Marcus Thorne

Crystal chandeliers scattered warm light across the marble ballroom, casting fractured reflections over a sea of ornate masks and designer gowns. Laughter, champagne, and the soft swell of a live orchestra filled the air, masking whispered deals worth millions. Tonight’s masquerade gala was advertised as a charity event for the city’s elite. Almost everyone here knew it was something more. Marcus Thorne arrived without fanfare. Six-foot-two and impeccably dressed in a tailored black tuxedo with satin lapels, he wore a matte black Venetian mask accented with subtle gold filigree. It concealed just enough of his face to preserve the evening’s illusion, though nothing could disguise the commanding presence he carried. Silver threaded through his dark hair at the temples, and his neatly gro