Chapter 340The inner chamber Kane led Williams into was dimly lit, with the scent of stale smoke hanging in the air. The walls were lined with graffiti and faded posters, giving the place a gritty, rebellious atmosphere. In the center was a battered but imposing round table, covered with scattered maps, empty liquor bottles, and a few glinting weapons. Around it sat five men, each eyeing Williams with a mix of suspicion and hostility.Seated at the table were Sasha’s lieutenants, hardened men known for their ruthless loyalty. There was:Vince - a tall, wiry man with a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin. His eyes were sharp and calculating, always looking for the next threat.Leon - muscular and broad-shouldered, with tattoos snaking up his arms. He had a tense, alert demeanor, as if always prepared to fight.Rick - lanky with a narrow face, known for his quick temper. He watched everyone with narrowed eyes, his lips twisted in a sneer.Marco - a heavyset man with a rough, gr

Chapter 342Jaxon was in his dimly lit hotel room at sky suite with Milly cuddling when the silence was broken when his phone vibrated. It was Ken. Jaxon picked up, his voice sharp.“Yeah? What is it?”Ken’s voice was steady but held an edge of urgency. “Bad news, Jaxon. Ben, one of the thugs with us has been taken.”Jaxon stopped pacing. His hand clenched around the phone. “What do you mean, taken? When?”“It happened when he was on that lookout job for your father, Mr. Sterling. He didn’t return. It’s been over a day now.”Jaxon cursed under his breath, rubbing his temples. “And you didn’t tell me sooner?”Ken hesitated. “We wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a delay. But now… it’s pretty clear. He’s not even picking his calls.”“So what do you want me to do now?” Jaxon’s voice was cold, a mix of anger and fear.“We want you to check out if your father is behind it,” Ken replied. “Who knows? The old man might be a lot smarter than we assumed.”Jaxon’s temper flared, and he barked, “

Chapter 344As James disappeared down the hallway, Gregor leaned back in his chair, his mind still running in circles around their situation. They needed a solid plan if they had any hope of rescuing the boy and keeping their own intentions hidden.For nearly an hour, he turned ideas over in his mind, but none seemed quite right. The weight of the unknown was pressing on him, making his thoughts feel clouded and heavy. With a sigh, he stood, rubbing his temples, and decided a walk might help clear his head.Gregor stepped out into the open air, taking a long breath as the familiar, gritty scent of Montgomery Street filled his nose.This street held so many memories, though not all of them were good. It was here that he’d grown up, in a rundown apartment building, part of the roughest side of Emerald Falls.His mother had raised him and his younger sister alone in that very apartment, doing her best to scrape by in a place where poverty clung to the streets as thickly as the dust on th

Chapter 346After visiting Gregor, Kai drove back to Carter Comb, mulling over the meeting. He hadn’t seen Gregor in several days, which had prompted his visit to see what might be going on.Though he’d hired Gregor as a private investigator, Kai wasn’t particularly confident in Gregor’s abilities to solve the case. In truth, he was using him primarily as a front to keep the authorities at bay. By having a registered investigator on the case, he could prevent the police from getting too involved, which was in his best interest.In Kai’s mind, the list of potential suspects was already narrowed down—he was nearly certain that either Mr. Sterling and Williams or Eric Wood were behind the attacks on Liam Carter. Though he had no hard evidence, his gut told him that one of these players was involved, and he believed it was only a matter of time before he figured out who was responsible.Yet, something about his visit to Gregor didn’t sit right. Gregor had claimed to be unwell, but Kai did

Chapter 348“Hmm. I still think you should not let your emotions cloud your judgment,” Kai replied.“You still don’t get where I’m coming from,” Liam said. “The police came to my office today to ask me a few questions concerning the second assasination attempt.”Kai stayed silent, absorbing the weight of Liam’s words. The police were here! Which annoyed him. He leaned forward, looking at Liam with curiosity. “The police were here?” he asked, his voice low and cautious.Liam cleared his throat, his gaze intense. “Yes. While you were out dealing with that so-called investigator, Detective Andrew came to my office,” he began, his voice laced with irritation. “He had a few questions for me.”Kai’s patience wore thin, and he cut in sharply. “Questions about what?”Liam took a measured breath before continuing. “He wanted to know if I had any connections to gang organizations outside of Emerald Falls—specifically, in Red Waters. The detective mentioned they’ve identified the assassin who at