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The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 39 : Strengthened Resolve
Steam curled around Morty as the hot water pounded against his tense shoulders. His hands braced against the shower wall, head bowed, frustration tightening his jaw.It had been weeks since he’d vowed to escalate his investigation into Camren’s death, but he wasn’t any closer to solving it. The evidence was scarce, leads were drying up, and the deeper he dug, the more dead ends he found.Worst of all, his father was growing impatient.Morty knew what that meant... if he didn’t produce results soon, Larry Flanagan would make him pay.He was genuinely afraid of this, Larry Flanagan might be his father, but he was still a ruthless man, who had no tolerance for who he considered dead weight.Sighing, he turned the water off and stepped out, grabbing a towel and wiping the steam off the mirror.His reflection stared back at him, tired and filled with self-loathing. He ran a hand through his wet hair before glancing at the large corkboard across the room, filled with photos, notes, and
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 40 : Snooping Around
Lisa leaned back in her office chair, exhaling deeply as she stared at the final document in front of her. She had spent the entire day signing papers, reviewing contracts, and sitting through meetings that all blurred together into a monotonous, exhausting routine.She never thought boredom could be so tiring.At least when she had cancer, the looming presence of existential dread kept her alert.But even with the weight of tedium pressing on her, Lisa found herself smiling.This was her life now.Not a hospital bed. Not endless pitying looks from people who assumed she wouldn’t make it.She was CEO of Francis Steel, and she had earned this.A soft knock at her office door pulled her out of her thoughts.“Ms. Francis?” Her secretary poked her head in “Your husband is here to take you home”Lisa immediately brightened. “Thank you Clara, I’ll be right out”She stood, stretching her arms before grabbing her coat and bag. As she stepped out of her office, her eyes instantly found Lloyd
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 41 : A Crass Homecoming
The soft hum of elegant piano music drifted through the air at the Premium Restaurant, mingling with the quiet chatter of well-dressed patrons.The restaurant’s golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over every table, making everything feel softer, more intimate.Lisa leaned back in her chair, sipping her wine with a contented sigh. Across from her, Lloyd watched her with an amused smile, twirling his fork idly between his fingers.“This is nice,” Lisa murmured, resting her cheek against her palm. “I can’t believe everything turned out like this. Just a few months ago, I was barely a part of this family, dying of cancer… and now, I’m the CEO of Francis Steel, with the most wonderful husband by my side”Lloyd smirked at her words, resting his chin on his fist. “You really think this is as good as it gets?”Lisa raised an eyebrow. “I mean… how could it get any better?”Lloyd’s smirk widened, but he didn’t answer right away, Instead, he leaned forward, taking her hand in his. His thumb tra
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 42 : Finally... Some Answers
The dimly lit restaurant was tucked away in one of Hilburg’s more obscure alleyways, a place meant for whispered conversations and discreet dealings.The walls, covered in peeling red paint, smelled faintly of cheap whiskey and burnt meat.Morty sat in a shadowed corner, his back pressed against the worn leather booth.His fingers drummed impatiently against the wooden table as he checked his watch for the third time in five minutes.The bastard was late!.It had been twenty minutes since the agreed-upon time, and there was still no sign of his contact. Morty’s instincts, honed by years of dealing with criminals and liars, began screaming at him.Was this a setup? Had the Draguns caught wind of his investigation?His right hand discreetly moved under the table, gripping the cool metal of his holstered pistol. If anyone tried something, he wouldn’t go down without a fight.Just as he was about to stand and leave, the restaurant door creaked open. Morty’s eyes flicked to the entrance,
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 43 (Danger Rising)
The Francis dining hall was drenched in an unnatural silence.Lloyd sat at the long, polished table, his fingers resting against the cool surface of his untouched plate. Lisa, seated beside him, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Across from them, John, Harold, Eleanor, and the rest of the family ate in stifling quiet, their gazes either fixed on their meals or subtly avoiding Lisa’s hopeful glances.Lisa had tried... more than once, to start a conversation.“How’s work been, Dad?” she had asked Harold earlier.A grunt was all she received.Then she tried John “Grandfather, did you see the latest market projections for Francis Steel? We’re already seeing a profit increase...”“I read the reports” he interrupted curtly, spearing his food with his fork.After that, Lisa stopped trying.Lloyd, watching the entire exchange, clenched his jaw. He had expected resistance, but the cold treatment Lisa was receiving tested his patience.They acknowledged her when it was convenient, but the m
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 44 : Traitors in our Midst
