Entering the glowing room, Sophia’s heels clicked softly as her eyes continued to roam. Her attention quickly locked onto a dominant figure seated near the center of the hall—a man whose presence practically swallowed the space around him.He appeared to be in his early sixties, dark-skinned, his head cleanly bald, a thick gold necklace gleaming around his thick neck, glinting under the low lights. A fat diamond ring rested on his pinky finger, and a cigar burned slowly between his fingers, wisps of smoke curling lazily upward.Around him, two young women dressed provocatively were perched on his lap, one running her hands across his chest, the other whispering into his ear while giggling, tracing kisses along his jawline.The manager beside Sophia straightened, respectfully nodding at the man.At just a wave of the older man’s hand, the two women stood up quickly and walked away, their smiles dropping as they disappeared into the crowd.The older man’s eyes, heavy and sharp, shifted

At the same time, Elijah, Felix, and Sierra were comfortably settled in the living room, Sierra’s head rested on Elijah’s lap, her body relaxed, curled slightly against the plush couch as the late-night news continued rolling.Felix sat nearby on the adjacent couch, phone in hand but eyes occasionally drifting toward the television.Suddenly, the news anchor’s tone shifted.“In our top story tonight, fresh footage continues to circulate on social media from this morning’s brutal incident at the compound of underworld figure Phantom Reiss, where members of the notorious Vorn Dogs gang were massacred after allegedly trying to take control of New Ember City’s underworld…”The screen switched to brief clips from the viral video, showing Phantom standing in the middle of bodies, issuing his bold warnings to other gangs.Sierra blinked at the screen, frowning slightly, then sighed.“This Phantom is… ruthless,” she muttered, shaking her head lightly.“Look at how he just… killed people lik

The next morning, around 7:30 am, Inside the house, Sierra was already dressed neatly for the day, her handbag resting on the edge of the couch as she adjusted her earrings in front of the hallway mirror.Down the hall, Elijah had also woken up early, his mind sharper than usual after the discovery of the tracker the previous night. He had made quiet preparations, knowing it was necessary to redirect whoever was watching.Sierra grabbed her car keys from the console and turned toward him with a bright smile.“I’m done… I’ll be leaving now,” she said cheerfully.Elijah gave a small nod, opening his arms.“Come here.”Sierra stepped into his embrace, her arms wrapping around his waist as Elijah patted her back gently.“Good luck on your paper,” he said warmly.“Let me walk you downstairs.”“Of course,” Sierra smiled.They both walked out of the house together, descending the stairs into the driveway where the early morning breeze carried a quiet calm. Sierra pressed her Audi key fob, an

Elijah continued his performance flawlessly, his breathing turning ragged, his expression contorted in fear. He thrashed weakly in their hold, shaking his head rapidly.“Please—take my money… take my wallet… even take my car! Just spare my life—don’t kill me, please! I’ll give you everything I have!” he pleaded, his voice cracking, hands twitching like a frightened man.Richard, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed, let out a loud, mocking laugh.“And these are the men who came back bruised and broken, claiming this weakling took them down?” Richard scoffed, looking over at his team with disbelief.“See for yourselves—look at him… begging for his life.”The moment Richard said that, Elijah’s mind clicked instantly.Halden family.So it really was them behind the tracker.Elijah’s face twisted even more in faked confusion, his voice wobbling.“Which… which men? I didn’t beat anyone… you’re mistaking me for someone else… I did nothing wrong… please, don’t harm me… I’m just a w

Ezekiel’s face twisted in anger, his patience snapping as he took a heavy step forward, his voice booming with authority across the courtyard.“How dare you raise your voice here?!” he barked, his tone sharp and commanding.“You think you have any rights to speak… let alone threaten anyone… in my home? This is the Halden estate, boy, not some street corner you crawl on! You will shut your mouth, keep your head down, and you will accept whatever punishment comes to you!”His glare hardened, his voice dropping lower but filled with venom.“If I say we drag your girl here… we will drag her here, and there’s nothing you’ll do about it. Do you hear me? You are at our mercy now!”Around them, the guards stood straighter, some sneering, others nodding along, while Zane crossed his arms smugly.Elijah’s knuckles flexed, his breathing slowed, and then—in a single explosive motion, he rose to his feet with force, muscles tightening beneath his clothes. The two men holding him tried to push him