Chapter 359Finally, Kane’s eyes landed on a wiry, lanky man standing stiffly among the others. His shoulders slouched slightly under his leather jacket, and though his frame was thin, his face had a taut, hawkish quality. His long limbs looked almost too large for his body, giving him an awkward appearance, as if he might fold in half with a strong enough gust of wind.“You,” Kane called out.The lanky man’s eyes widened, and he looked around, surprised, then pointed to himself, clearly uncertain. “Me, boss?”Kane narrowed his eyes, sizing him up again, and then shook his head with a curt chuckle. “No, not you.” His gaze shifted just over the man’s shoulder. “The one behind you. Bald head.”The lanky man exhaled in visible relief and sidestepped out of the way, revealing a mountain of a man standing quietly in the shadows, blending into the lineup.The man had a gleaming bald head that seemed to catch the dim light in the room, casting a sharp contrast against his deep-set eyes and
Chapter 360James dropped onto the worn leather sofa in Gregor’s dimly lit apartment, stretching out as though trying to shake off the weight of the day.The tension in the air was thick as he thought about the risky move they’d made. “So, they bought it?” Gregor’s voice was low and tense as he crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall.“Yeah, they did,” James replied with a nod. “The way they responded, it was clear they thought it was really Ben on the other end.” He ran a hand over his face, exhaling, before letting his head drop back against the sofa cushion. “Has he eaten today?”Gregor’s expression softened slightly. “Yeah, I got him some pasta with grilled chicken and vegetables,” he replied, nodding toward a mostly empty takeout container on the small table nearby.He moved to the door, turning the lock with a quiet click before he walked back toward the center of the room, his gaze distant. James shrugged off his jacket, tossing it over the arm of the sofa, while Gregor
Chapter 361Meanwhile, Kai was already making progress with his investigation. He had learned that the gang members who came into Emerald Falls were led by a man called Scarface, and they were rivals of Sasha, the assassin.He’d gathered this information from an informant, and now he had a plan in place: head to Red Waters, dig deeper into this gang, and uncover any clues about Sasha and who might have hired her to go after Liam. Liam was certain that Eric was behind it, but Kai had his own suspicions. He was leaning toward Williams and Mr. Sterling—after all, Eric didn’t seem capable of orchestrating something like this. Still, in Kai’s line of work, you could never be too sure of anyone.His own history with Williams made him question if he was biased, but there was only one way to know for certain. He had to get to Red Waters, preferably before the police got wind of any of this.With that thought, he finished packing his briefcase, closing it with a snap. Across from him, Liam sa
Chapter 362Kai stepped off the plane at Red Waters International Airport, the cold evening breeze hitting his face as he adjusted his grip on the briefcase he carried. The air smelled different here—heavier, somehow. It carried a hint of salt from the nearby coast and an edge of grit that hinted at the city’s rougher reputation.He took a breath, pushing away a flicker of doubt. This was no place to let his guard down, especially since his goal was Scarface—a man few approached and even fewer dared to confront.He flagged down a taxi and slid into the backseat, keeping his briefcase close. As the car pulled away from the airport and merged into the main streets, his gaze drifted out the window, absorbing the city of Red Waters.The skyline was industrial, dominated by rows of aging warehouses and smokestacks. It wasn’t like Emerald Falls, with its sleek glass buildings and polished streets. Here, the buildings wore years of neglect openly, their walls stained with grime, graffiti, an
Chapter 363Kai was still deep in thought when a loud knock rattled his hotel room door, jolting him out of his reverie. Instantly alert, he stood up, eyes narrowing as he moved cautiously toward the door."Who’s that?" he called out, his voice steady, not afraid—just prepared for whatever."It’s Mr. Wibblebottom, the manager," came a hoarse voice from the other side of the door.Kai's brow raised in mild disbelief at the name. With a deep breath, he unlocked the door and pulled it open. Standing in front of him was a burly, short man with a round, protruding belly and a head nearly bald except for a few wispy tufts of hair.The man wore a faded, ill-fitting suit with the buttons straining over his stomach, and he had a self-important expression on his face, as though he owned half the city.Beside him stood a petite woman in a skimpy, low-cut dress that clung to her thin frame. Her dark, hollow eyes held a flicker of mischief, and she pursed her lips at Kai in a practiced pout.Kai's
Chapter 364Kai returned to his room, settling onto the edge of the bed as he replayed the encounter with the manager in his head. An idea began to form, lighting up his thoughts with a flash of inspiration.What if he could use the girl as bait, he might draw out Scarface’s men or other gang members. They’d probably be less on guard around her, and it could be the perfect opportunity to gather intel without raising suspicion.Acting on the idea immediately, Kai sprang up and hurried out the door, making his way downstairs. As he entered the lobby, he approached the receptionist, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense air about her.“I need to speak to the manager,” he said, trying to keep his tone calm but urgent.The receptionist held his gaze for a moment before sighing and jerking her thumb toward the far corner of the lobby. “He’s over there,” she said bluntly, her voice devoid of any warmth. “Try not to waste his time.”Kai nodded his thanks and followed her ges
Chapter 365The crowd in the lobby erupted, chanting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as more people gathered, drawn to the commotion. Kai glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the audience.The fierce-looking man puffed out his chest, emboldened by the chants and by the assumption that he’d have no trouble taking down someone like Kai.Sizing Kai up, the man grinned, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. He looked like he was ready to turn Kai into a pile of bruises. Kai, however, remained calm, his gaze steady and calculating. With a snarl, the man swung a wild punch at Kai, aiming straight for his jaw. But Kai moved with surprising speed, sidestepping the blow effortlessly. Before the man could react, Kai lifted his leg and delivered a brutal kick to the groin.The man’s face contorted in pain, and he staggered backward, clutching himself as gasps rippled through the crowd. People exchanged glances, the initial confidence in the big man's success quickly dissipating.
