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
Chapter 340The inner chamber Kane led Williams into was dimly lit, with the scent of stale smoke hanging in the air. The walls were lined with graffiti and faded posters, giving the place a gritty, rebellious atmosphere. In the center was a battered but imposing round table, covered with scattered maps, empty liquor bottles, and a few glinting weapons. Around it sat five men, each eyeing Williams with a mix of suspicion and hostility.Seated at the table were Sasha’s lieutenants, hardened men known for their ruthless loyalty. There was:Vince - a tall, wiry man with a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin. His eyes were sharp and calculating, always looking for the next threat.Leon - muscular and broad-shouldered, with tattoos snaking up his arms. He had a tense, alert demeanor, as if always prepared to fight.Rick - lanky with a narrow face, known for his quick temper. He watched everyone with narrowed eyes, his lips twisted in a sneer.Marco - a heavyset man with a rough, gr
Chapter 341Marco spoke first, breaking the silence with a slight smirk, his legs crossed and one eyebrow raised. “So, what do you suggest we do now?” he asked, his tone challenging.Williams looked at Marco, who sat confidently across the table with his legs crossed, his gaze piercing and his arms casually folded. A heavy silence filled the room, and the rest of the lieutenants watched him, waiting for his response. Williams let the silence stretch, intentionally taking his time to slip his phone back into his pocket.Finally, he met Marco’s gaze and said, “I say you gather all your squads—every single one of them. No one’s sitting this out.”Marco leaned forward, his brow furrowing slightly. “And for what, exactly?” he asked, his tone both skeptical and slightly challenging.“Don’t you understand? All my attempts to contact Sasha have been pointless, and I’m sure you’ve all noticed it by now,” Williams said.The lieutenants couldn’t deny it. They, too, had been trying to reach Sasha
Chapter 342Jaxon was in his dimly lit hotel room at sky suite with Milly cuddling when the silence was broken when his phone vibrated. It was Ken. Jaxon picked up, his voice sharp.“Yeah? What is it?”Ken’s voice was steady but held an edge of urgency. “Bad news, Jaxon. Ben, one of the thugs with us has been taken.”Jaxon stopped pacing. His hand clenched around the phone. “What do you mean, taken? When?”“It happened when he was on that lookout job for your father, Mr. Sterling. He didn’t return. It’s been over a day now.”Jaxon cursed under his breath, rubbing his temples. “And you didn’t tell me sooner?”Ken hesitated. “We wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a delay. But now… it’s pretty clear. He’s not even picking his calls.”“So what do you want me to do now?” Jaxon’s voice was cold, a mix of anger and fear.“We want you to check out if your father is behind it,” Ken replied. “Who knows? The old man might be a lot smarter than we assumed.”Jaxon’s temper flared, and he barked, “
Chapter 343James had received word from Eric that Gwen had been rescued from one of Mr. Sterling’s properties outside of town.After all, according to Eric, it was James himself who had given him the tip, allowing him to pull together a team of police officers to bring her to safety.The last time he spoke with Eric, James had hinted that he and Gregor had caught one of the kidnappers and promised to tell Eric everything once he sees him at the office.Now, James walked into the dimly lit room where they were keeping Ben. In his hand, he held a tray of food—two sandwiches, a bowl of thick soup, and a bottle of water. He placed it on the small table in front of Ben, whose wrists were lightly cuffed, enough to limit movement without making eating impossible.“This should be enough for now, right?” James asked, crossing his arms and watching Ben closely.Ben didn’t respond; he simply lunged at the food, tearing into the sandwich. The bread was fresh, filled with thick slices of ham and
Chapter 344As James disappeared down the hallway, Gregor leaned back in his chair, his mind still running in circles around their situation. They needed a solid plan if they had any hope of rescuing the boy and keeping their own intentions hidden.For nearly an hour, he turned ideas over in his mind, but none seemed quite right. The weight of the unknown was pressing on him, making his thoughts feel clouded and heavy. With a sigh, he stood, rubbing his temples, and decided a walk might help clear his head.Gregor stepped out into the open air, taking a long breath as the familiar, gritty scent of Montgomery Street filled his nose.This street held so many memories, though not all of them were good. It was here that he’d grown up, in a rundown apartment building, part of the roughest side of Emerald Falls.His mother had raised him and his younger sister alone in that very apartment, doing her best to scrape by in a place where poverty clung to the streets as thickly as the dust on th
Chapter 345Gregor hurried back into his apartment, taking in the space with a critical eye. He knew Nathaniel Grey would scrutinize every detail, so he straightened up a few things, carefully arranging them to look natural while hiding anything that might reveal Ben’s presence. The faint scent of the soup from the apartment they kept Ben still lingered, so he opened a window to air the place out, hoping it wouldn’t seem suspicious. Just as he finished tidying, his phone rang.He picked it up, and Kai’s voice was cool on the other end of the line. “I’m at the entrance of your street.”Gregor swallowed, forcing calm into his tone. “Alright. I’ll be there to get you in a minute.” He ended the call, took a final glance around the room, and headed out.Stepping outside, he quickly spotted Nathaniel Grey approaching.Kai cut a sharp, commanding figure as always. He was dressed in a tailored black coat, unbuttoned over a crisp white dress shirt. A dark gray scarf was wrapped loosely around