.

"What exactly am I supposed to do with that?"

Luca smiled.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

"Oh," he said, reaching back into his jacket.

"I have the other piece."

He produced a second envelope with theatrical flair and held it between two fingers like a magician revealing the final card in a trick.

Igor’s reaction was immediate.

He snatched the envelope from Luca’s hand and tore it open with barely contained impatience.

The letter inside was short.

But powerful.

Igor’s eyes scanned the lines quickly.

Once.

Twice.

Then a third time.

Slowly, his expression began to change.

Recognition.

Understanding.

Rage.

"Ah ha," Luca said smugly, folding his arms.

"You see it now too, don’t you?"

Igor lowered the paper.

For a brief moment, his face was completely unreadable.

Then he spoke.

"We go to Brandon."

Luca blinked.

"With this evidence," Igor continued resolutely, "he will have no choice but to do as I say."

Luca stared at him in stunned disbelief.

His left eye twitched.

Slowly.

Painfully.

You have got to be kidding me.

Of all the conclusions Igor could have drawn...

This man is determined to get me killed.

Why won’t he just leave the country like he planned?

Luca had spent the last two days convincing Igor to disappear quietly. They had money. They had contacts.

Escape was possible.

But Igor suddenly didn’t want escape.

He wanted revenge.

"Easy now," Luca said, forcing out a nervous chuckle.

He raised both hands slightly in a calming gesture.

"You seem to have forgotten how your last meeting with Brandon went."

Igor’s expression darkened instantly.

"Yes," Luca continued carefully. "Let’s not repeat that experience, shall we?"

He leaned forward slightly.

"I have a better idea."

"Enough."

The single word exploded from Igor like a thunderclap.

His voice boomed across the empty dock, echoing against the water and nearby boats.

Luca flinched.

"I will have my revenge on Brandon," Igor said, his voice lower now but far more dangerous. "For Honey."

His eyes burned with the cold fury of a man who had nothing left to lose.

Then he added the words Luca had been praying he would not say.

But deep down...

He had known they were coming.

"And you," Igor said slowly, pointing a thick finger toward Luca’s chest, "will be coming with me."

Luca closed his eyes briefly.

A long sigh escaped him.

Resignation settled over him like a heavy blanket.

There was no arguing with a man like Igor.

Not tonight.

Not when revenge was the only thing keeping him alive.

Luca rubbed his face tiredly.

"Well," he muttered under his breath.

"Looks like I’m going to die."

Igor ignored the comment completely.

He had already turned back toward the dark harbor, clutching the evidence tightly in his hand.

In his mind, the path forward was clear.

And it led directly to Brandon.

Whether Luca liked it or not.