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.
Chapter 336Mr. Sterling was seated at his desk, reviewing some documents, when his phone rang. He answered, and a gruff voice on the other end identified itself as the police.“Mr. Sterling, we need you to come down to the station. It’s about Gwen.”The name alone made his heart skip. “What’s this about?” he demanded, trying to mask the sudden surge of panic in his voice.The officer replied calmly, “We found Gwen being held captive by your assistant, Morris Huggo, on a property registered to you. We’d like to know why she was there and under what circumstances.”Mr. Sterling’s face turned pale. He had tried so hard to keep everything under wraps, yet somehow, the police were ahead of him. He let out a shaky breath. “How did…how did you even find out about that?” He exhaled sharply, grasping for control. “Look, I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. Can’t we…handle this quietly?”There was a short pause before the officer responded, more firmly this time. “We’ll expect you here soo
Chapter 337Mr. Sterling arrived at the police station, his nerves frayed. He walked briskly across the parking lot, his usually confident stride now slightly hurried and tense. His mind raced as he considered his approach, rehearsing the story Williams had instructed him to tell. He pushed open the station’s heavy glass door and approached the reception desk, clearing his throat as he forced a polite smile.A young officer at the desk looked up, recognizing him. “Mr. Sterling, follow me. Detective Adrew is waiting for you.”Sterling nodded, managing a tense “Thank you,” and followed the officer down a narrow hallway, the sharp sounds of their footsteps echoing. He was led into a small, starkly lit interrogation room. Detective Adrew, a seasoned officer with a calm but piercing gaze, sat at the table with a notepad in front of him. Adrew gestured to the chair opposite.“Please, have a seat, Mr. Sterling,” Adrew said, his tone polite but with an edge that made Mr. Sterling uneasy.Mr.
Chapter 338Williams was on his way to see Sasha’s men, his mind racing with what he would say to Sasha’s lieutenants. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—Mr. Sterling was calling.“All’s clear now,” Mr. Sterling’s voice came through, a smug satisfaction lacing his words. “I managed to clear my name with the police.”“Good,” Williams replied, nodding to himself. “And Gwen?”“Didn’t see her. Frankly, I couldn’t care less what that woman does next,” Mr. Sterling scoffed, his tone dismissive. “As for Morris Huggo, he’s still in police custody. They’re grilling him for having a firearm. I had a word with him in his cell, and honestly, I’m baffled at how slow he is—couldn’t even sense the police at the door.”Williams didn’t react to Mr. Sterling’s jab about Morris. Instead, he shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. “Did you ask the police how far they are with their investigation, as I suggested?”A smug chuckle slipped from Mr. Sterling. “Oh, yes. Turns out
Chapter 339The warehouse was thick with the stale air of smoke and the sharp scent of alcohol. As Williams and the thug he had spared entered, supporting his unconscious brother, a ripple of tension spread through the place.The two thugs who had initially ran away scrambled to their feet and began pointing at Williams while saying something to the others.About fifteen people were scattered around the room—some drinking, others smoking, and a few sniffing something stronger. They all turned their attention to Williams, who ignored their wide-eyed stares as he laid the unconscious thug against the wall.Silence filled the room, heavy and expectant. Williams straightened up, scanning the crowd of new recruits. His voice cut through the silence like a knife.“Will you not help him? Your friend here is dying,” he said coldly, gesturing to the barely-breathing thug slumped by the wall.But no one moved. They shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting to each other, clearly intimidated. None of