“Elijah Westbrook?”“Yes. He just came out of a flower store by East Ridge Avenue, entered a black Prado. He’s with another man—probably a close aide or driver. They’re still parked.”“Good. Stay on him. We'll come there quickly.”The call ended. The man’s fingers moved swiftly over his phone screen, snapping a picture of the car and sending it in a flash.Elijah carefully opened the back door of the Prado and placed the beautifully wrapped bouquet—white and red roses mixed with some fresh lilies—gently onto the back seat. He closed the door quietly and glanced up at the sky; it was already getting darker, with the thick clouds hinting that rain could fall again soon.He checked the time on the car dashboard — 4:30 pm, almost brushing 5 pm. The day had moved faster than he expected.Without wasting time, he got into the driver’s seat, buckled up, and started the engine with a soft hum. Felix, who had been quietly scrolling on his phone, looked up and nodded as Elijah began driving out

The scarred man gritted his teeth furiously but stayed in place, glaring at Elijah with burning hatred, breathing heavily as if restraining himself.Elijah stood there, unbothered, a light smirk still on his face. His calmness only made them more unsettled."Tch," Elijah muttered, shifting his weight slightly on his heel, still relaxed. "If this is the best Phantom Reiss has, then maybe I should be disappointed already."The group stiffened hearing Elijah mention Phantom Reiss so casually.One of the rough-looking men stepped forward, pointing a thick finger at Elijah and barking, "How dare you mention boss's name with your filthy mouth?"Another, gripping a rusted pipe in his hand, spat on the ground and said angrily, "Let’s just beat him bloody here and now!" His voice was thick with rage.But immediately, one of the older, slightly smarter men grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back roughly."No! Are you dumb?" he snapped. "Boss said bring him, not break him here. If we mess him u

Phantom’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching, but Elijah wasn’t done yet."You’re not even your own boss then," Elijah continued, smirking."You’re just a puppet on Nathaniel’s strings. He throws a few coins at you, and you bark and fetch like a dog?"A few of the men visibly flinched, the insult hanging heavily in the air.Phantom's hands balled into fists at his sides, his body stiffening, but Elijah leaned in slightly, smiling even wider."I expected more from a man with a name like Phantom Reiss," Elijah said mockingly."But it turns out you’re just another street thug in a fancy cage playing gangster.”The room was dead silent for a moment. Even the dogs in the cages seemed to sense the tension, their growls low and threatening.Phantom Reiss’ nostrils flared, and his voice came out low and murderous,"You’ve got a death wish, Elijah Westbrook.”Phantom’s dark eyes glared coldly through the flickering light of the grim room.Nathaniel's voice came from the phone speaker, smug and v

Meanwhile, Felix arrived back at the estate. After locking the car and walking in, he stepped into the familiar living room and immediately noticed someone seated on the couch, legs crossed, holding a bowl of popcorn and munching quietly. It was Betty. She looked relaxed and beautiful in a casual top and shorts, her hair tied back slightly, eyes on the large screen.She looked up, recognizing him instantly. The last time she’d seen Felix was when she barged in with panic, telling Elijah Sierra was missing.“Hey, evening,” Felix said with a polite nod, closing the door behind him.“Hi,” Betty replied with a small smile. “Want some?” she asked, holding the bowl of popcorn toward him.Felix shook his head gently. “No, thank you, I’m good,” he said, before moving to take a seat at the other end of the couch.Just then, Sierra walked into the hall, tying the straps of her apron around her waist. She paused the moment she saw Felix, her eyes scanning the hall as if expecting someone else to

Outside, the standoff stretched tight as a drawn wire. Phantom Reiss stood at the center of his compound, his men tense behind him, facing down the five armed officers who had dared to walk into his territory.Superintendent Dorson didn’t budge. His stance was firm, voice cutting through the air with authority.“Cooperate, Phantom,” he said, slowly stepping forward. “Let’s make this smooth. You come with us, answer questions, and we won’t have to escalate.”He gave a sharp glance around the compound.“But if you resist—if you think this is some game—you’re going to find your base surrounded in less than five minutes.”Dorson’s hand dropped slightly toward the radio clipped to his vest.“SWAT is already two blocks out. Drones are circling. One word from me, and this place becomes a war zone.”The threat hung heavy in the night air.Phantom’s jaw tensed, eyes narrowing. His men shifted behind him, muttering nervously now. Some lowered their weapons, sensing the growing danger.Just then