In Columbus, Ohio, two criminal empires maintain an uneasy truce—until the murder of a Russian mob heir shatters everything. When Vladimir Sokolov's body washes up on the banks of the Olentangy River, even Lincoln's extraordinary talents may not be enough to prevent an all-out war between the Russian Bratva and Italian Mafia. As accusations fly between crime bosses Yuri Sokolov and Giovanni Rossi, Lincoln discovers a forbidden romance and a betrayal that cuts deeper than any blade. Vladimir's secret relationship with Maria Rossi—daughter of his father's sworn enemy—has stirred deadly jealousy within the Russian ranks. With the city teetering on the brink of chaos and innocent lives hanging in the balance, Lincoln must navigate a labyrinth of lies where nothing is as it seems. His investigation leads him through Columbus's shadow world of opulent restaurants doubling as criminal headquarters, abandoned warehouses concealing grisly secrets, and luxury penthouses where life-and-death decisions are made with casual cruelty. But exposing the real killer may not be enough to stop the bloodshed. As violence erupts across the city, Lincoln faces an impossible choice: uphold the law he's sworn to defend, or break it to forge a fragile peace between killers. In this gripping thriller, justice and morality blur when the only thing standing between a city and chaos is a detective who can read everyone's mind but his own heart.