Chapter 328That same evening, Williams slipped into his car just as the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city. He adjusted his navy-blue blazer, brushed a speck of lint off his dark jeans, and glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror.His hair was slicked back, his face clean-shaven, and his expression serious. There was a quiet urgency about him tonight. He didn’t want to waste any time getting to Red Waters and sorting out thing before they escalated.As he drove through the city traffic, he mentally rehearsed what he’d say if anyone from Sasha’s gang cornered him and asked about their boss. The thought of them made him tighten his grip on the wheel. If they know, they’d really be angry about Sasha’s death, especially since he had been the one who convinced her to leave Red Waters. He’d have to tread carefully.By the time he pulled into the airport parking lot, twilight had settled in. Williams exited his car, buttoned his blazer, and strode into the a
Chapter 329It was Mr. Sterling who was calling Williams. He sat in his dimly lit office, his hands clenched into tight fists as he stared at his phone lying on the polished mahogany desk. The screen was dark, unresponsive—just like Williams, who had ignored his calls all evening.He’d tried Williams again and again, hoping he would pick up. But nothing. Mr. Sterling’s jaw tightened as frustration clawed at him.With an irritated sigh, he picked up the phone again, scrolling through his call log, where Williams’ name sat, unanswered, like a taunt.Mr. Sterling closed his eyes briefly, his mind racing back to the call with the kidnappers earlier that day. The kidnappers’ cold, steady voices still echoed in his ears, making his stomach chum with anger. He could almost picture them on the other end, calm, menacing, outlining their demands as though it were just business as usual: twenty million dollars, packed in cash, and to be delivered at an undisclosed location that they’d provide s
Chapter 330Jack’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen, smirking as he saw the name “Sterling” flash up. This was it—the moment they’d been anticipating. Letting the phone ring a few times, he took a steadying breath before answering, masking his impatience.“Hello, Mr. Sterling,” he answered smoothly, the slightest edge of menace in his tone.Mr. Sterling’s voice, tense and almost frantic, shot through the line. “I’m here. At the bridge. I’ve got the money. Now bring my son—bring him here now, and take your cash.”Jack chuckled lightly, his voice steady, mocking. “Calm down, Mr. Sterling. We’ll get to that. Just…wait a little longer,” he said, then, without waiting for a response, he ended the call abruptly.Jack turned, slipping his phone back into his pocket. The dark warehouse around him felt cold and quiet, the shadows seeming to grow as he processed the next steps.The kidnappers had carefully orchestrated a test to ensure Mr. Sterling was truly alone, a
Chapter 331Ben received the message from Jack confirming the plan to move Charles to a second warehouse, and with the reminder to stay alert and watch out in case Mr. Sterling had backup lurking nearby.He quickly tucked his phone away, squinting as he focused on Sterling, who was visibly frustrated, his shoulders tense, and his brow furrowed with worry and irritation.Mr. Sterling’s movements were stiff and agitated. He grabbed the suitcase with both hands, muttering something under his breath as he tossed it onto the passenger seat with an annoyed huff.The sound of the suitcase hitting the seat was sharp, and Mr. Sterling didn’t seem to care about handling it gently. He moved around to the driver’s side with a look of grim determination, his fingers rapping the car roof once as if to calm his nerves.Ben watched intently as Mr. Sterling got into the car, slamming the door shut with enough force to make the vehicle rock slightly. For a moment, Nr. Sterling just sat there, staring s
Chapter 332The morning light filtered in through a small, dust-covered window, casting a pale glow across the room. The air was cold, carrying the faint scent of damp concrete and wood. Shadows stretched and danced as a thin beam of sun fought its way through the grime on the glass, landing on Ben’s face, nudging him further out of sleep.Across from him, James and Gregor sat rigidly in wooden chairs, their expressions stern and unyielding as they watched him.With a rough shove, Gregor reached over and nudged Ben’s shoulder, snapping him awake. “Wake up. You’ve got a lot of talking to do.”Ben groaned, stretching as the last dregs of sleep faded. He blinked, his eyes opening and closing slowly, struggling to adjust to the morning light.At first, he felt a hazy confusion, but within moments, memory flooded back—the ambush, the blindfold, the handcuffs. The night had been endless, locked in this room after being brought here by the two men now watching him intently. After hours of res
Chapter 333The door creaked open, and Gregor stepped back in, carrying a paper-wrapped sandwich in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. He tossed them onto the table in front of Ben without a word, then took his seat beside James, folding his arms as he watched their captive with a steady, unblinking gaze.“Hope you like sandwiches,” James said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “Figured it was better to feed you before we continue. You’ll be more helpful that way.”Ben, still silent, stared down at the sandwich. He was hungry — they’d kept him here overnight with nothing — but his mind was racing, and his hands were tense on his knees.Gregor leaned forward, his voice low. “We don’t have time to waste, Ben. You’ve got one chance here to come clean. Otherwise, let’s just say we’re not the patient type.”Ben swallowed, then looked from Gregor to James. “You think feeding me a sandwich will make me talk? You’re wasting your time,” he muttered, trying to sound defiant, but his
Chapter 334Williams had arrived at Red Waters the previous night, worn from the journey and ready to crash. He’d found a small, unassuming hotel near the outskirts, checked in, and immediately hit the bed. Despite the rest, when he woke around noon, he still felt the weight of exhaustion clinging to him.Groggy and stretching, he reached over to his phone and noticed a string of missed calls from Mr. Sterling—calls that had come in through the night and into the early hours of the morning. He sighed, realizing the urgency Mr. Sterling must have felt. Sitting up, he took a deep breath, rubbed the lingering sleep from his eyes, and finally decided to return the call.The phone rang just twice before Sterling answered, his voice tense and sharp. “Williams, where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”Williams sat back, bracing himself. “I know, Mr. Sterling. I just got in late last night and crashed. Didn’t see the calls until now.”“Didn’t see the calls?” Mr.
Chapter 335That afternoon, Eric led a team of police officers to Mr. Sterling’s property just outside town, where Gwen was believed to be held. Earlier, James had called to fill him in on everything that had come to light, including Ben’s capture and confession. It confirmed what the police had suspected all along: an out-of-town gang was indeed behind the kidnapping, rather than Mr. Sterling orchestrating the ruse himself.Eric suggested involving the police, but James wouldn’t hear of it. He explained to Eric that it could be too risky and insisted it was safer for them to handle it on their own and instead the police should concentrate on finding Gwen.As they approached the property, Eric and the team moved swiftly, breaching the gate without hesitation. Guns drawn and with quiet coordination, they advanced toward the house, each officer alert and prepared. The silence was tense, broken only by the measured steps as they closed in, determined to locate Gwen and end the standoff.