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
There was absolutely nothing going on between the two of them, but Gerald was making it so."What's the matter, Denera?" Gerald whispered, stepping closer. His voice was low and smooth, dripping with that usual playfulness. "Worried your darling husband might catch us?"Denera rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She knew Gerald was teasing. "This isn't funny, Gerald. We need to talk. Seriously."Gerald raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh, so now you want to talk? I thought you were more of an 'actions speak louder than words' kind of girl."Denera sighed, shaking her head. "You know what I mean. We need to clear the air, Gerald. We can't keep doing this." She was tired of the sneaking around, and Rhys thought it was an affair.Gerald's expression softened slightly, though the amusement never fully left his eyes. "Clear the air? About what? You and me? Or are you finally going to tell Rhys what's been going on?"He was talking about
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’