Chapter 366Back in his room, Kai locked the door, his mind already drifting to the task ahead.He glanced at the petite girl as she sat down on the edge of the chair, her posture tense, hands clasped nervously in her lap. She looked as though she might break into pieces if the wrong words were said.And It didn’t take a genius like kai Nakamura to see she was probably new to this line of work. Well, that’s her business, not mine, he thought, dismissing the idea.He checked his watch—still just past 8 PM. Two more hours to kill before he’d be heading out into the murky depths of Red Waters, the part of town where danger was a fact of life. The information he needed would be there, and he’d be ready.He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. The girl had stood up, her movements hesitant yet intentional. She leaned in closer, her fingertips brushing his arm with a tentative softness as she attempted to meet his eyes. Her gaze was almost pleading, her li
Chapter 397Morning broke with a dull glow, illuminating the quiet safe house nestled deep in the woods. Inside, tension hung thick in the air. Williams was standing near the window with a phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a calm but calculated tone.“We’ve got your son, Charles,” he said, his voice steady. “But we haven’t located Jaxon.”On the other end of the line, Mr. Sterling’s voice cracked with emotion. “Charles? Is he safe? Are you sure?” Relief flooded his tone, but it was quickly shadowed by anxiety. “What about Jaxon? Did you find him? Is there anything—anything—leading up to him?”Williams let out a quiet sigh, one that sounded more like practiced patience than genuine concern. “That’s all we could manage,” he replied. “The men who took Jaxon still have him, and from what we’ve gathered, they plan to kill him if there’s any interference.”Mr. Sterling was silent for a beat, processing the grim news. Then, his voice rose, tinged with panic. “What do I do now? How do I
Chapter 396James and Gregor stepped out of their concealed position in the underbrush as the taillights of the SUV disappeared into the darkness. The cool night air was eerily silent now, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the muffled sounds of wildlife in the distance. The ground beneath their boots crunched softly as they moved toward the aftermath of the chaos they had just witnessed.Gregor’s eyes scanned the scene, his face expressionless as he took in the lifeless bodies sprawled across the area. Three of them, including Ben they once held, lay motionless, their weapons discarded and their blood staining the dirt beneath them.Gregor crouched beside one of the bodies, briefly checking for a pulse, though he already knew there was none. Standing, he shook his head and muttered, “Well, that’s the life they’ve chosen for themselves.”James, standing a few steps behind him, remained silent for a moment, his sharp eyes darting around the scene. The faint glow of the moo
Chapter 395The shadows of the dilapidated bunker stretched long under the moonlight as Williams and his team lay in wait. They had taken up position hours earlier, tucked inside Jaxon’s sleek sports car, the dark, polished metal blending seamlessly into the night. The air inside the vehicle was stifling, thick with tension and the faint metallic tang of gun oil. Every man was armed and ready, their nerves wound tight, waiting for the right moment to strike. Williams sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel, though his eyes never left the rearview mirror. Beside him, Kane sat rigid, one hand gripping Jaxon’s arm firmly while the other rested on the stock of a shotgun lying across his lap. In the cramped sports car, Tom and Dorian crouched uncomfortably in the trunk, their weapons at the ready, waiting for Williams’ signal.The silence inside the car was shattered when headlights cut through the darkness. A single car approached, its rumbling engine e
Chapter 394The dense canopy of the forest loomed overhead, casting long shadows over the makeshift campsite where James and Gregor had been holed up for days. The air was damp, thick with the earthy scent of moss and pine, and the distant call of nocturnal creatures echoed through the stillness.Gregor sat cross-legged on the damp ground, his eyes glued to the small tablet in his lap. A blinking red dot pulsed steadily on the screen—the nano tracker they’d planted on Ben’s phone.For three grueling days, they’d followed that dot from one hideout to another, staying just far enough away not to be detected. They’d spent their nights in the car or in the bush, catching only brief moments of sleep between shifts of surveillance.Tonight was no different, and Gregor’s tired eyes burned as he watched the screen, hoping for any sign of movement.James lay stretched out on the ground beside him, his jacket pulled over his face to block out the faint moonlight filtering through the trees. Hi
