It would buy him some time.Before he could respond, another guest, surely a crewman with a thick beard, decided to chime in. “Or we could just lock him in one of the storage rooms. He can’t cause trouble there. But he can eat the food in the kitchen, grab a knife, and set himself free.”Ethan sighed when the suggestions kept coming. Each suggestion was more creative than the last as the guests debated what to do with the intruder. Some wanted to beat the truth out of him, while others favored a more measured approach. But through it all, Ethan remained quiet, his mind working through the possibilities of all their suggestions.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ethan held up his hand, silencing the room. “Enough,” he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. “We’re not throwing him overboard, and we’re not locking him in a storage room. We’ll tie him up in the kitchen, as Pal suggested. But no one is to touch him until we’ve had a chance to question him properly.”Sandra a

“I—I don't…”“I don't care.” Ethan completed it for him. “Start from the beginning. And don’t leave anything out. Not if you want to see the morning light.” There was perfect silence, and this tempted Denera. Her eyes snapped open, and her heart began to race in her chest. But she forced herself to stay still, listening carefully to Rhys' breathing beside her.She was about to do something daring. The rise and fall of his chest were steady and calm. “Up, down, up, down...” Denera counted softly. It was clear to her that Rhys was fast asleep, completely unaware of what was happening.Eventually, she let out a small, relieved sigh and slowly slipped out of bed, careful not to make any noise. The cool night air brushed against her bare skin, making her shiver slightly. She was wearing a delicate silk nightgown that was soft against her skin, with thin straps that rested on her shoulders. It made her feel less hot. The light pink fabric clung to her hips and ended just above her knees. I

Gerald’s grin faded slightly, and he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, alright. I get it. If you want to talk, we’ll talk. But honestly, Denera, what do you expect me to say? That I’ll just forget everything and walk away? I’m not that kind of guy."Denera frowned, her heart sinking. "So what, then? Are we just supposed to keep this up forever? Until we get caught?"Gerald leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe. Or maybe we just enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows what’ll happen tomorrow, right?"Denera sighed in exasperation, and she shook her head. "You’re impossible, Gerald. You really don’t care, do you? About what this could do to me? To Rhys?"Gerald’s expression softened again, and for a moment, Denera saw a flicker of something. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar smirk. To her, he seemed to enjoy this. This was why she was warned against an alliance with her sworn enemy.“I care, Denera. I care more than you think. But I’

Jason continued in an almost amused tone. “It appears our friend here has been busy.” He paused, his gaze settling on Alex. “Care to explain these lovely marks?”Alex’s mouth was dry, but he managed to stammer, “Just…just some business. I needed to lay low.”“That was what the other guys said…” Jason’s expression darkened. “Lay low? Or are you trying to prove something?” His voice grew sharper. “It seems like you’ve been getting yourself into trouble—trouble that might just put a damper on our operations.”Without waiting for a response, Jason waved a hand dismissively. “Enough talk. I don’t appreciate loose ends, especially ones that come with bruises and baggage.”He turned to his men. “Show him how we deal with such disappointments.”Alex’s blood ran cold as Jason’s men began to advance on him. This was it. He was right… The operation Jason was talking about was a new raid on the Ethan Anderson House. He was supposed to lead the raid today, except the underground fight was somehow

“But what if that spy sneaks into our homes?” the voice asked, bringing an abrupt halt to their joy. “What if he kills us all in our sleep?”The thought was like a cold splash of water on their excitement, and the group fell silent. They exchanged uneasy glances.“We should check on him,” someone suggested quietly.“Or kill him.” Gerald added quietly.The group hesitated. The thrill of reaching land was momentarily forgotten as they turned back toward the yacht’s kitchen. A few of them made their way to the kitchen with hesitant footsteps, as if they were approaching a scene they weren’t ready to face.None of them were.When they reached the door, Sandra, who had been at the front of the group, cautiously pushed it open. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight before her.Ethan was seated at the table, his expression cold and indifferent, staring at the spy slumped in the chair across from him. The man’s face was pale, and blood dripped from his mouth, pooling on the floor.His eyes w