Laurel sat on the cold, concrete floor of her cell, her back pressed against the rough wall. The dim light that flickered weakly from the bulb above cast eerie shadows across the small, claustrophobic space. It was night, though the darkness in this place never truly lifted, not even during the day. Time had lost its meaning here, the hours blending together into an endless gray haze.The stench of damp and mildew hung in the air, mixing with the pungent odor of unwashed bodies and the faint, sour scent of despair. The thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders did little to ward off the chill that seemed to seep up from the very bones of the building. Laurel’s fingers were numb from the cold, and she clenched them into fists, trying to bring some warmth back to her hands.The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, a slow, deliberate march that sent a shiver down her spine. She tensed, her breath catching in her throat. The guards here were not known for their kindness. They wi
The room seemed to split into two for a split second. There was the first part where the old man's words hung on the air like a death sentence, and there were the rest who were frozen.The old man noticed.It was quite unfortunate for Kenji, whose men seemed to be in a dilemma. His men, who had been so loyal and unmoved before, now looked at their boss with an unsettling hunger in their eyes. To them, five million dollars was no small sum. He knew what the old man was doing by suddenly testing their loyalty with greed.Who would resist five million?Kenji realized it a bit too late. His confident smirk faltered just a little, and his eyes darted between the men surrounding him. He couldn't believe they were seriously considering this. This was the brotherhood! How dare they contemplate him for money? These thoughts made Kenji lash out unintelligibly.“Are you idiots seriously considering this?” he barked out. His voice was laced with disbelief as he glared at his men. “Seriously?” No
Disheveled, Kenji whipped out his gun, firing a warning shot into the air. “Back off!” he screamed, trying to assert his control over his men, but the sound of the gunshot only fueled the frenzy. His men were beyond reason now, driven by the promise of five million US dollars.Another man, smaller but quicker, darted in from the side, aiming a knife at Kenji’s ribs. Kenji twisted just in time to stop the blade from slicing him like a pizza. The blade sliced through the air where his body had been a moment before. “You bastard!” He yelled, shoving the attacker away. That sent him crashing into a table that broke into pieces under the impact.On the other hand, the old man shook his head at Kenji’’s dilemma. There were too many of them motivated by the money, and Kenji knew he was in deep trouble. They were out for his flesh and blood. He backed toward the door, his gun trained on the advancing men, but he could see they were ready to risk everything for that reward. Bloodlust had taken
The cold night air hit him, offering temporary relief from the internal heat he was feeling. He paused for a moment to catch his breath. “Think, think, think, Kenji!” He needed to think to figure out his next move. He couldn’t go back. To him, the old man had turned his men against him, and now there was a price on his head.But Kenji had always prided himself on being a survivor. He had clawed his way to the top of the Yakuza underworld through mercilessness and ruthlessness. He didn't take the world for granted by being kind, and he didn't think he wasn’t about to be taken down by a bunch of greedy fools. He checked his gun—only two bullets left. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.He's certainly retained one for the old man. Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the alley, causing Kenji to tense up. Instantly, he swung around to see two of the traitors coming after him. There was Jobe and one other person. And boy! Their faces were set on getting that money. They weren’t going to gi
Somewhere across the sea...The thick atmosphere hadn't lessened one bit. Ethan and his closest guards were still staring at the man who disguised himself as a maid. The guests around them had fallen silent. Their earlier panic was replaced by a watchfulness—they wanted to know if he was the one who murdered the girl and stole her identity.Rachel was still holding the wig, her hand trembling slightly as she stared at the man’s face. It was getting worse, smeared with makeup and sweat.Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “I asked you a question. Who are you, and why are you here?”The man, now visibly shaking, didn’t respond. He seemed to be weighing his options; his eyes carefully darted around the room as if searching for an escape route. But there were none. Sandra rolled her eyes as she gave Ethan a silent look. It meant 'this person is dumb'.The others were positioned in their own ways too—Gerald stood beside him, towering and making sure he kept on sweating, while Rachel and Paul flanked Et
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 can’t say,” the man stammered helplessly. “They’ll kill me if I talk.”The same old practiced talk again, Ethan noted. He was fed up, and this showed in the way his lips curled into a cold smile. “You’re already as good as dead if you don’t talk. So you might as well make it worth something.”The man’s decision to repeat his act quickly crumbled under the force of Ethan’s words. His shoulders slumped, and he let out a shuddering breath. “Alright,” he whispered, barely audible. Ethan didn't mind—as long as he said something. “I’ll tell you.”Ethan leaned back slightly, giving the man some space to breathe. “Start talking. And don’t leave anything out.”The man took a deep breath, his voice shaky but more controlled now. “I was sent to spy on you. They wanted to know what you were up to and what your plans were. They think you’re hiding something, something big.”“Who are ‘they’?” Ethan asked in a deadly, calm voice.The man hesitated again, but the look in Ethan’s eyes made him t
“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