Chapter 393Jack paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, his gun laid out on the table as he meticulously assembled and armored it. Each metallic click echoed in the stale air, punctuating the tense atmosphere.They had to switch hideouts when Ben rejoined them, in case he was being tailed. Jack carefully considered the situation and concluded that bringing him back into the operation as an additional resource would be a wise decision, just in case they encountered any unexpected challenges but he made sure they switch hideout from time to time. But their main exchange point was still the old bunker because it has a lot of escape routes and underground tunnels.Ken was nearby, double-checking their supply of ammunition, while Denver and Ben lounged on an old, battered couch, their excitement barely contained.“Finally, we’re getting out of this shithole with a bundle of millions,” Denver said to Ben, leaning back with a smug grin. He flicked a discarded cigarette butt into the cor
Chapter 392The evening sky was a dusky orange, streaked with long trails of purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. Williams parked the sleek, black car that Mr. Sterling had secured for him—a high-profile Lamborghini that was both remarkable and practical for what was about to go down.The tinted windows gleamed faintly in the fading light as he stepped out, dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans. He adjusted the baseball cap on his head and pulled it lower to obscure his face further.Kane was already waiting near the edge of the gravel lot, leaning casually against a rusted lamp post that barely flickered to life. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes darted around, sharp and alert. A few paces away, Tom and Dorian lingered by the entrance to the abandoned warehouse, their conversation low but punctuated with short laughs.Williams approached Kane with purposeful strides. Without a word, he gestured for Kane to follow him a short distance away from the others.“They ready?” William
Chapter 391Andrew’s pen hovered over the page. “Eric Wood? The CEO of EMC?”“Yes,” Sterling said, his voice steady now, laced with conviction. “He’s had a vendetta against my family for months. He’s jealous of our success, our influence. And now, with everything happening at EMC, I wouldn’t put it past him to stoop this low. My two sons were kidnapped in a sparse of a few weeks. Is it not strange?”Andrew tilted his head, his expression skeptical. “That’s a serious accusation, Mr. Sterling. Do you have any evidence to support this?”Mr. Sterling sighed heavily, as though burdened by the weight of his own claim. “Not concrete evidence, no. But think about it. He has the resources, the motive. And I heard through some… private channels that he’s been meeting with unsavory characters lately. People who could easily pull off something like this.”Andrew jotted a few notes, his pen moving quickly. “I see. I’ll look into it. But you understand we can’t act on hearsay alone.”“Of course, of
Chapter 390As soon as Mr. Sterling ended the call with Williams, he hurried to his closet, throwing on a sleek navy suit and matching tie. His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the knot, but he steeled himself, taking a deep breath.This wasn’t just a favor for Williams; it was a calculated move to get his two sons back. Grabbing his keys, he rushed out of his mansion, the elevator ride to the ground floor feeling agonizingly slow.When he finally stepped outside, the cool morning air bit at his face, but he paid it no mind. His black sedan waited at the curb, and he climbed in, starting the engine with a growl. As he sped toward Sky Suite, he rehearsed the lies he might need to tell to retrieve Jaxon’s car.The towering Sky Suite hotel loomed ahead, its modern glass facade gleaming brightly under the early morning sun. As Mr. Sterling approached the entrance, his stomach tightened. The sight of two patrol cars parked near the lobby entrance made his pulse quicken. Uniformed off
Chapter 389As soon as Kane received the message from Tom that Jaxon had finally broken under the pressure and confessed, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Williams. His tone was sharp, clipped, and direct as he relayed the crucial information.“He finally talked,” Kane said without any preamble. “He’s given up Jack’s location—some bunker near the old docks.”Williams, on the other end of the line, didn’t respond right away. The faint sound of tapping, likely his pen against his desk, filled the silence. “Good,” Williams finally said, his voice steady but tinged with calculation. “Did he say anything about how many men Jack has with him?”“Yeah,” Kane replied. “Three, including Jack himself. He said one of them ran away. It’s a small crew.”Williams let out a low hum of approval. “That’s manageable. We’ve got the numbers, four to three. Here’s the plan,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re going to prep Jaxon to lead you straight to the bunker. He’s our key. Ma