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’
The truth was that Rhys suspected the photos didn't lie. He had a feeling that Denera was truly having an affair with Gerald.Rhys couldn’t just lie there and wait. Quietly, he got up, moving as silently as he could, and followed her out of the room. He stayed a good distance behind, careful not to make a sound as he crept down the hallway. When he saw her knock on Gerald’s door, his heart sank. He was right.But he forced himself to stay calm, to wait, and to see what would happen next. He pressed himself against the wall, close enough to hear but far enough to avoid being seen. Soon, the door opened, and he heard Gerald’s voice. It was low and flirty.Rhys’s jaw clenched. He knew that tone all too well—Gerald was playing with her, like he always did. Rhys strained to hear, and what he caught made his blood run cold.“You’re playing a dangerous game, you know. What if Rhys wakes up and finds you gone?” Gerald’s voice was full of that same smug arrogance, like he knew he had the upper
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
The man’s breath came in short, panicked gasps. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered, but the tremble in his voice gave him away.Ethan’s grip tightened. “You’re lying,” he said, his voice cold. “I can see it in your eyes. You know exactly what this is. The Four Houses—they sent you, didn’t they?”The man’s eyes darted around again and again.“Don't bother.” Ethan smiled wickedly. “There's no escape here. You are stuck with me.”“Please,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I—I can’t tell you anything. They’ll kill me.”Ethan leaned in closer, his face a few inches from the man’s. “If you don’t start talking, you’ll wish they had,” he threatened. “I’m not a patient man, and I’m running out of time. So, tell me everything. Now.”The man’s composure shattered. He began to fidget as his body wracked with fear. “Alright, alright!” he cried out, his voice breaking.Ethan released his grip slightly, giving the man a moment to catch his breath. But his eyes remained