July 4, 2010 – 6:00 AM
The sun had just begun to rise, casting golden rays over the pristine private court just outside the Graves family estate. The morning air was crisp, the sky a gradient of soft blues and oranges. Birds chirped in harmony with the rhythmic sound of a basketball hitting the polished pavement.
The court they owned wasn't just any court. It was built by the best, equipped with high-tech sensors, perfect flooring, and even motion-analysis systems. A gift from his mother, Romanov Graves, CEO of the Basketball Asian Company and once a WNBA champion turned empire builder.
Thump… thump… tap…
Lucas Graves, drenched in early morning sweat, pushed his bangs back with a grin. His yellow eyes sparkled beneath the sunlight, even as his body groaned from the constant repetition.
"Again."