Chapter 63: The Next Move

The Rosenberg Mansion, Leo's study.

"Boss."

Olivia pushed the door open, a document in her hand. "Malcolm's making a move."

"Go ahead."

Leo sat in his leather chair, cleaning a handgun.

"According to our informant inside the Adams family, Malcolm gathered over thirty armed men last night."

Olivia placed the document on the desk. "Judging from the equipment they're preparing, they're planning to grab territory."

"Any big deals among the major families lately?"

Leo put down the gun and took the document.

"Yes."

Olivia flipped to the second page. "The Vanderbilt family has a shipment worth over a hundred million dollars arriving at Warehouse 17 on Manhattan's West Side tomorrow night."

"It's a batch of antique jewelry Sophia imported from Europe. She's planning to hold an auction in New York."

A gleam flashed in Leo's eyes.

"Whoever's behind this clearly has the Vanderbilt family in their sights."

He stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the snowy scene outside.

"Get the car ready. I'm going to the Vanderbilt Mansion."

Manhattan's Upper East Side, the Vanderbilt Mansion.

Three in the afternoon.

Winter sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the entire living room.

Sophia wore a beige knit dress, lounging lazily on the leather sofa, elegantly sipping coffee.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Leo walked in wearing a black coat.

"Leo."

A flash of surprise crossed Sophia's eyes, then she resumed her elegant, aloof expression. "How rare. The Reaper actually came to see me of his own accord."

"I have business."

Leo sat down across from her, casually draping his coat over the armrest.

"I figured as much."

Sophia laughed lightly and poured Leo a cup of coffee. "Well, what is it?"

"Tomorrow night, someone's coming for your antique jewelry."

Leo picked up the cup and took a sip.

"Really?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow. There wasn't a trace of panic in her eyes, only amusement. "Who's that stupid?"

"Malcolm from the Adams family."

"The Adams family?"

Sophia put down her cup, a cold glint in her eyes. "That third-rate family that only pulls sneaky tricks behind people's backs?"

"Someone's backing them."

Leo said calmly, "The force behind the Nightfall organization has set their sights on the Vanderbilt family."

Sophia was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

Her smile was seductive. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to help me set a trap."

Leo lit a cigar out of habit. "Prepare a batch of fakes and have them shipped to Warehouse 17 tomorrow night. Let them think they pulled it off."

At the word "fakes," Sophia shook her head and walked gracefully toward Leo with her glass.

"Using fakes to catch a bunch of rats hiding in the dark? Leo, that doesn't sound like your style."

A teasing smile played at the corner of her mouth, her eyes gleaming with cunning.

Leo looked up at her without speaking.

Sophia leaned down, placed her glass on the table, and rested her hands on the armrests on either side of him. She extended a slender finger and gently tapped his chest.

"Even if you asked me to use the real goods, I'd be willing. After all, I'll always owe you."

Leo reached out and gently brushed her cheek, tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear.

"Relax. I'm not about to let anyone take advantage of you."

Just as the atmosphere was getting intimate—

"Bang!"

The living room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

A young man in a white shirt and brown casual pants strode in.

He was about twenty-five or twenty-six, with features somewhat similar to Sophia's, but his eyes carried the arrogance typical of a playboy.

It was Sophia's half brother—Rhys Vanderbilt.

"Sophia, I need to talk to you—"

Rhys stopped mid-sentence when he saw Sophia and Leo standing so close together. A flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

"Who are you?"

He looked Leo up and down, his tone tinged with disdain. "Since when can just anyone walk into my sister's living room?"

Sophia's expression darkened, and she was about to speak.

But Leo waved his hand, signaling her not to.

He turned around, hands in his pockets, and gave Rhys a casual glance.

With just that one look—

Rhys trembled all over and instinctively stepped back half a step.

That look was terrifying.

Like being stared down by death itself.

"Rhys."

Sophia spoke coldly. "This is Mr. Leo Ashford. He's my honored guest."

"Watch your attitude."

"Leo?"

Rhys froze for a moment, then remembered something, his expression changing slightly.

That name had been making waves in New York high society lately.

He'd wiped out the Romano family, destroyed the Drake family...

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

Rhys swallowed hard, his attitude immediately softening.

"So, what did you want?"

Sophia sat back down on the sofa, crossing her long legs.

"I... I want to bring my girlfriend to meet you."

Rhys said carefully.

"Girlfriend?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Since when?"

"Just... recently."

Rhys scratched his head. "She's really good to me. I want her to meet the family."

Sophia was silent for a few seconds.

"Fine. The day after tomorrow at seven in the evening, bring her home for dinner."

"Really?"

A flash of delight crossed Rhys's eyes. "Thank you."

"Go on."

Sophia waved her hand.

Rhys, as if pardoned, turned to leave.

At the door, he glanced back at Leo, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Then he pushed the door open and left.

After Rhys left—

Leo suddenly spoke. "Your brother's girlfriend—what's her background?"

Sophia was taken aback, then laughed. "What? You're going to manage that too?"

"Instinct."

Leo walked to the window, looking at the street outside. "Feels like there's something off."

The smile on Sophia's face faded a bit.

She stood up and walked to Leo's side.

"You're saying... Rhys's girlfriend is in trouble?"

"Don't know."

Leo turned to look at her. "That's why I'm asking you—what's her background?"

"I'm not sure either."

Sophia frowned. "Rhys has been out fooling around lately, and I haven't really kept tabs on him. As for his girlfriend..."

"They must have just started seeing each other recently. I'd never heard him mention her before."

Leo picked up the now-lukewarm coffee and took a sip. "She showed up at a very convenient time."

"Your brother is so eager to bring a girlfriend he just started dating to meet you—doesn't that strike you as odd?"

Sophia fell silent.

With Leo pointing it out like that, she did find it a bit strange.

Although Rhys was a playboy, he never brought women home lightly.

"What's the background of his girlfriend?" Leo asked.

"I'm not sure either."

Sophia shook her head. "I think she's a student at Columbia University. They've been seeing each other for less than a month."

"Sophia. The day after tomorrow at dinner, I'll be there too."

Leo stood up, took a drag from his cigar, and looked out the window. "I want to see what kind of person Rhys's girlfriend really is."

"No problem."

Sophia drained her now-cold coffee in one gulp and smiled seductively.

She didn't know why, but even just looking at this man's back made her feel safe.