Lloyd sat in silence as the car rumbled along the dimly lit roads of Hilburg. Beside him, Ivan drove with his usual sharp focus.The atmosphere inside the car was tense, but not due to nerves... rather, it was the anticipation of what was to come.Ivan's expression was thoughtful, his mind clearly occupied with the conversation they had started earlier."You really think one of the Draguns is working with the cops?" Ivan asked, his voice low but edged with doubt."Yeah, but I think it might be worse than that?" Lloyd added "What do you mean?" asked Ivan.I think there’s a coalition forming, a faction within the Draguns... pro-Camren, anti-Jacob.Ivan frowned, gripping the wheel tighter. “A faction?”“Under Jacob’s nose?” he asked skeptically, the thought of Jacob being so inept made him genuinely offended.Lloyd smirked. “Jacob isn’t blind, but he’s… sentimental, he wants to be respected, to prove himself as a leader, That makes him predictable in some ways”Ivan glanced at his boss
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 45 : Danger Encroaching
The evening air was crisp against Lisa's skin, as sbe stepped out of the towering Francis Steel office building, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. The long day had left her exhausted, the endless meetings, negotiations, and paperwork.She didn't even know what she was doing half the time.."I thought it was dad's job to take care of this?"She grumbled All she wanted was to go home, take a warm shower, and curl up in bed with Lloyd.But the moment she stepped onto the sidewalk, her plans were interrupted.“Lisa” a smooth, familiar voice called.She stopped in her tracks, exhaling sharply before turning to see Edgar Numa standing near a sleek black luxury car, a bouquet of red roses in his hands.Lisa’s expression immediately hardened. “What the hell are you doing here?”Edgar smirked, stepping forward, his perfectly tailored navy-blue suit barely wrinkling as he moved.“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” he asked smoothly, extending the flowers toward her.Lisa d
The Wrath of the Dragon Duke. Chapter 46 : Gangsters Prep
The Grimshade Bar was one of the few places in Hilburg that seemed untouched by time.The dim lighting cast long shadows against the wooden walls, the scent of old whiskey and cigar smoke lingering in the air. It was quiet tonight, being in the darker parts of the city, it usually was, but tonight it seemed even more soAt a secluded booth near the back, Lloyd, Ivan, and Jacob sat across from each other.A bottle of whiskey sat at the center of the table, untouched.For once, none of them were in the mood to drink.Jacob leaned back against the booth, arms crossed, a small smirk playing at his lips.“I gotta say” Jacob began, “I didn’t think you’d trust me enough to bring me here, Lloyd”Lloyd, who had been idly spinning a glass between his fingers, gave Jacob a knowing look. “It’s not about trust... It’s about necessity”Jacob chuckled. “Still, It means something”Ivan, however, wasn’t as relaxedhis piercing blue eyes were sharp, locked onto the table as if he were staring through
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Chapter 53 : Hopelessness
Morty swirled the amber liquid in his glass, staring at the way the light from the dingy bar flickered against the alcoholIt was almost hypnotic.Or maybe it was just the exhaustion settling into his bones.He had been drinking since yesterday...Or was it the day before...?It didn’t matter.Nothing mattered anymore.He took another sip, wincing as the whiskey burned down his throat.For the first time in his life, he felt truly empty.Not angry, not frustrated.Just… hollowHe reached up to touch the bandage on his forehead, feeling the sting from where the glass had cut him.His father’s parting gift.The memory played out in his mind, clearer than anything else he could focus on.---“Do you even understand what you've done?!”Larry Flanagan’s voice had thundered through his office, rattling the very walls.Causing the entire station to fall silent.The moment Morty stepped inside, he could tell this wouldn’t be like his father’s usual reprimands.This was something much, much wo
Chapter 52: The Trap
Lloyd’s boots echoed off the damp concrete as he and Ivan descended into the underground facility.This wasn’t the first time Lloyd had brought someone here, but the circumstances were vastly different now.The last time, it had been Lisa, dying of cancer.Now, it was Rafe, barely conscious and tied to a bedpost in the facility’s interrogation room.Unlike Lisa, he wasn’t here for healing.Lloyd stared down at him, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.Rafe was alive... for now.His face was bruised from their earlier scuffle, and his shirt was soaked with sweat. His breathing was slow but steady.Ivan leaned against the wall, arms crossed.He could wake Rafe up immediately, but he had to wait for the boss's signalInstead, Lloyd stepped forward and kicked the bedpost slightly, jolting Rafe awake.The man groaned, blinking through hazy eyes before recognition set in.He wasn’t dead.Yet.Lloyd crouched down so their eyes were level."Rise and shine, Rafe" he said calmly.Rafe
Chapter 51 : Hasty Investigations
Lloyd stood in the dimly lit alleyway, gripping the edge of his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The call had ended minutes ago, yet Logan’s final words echoed in his mind like a haunting melody."Three days, Simon. If you don’t find us by then… Jacob dies"A chill settled over him.Lloyd had always known that violence was a currency in their world, but even as the Dragon Duke, he had a reputation of never leaving his men behind, much less his childhood friend, whom he had sworn to protect.So he wasn’t about to let Logan make a spectacle of him.Beside him, Ivan leaned against a brick wall, arms crossed. He had been watching his boss carefully ever since the call ended. His boss had gone completely silent, something Ivan had rarely seen before.“You’re actually worried,” Ivan noted, his voice low, almost cautious.Lloyd’s jaw tensed."Of course, I’m worried" he muttered."I've never... The entire sequence of events since last night has been wrong, I have to make it
Chapter 50 : Identity Compromised
