Stephen leaned across the table, his fingers tracing invisible lines on the surface. "We need to pit Voss against Michael. Make Voss think Michael's setting him up and let them tear each other apart while we slip away."Victor tipped back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw clenched tight. "And how do we do that? You really think Voss will just take our word for it?Stephen shook his head. "No. We plant something. Evidence that Michael is gunning for Voss's operation. Voss is paranoid enough that he will react fast, and once they're at each other's throats, we can disappear."Enoch, still hunched against the wall, frowned. "This is insane. If we get caught trying to plant evidence, we're dead. Voss doesn't need proof, he'll just kill us to send a message.""We're already dead if we don't do something," Stephen replied sharply. "Michael's put us in a corner, and the cops are sniffing around. This is the only way we stand a chance."Victor rose to his feet, frustration ta

Days had gone by since Victor and Enoch vanished into thin air. Stephen called and sent texts, but nothing was received in return. He kept himself holed up in the safehouse, pacing up and down as his mind raced with each worst-case scenario possible. It simply couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that someone had made a move on them. But who?Stephen fished out his phone for the hundredth time. No messages, no news. Every passing beat made his heart race faster.A shrill ding cut through the silence. A message. Stephen's hand shook as he picked up the phone. "Come see me. I have Ariane. One wrong move, and you'll never see her again. – Michael."Stephen's blood ran cold. Michael had his daughter.Stephen's hand moved automatically to his jacket and grasped the door, but his hand stopped on the knob. What was Michael getting at? Evidently, he was baiting him into something big, and Stephen knew one thing-trapping himself in it meant only one thing: death.But he couldn't leave Aria

Stephen's finger quivered on the trigger, its weight heavy in his hand. Michael lay on the cold warehouse floor, a trickle of blood oozing from his lip, his eyes ablaze with anger. Time seemed to freeze, the silence thick between them. "Go ahead," Michael goaded, his voice hoarse but defiant. "Pull the trigger, Stephen. End this. Or are you too weak? Stephen's heart pounded. Every fibre of his being screamed to shoot, to end the nightmare Michael had dragged them all into. But something held him back. He wasn't a killer. Not like this. Victor, now that Ariane was free, bounded to stand beside Stephen. "Don't," Victor whispered, his voice urgent. "He's not worth it. Stephen's hand closed tighter on the gun, his breathing shallow. He couldn't let Michael get his way, but he just couldn't cross that line. His hand moved down, inch by inch. "That's what I thought," Michael said to himself with a sneer, pushing himself up. "You're weak, Stephen. Have always been." Incensed, Step

They had been seated in a small dingy room with a metallic chair each, hands cuffed behind their backs; the smell of sweat and blood hung in the air. Enoch's head was hung low, dripping blood from his split lip. Bruises were beginning to swell on Victor, but he kept his eyes fixed at the door.It creaked heavily open, and the two men tensed at once. Michael stepped in, his dark coat swaying with each movement; there were two on either side of him. He glanced at the two men and nodded to one of his guards.The latter stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I'm only going to ask one more time," Michael said coldly. "Where's my crate?"Neither Enoch nor Victor spoke.Michael breathed hard and tapped his temple as if he was dealing with children. "Tough guys, huh?" He waved his hand at the guard. "Show them I mean business."The guard strode over to Enoch and punched him in the pit of his stomach. Enoch grunted, doubling over, but the ropes kept him upright.Michael angled his face close

He stood next to the park, his hands deep inside his pockets. He scanned the crowd, watching people stroll past, laughing and chatting. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease settling in his stomach. Where is Voss? he thought, looking down at his watch. The sun had begun to sip below the trees, casting long shadows across the park.He shifted his feet, fighting the nerves. A few feet away, some kids were playing on the swings, their giggles carrying across like a reminder of a distant past that no longer applied. *This is no game, he told himself as he pushed the thought away.From his vantage point, he saw some men in the crowd who seemed to stare at him. Out of place, they appeared too serious for a park. The instincts kicked in for Victor. He turned his back towards them, fiddling with his shoelace as if tying it while sizing up the situation. They were Michael's men, and he knew they were here to make sure everything went according to plan.Where is Voss? he thought again mor