Novels by Starman

OVER A SECRET ARIANow I was supposedly expected to decide the fate of secrets powerful enough to start wars.It sounded insane.Because it was.A sharp crack echoed through the tunnel.A gunshot.Everyone instinctively lowered their heads.One of Mercer's men stepped forward."They've reached the lower junction."Marcus cursed."How much time?""Less than two minutes."Mercer looked around quickly."There isn't enough."Gabriel reached inside his jacket.Immediately, several guns shifted toward him."Relax."He slowly withdrew a small waterproof leather pouch.It was old.Very old.The leather had darkened with age, while the brass clasp showed signs of decades of use.He walked toward me.Marcus stepped between us."What is that?"Gabriel looked directly at me."This."He held up the pouch."...is the only thing Viktor Sokolov hasn't found."My pulse quickened."What is it?""A key."Marcus frowned."To what?"Gabriel smiled sadly."If I told you now..."He placed the pouch gently

91THE PRICE OF TRUSTARIANo one lowered their weapon.The narrow tunnel had become a powder keg waiting for a single spark. Marcus and Luca's men stood shoulder to shoulder, their guns trained on Julian Mercer and the armed men behind him. On the opposite side, Mercer's people remained equally composed, disciplined enough not to panic but ready to fire if they had to.Behind us, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed relentlessly through the underground passage.Sokolov's men were closing in.We didn't have the luxury of deciding whether we trusted each other.Time had already made that decision for us.Julian Mercer was the first to break the silence."If we continue standing here, Viktor's men will solve this problem for us."Marcus didn't blink."Give me one reason not to put a bullet between your eyes."Mercer smiled faintly."Because your employer is intelligent enough to know that I have something he desperately needs."Marcus's jaw tightened."And what's that?""The truth.

MYTHARIA"Search my office," Luca ordered.Immediately.Dominic looked confused."You think that's what he wanted?""I think we'll know in about thirty seconds."The two men hurried through the corridors.The estate felt strangely empty now.The battle had moved elsewhere.Leaving behind only silence and destruction.They reached Luca's private office.The door stood open.That alone was enough.Luca never left it open.Ever.He entered slowly.The room appeared untouched.Books remained neatly arranged.Furniture stood exactly where it belonged.Nothing obvious had been stolen.Dominic frowned."Looks normal."Luca walked directly to the bookshelf near the fireplace.His hand moved to a particular volume.He pulled it.Nothing happened.The hidden mechanism failed to respond.His expression darkened.He stepped back.Then drove his shoulder into the shelf.The entire structure shifted sideways, revealing a concealed vault behind it.The steel door stood open.Empty.Dominic's face p

THE DEVIL YOU KNOWARIAThe armed men behind him made that difficult.Mercer seemed aware of that.His smile remained perfectly composed."Your grandfather created the Trust for one purpose."I folded my arms."And what purpose is that?"His answer came immediately."To ensure his heir survived long enough to inherit."The tunnel fell silent.The words echoed in my mind.His heir.Me.Mercer took a step forward."The attacks on your life have accelerated faster than expected.""Expected?" Marcus repeated.Mercer nodded."Unfortunately."Gabriel looked furious now."You knew this was coming."Mercer met his gaze calmly."We all knew."The statement hit me like a physical blow.All of them?How many people had known about this?How many secrets had been hiding around my family my entire life?Before anyone could speak again—A burst of gunfire echoed from behind us.Close.Very close.Everyone spun instantly.The sound of shouting followed.Then more gunfire.Sokolov's men.They had cau

THE MARKOVIC TRUSTARIA"What is the Markovic Trust?" I repeated.This time Gabriel answered."Your grandfather's insurance policy."The words echoed strangely through the tunnel."My grandfather had an insurance policy?""Not that kind."Marcus looked ready to lose patience completely."Then what kind?"Gabriel finally turned toward us.And for the first time since meeting him, he seemed to make a decision.As though he'd reached the point where secrets were becoming more dangerous than answers."Aleksander Markovic knew people would eventually come looking for what he built."My pulse quickened."What exactly did he build?""A network."That wasn't the answer I wanted.Judging by Marcus's expression, it wasn't the answer he wanted either.Gabriel noticed."You keep expecting money.""Because everyone keeps talking about an inheritance.""There is money," Gabriel said."A lot?"Gabriel laughed.Not because it was funny.Because the question was too small."Enough that people have kil

KILLING FOR ITARIAI felt my heartbeat quicken.For weeks, people had been chasing me because of this mysterious inheritance.Threatening me.Attacking me.Killing for it.And now someone was finally talking about it."What is it?" I asked.Gabriel's expression became complicated."Dangerous.""That's not an answer.""It's the truth."The tunnel opened into a wider section.The group slowed slightly.Not stopping.Never stopping.Just enough to breathe.Gabriel looked at me carefully."Your grandfather wasn't wealthy because he got lucky."I frowned."What does that mean?""It means the stories you've been told are incomplete."That wasn't surprising anymore.Nothing about my family seemed straightforward these days.Gabriel continued."Aleksander spent decades building something.""What?"Instead of answering, he asked a question."Did he ever talk to you about trust?"The abrupt change confused me."No.""Not even once?"I shook my head.Gabriel looked almost disappointed."He used