Lisa sat in the back of the taxi, gripping her phone so tightly that her fingers ached.She had called Lloyd’s number five times alreadyeach time, it went straight to voicemail.A sinking feeling lodged itself in her stomach.Where was he?The streetlights of Hilburg flashed by in streaks of yellow and white, but Lisa barely noticed.Her mind was a storm of emotions.Anger at Edgar for his manipulation.Frustration at herself for not knowing what to do.And most of all, fear.Because Lloyd wasn’t answering.Her last conversation with him replayed in her head...the way he had encouraged her to go to dinner with Edgar, how he had seemed distracted, almost distant.Did he already know what Edgar was planning?And if he did… why had he let her walk into it alone?She swallowed, shaking her head.No.Lloyd wasn’t the type to abandon her.Something had to be wrong.The cab pulled into the Francis family estate, the grand mansion looming over her like a silent judge.She paid the driver an
Chapter 49 : Crisis
The Vanilla Palace restaurant was one of the finest in Hilburg, boasting an interior of polished marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and a quiet, refined atmosphere that reeked of wealth and power. It was the kind of place where the elite came to negotiate behind closed doors, to smile while stabbing each other in the back.Lisa sat across from Edgar Numa, her hands resting in her lap as she gazed absently at the elaborate centerpiece of red roses between them. She wasn’t truly present, her mind was elsewhere, back home, worrying about Lloyd.Where was he right now?Was he safe?Did he even know she was here?Edgar, however, was not one to be ignored.He tapped his fingers against the white linen tablecloth, watching Lisa with a growing smirk that didn’t quite reach his cold eyes.“You know, Lisa, I must say… it’s rather rude to accept a dinner invitation only to mentally wander off to another man” Edgar remarked, his voice laced with condescension.Lisa blinked, snapping out of her
Chapter 48 : Poor Man's Assault
The convoy of dark-colored vehicles rolled to a stop in the desolate parking lot on the outskirts of Hilburg. The streetlights overhead flickered weakly, barely illuminating the cracked pavement.The place was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that came before a storm.Logan Wesley stood near the center of it all, shifting his weight impatiently as he checked his watch.The seconds ticked by, and with each passing moment, unease settled deeper in his chest.Jacob was late.That wasn’t supposed to happen.This entire setup was built on precision... on Jacob following the script, bringing Simon Harland to the designated meeting point. But as Logan scanned the vehicles and the men that had arrived, he saw no sign of the man Morty was after.His stomach twisted with unease.Something was wrong.The door of a nearby SUV creaked open, and Jacob finally emerged. His pace was slow, deliberate, a smug grin resting on his face as he walked toward Logan.Logan wasted no time, storming up to m
Chapter 47 : Police Prep
Morty walked through the corridors of the Hilburg Police Department, his boots echoing against the tiled floor. The familiar scent of gun oil and cold steel filled his nose as he stepped into the department’s armory. Rows of shelves lined the walls, stocked with rifles, shotguns, body armor, and crates of ammunition.He ran his fingers over the cool metal of an assault rifle, his mind racing. This wasn’t just another operation... this was the culmination of weeks of frustration, dead ends, and mounting pressure from his father.Camren’s death had triggered a chain of events that had shaken the city’s underworld, and at the center of it all was a ghost... Simon Harland.A ghost that Morty was finally going to drag into the light.His fingers clenched into fists at the thought.The Draguns had been slippery, always one step ahead, but not this time, not with Logan feeding him information from the inside.Morty turned to one of the officers standing near the racks."How much do we hav
Chapter 46 : Gangsters Prep
The Grimshade Bar was one of the few places in Hilburg that seemed untouched by time.The dim lighting cast long shadows against the wooden walls, the scent of old whiskey and cigar smoke lingering in the air. It was quiet tonight, being in the darker parts of the city, it usually was, but tonight it seemed even more soAt a secluded booth near the back, Lloyd, Ivan, and Jacob sat across from each other.A bottle of whiskey sat at the center of the table, untouched.For once, none of them were in the mood to drink.Jacob leaned back against the booth, arms crossed, a small smirk playing at his lips.“I gotta say” Jacob began, “I didn’t think you’d trust me enough to bring me here, Lloyd”Lloyd, who had been idly spinning a glass between his fingers, gave Jacob a knowing look. “It’s not about trust... It’s about necessity”Jacob chuckled. “Still, It means something”Ivan, however, wasn’t as relaxedhis piercing blue eyes were sharp, locked onto the table as if he were staring through
Chapter 45 : Danger Encroaching
The evening air was crisp against Lisa's skin, as sbe stepped out of the towering Francis Steel office building, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. The long day had left her exhausted, the endless meetings, negotiations, and paperwork.She didn't even know what she was doing half the time.."I thought it was dad's job to take care of this?"She grumbled All she wanted was to go home, take a warm shower, and curl up in bed with Lloyd.But the moment she stepped onto the sidewalk, her plans were interrupted.“Lisa” a smooth, familiar voice called.She stopped in her tracks, exhaling sharply before turning to see Edgar Numa standing near a sleek black luxury car, a bouquet of red roses in his hands.Lisa’s expression immediately hardened. “What the hell are you doing here?”Edgar smirked, stepping forward, his perfectly tailored navy-blue suit barely wrinkling as he moved.“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” he asked smoothly, extending the flowers toward her.Lisa d
