The car hummed quietly as the village blurred past through the window. Natalia sat stiffly in the passenger seat, glancing sideways at Nathan’s unreadable face. His hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles slightly pale, his jaw clenched like he was biting down words he didn’t want to say.She couldn’t take it anymore.“You’re not going to tell me how you survived in that village?” she asked softly.His eyes didn’t leave the road.“I managed.”“Managed?” Her voice cracked a little with frustration. “Do you even know what they say about that village head? The kind of man he is? What he does to strangers?”“I said I managed, Natalia.” His tone was clipped, sharper than a knife. “That should be enough.”She blinked, stunned for a moment. “Why won’t you just—?”“Because it's done,” he interrupted, voice low but firm. “I got what I needed. I’m alive. You’re safe. Isn’t that enough?”She frowned and looked out the window, lips pursed. “I didn’t ask because I’m ungrateful, you know.”He di

Amelia’s gaze remained locked on the screen. “You think someone’s hiding them?”“I don’t think,” Leo muttered, leaning back with folded arms. “I know. It’s as if they knew someone would eventually come looking—and did everything to erase the trail.”A chill swept over Amelia’s skin. She glanced again at the name on the screen. Keala McKenzie.Who was this woman? And who… was her son?She leaned forward, her brow furrowed in thought. A tense stillness filled the room, broken only by the quiet hum of the laptop. Her fingers, adorned with pale pink polish, hesitated for a moment before gently tapping the laptop's trackpad. She zoomed in slowly on the woman’s face in the photo on screen.“She looks… simple,” she murmured, eyes tracing the soft features, the calm smile, the bare neck unadorned by wealth or status.Leo nodded. “Yes. Just like an ordinary woman.”Amelia’s lips twitched slightly, as if something about that thought irritated her. “But she could be powerful,” she whispered. “She

Nathan took a slow step forward, eyes gleaming like coals under moonlight.“Your turn?” his voice came low, chilling the silence that had suddenly fallen. It pressed on everything. Not even the wind dared to whisper.He stood, his figure bathed in silver under the streetlamp, his breath steady while the four remaining men froze in place. Their earlier confidence, their filthy words, all of it dissolved into the night like steam off hot pavement.He took a single step forward.They parted. Just like that. No second thought. One slid to the right, the others staggered left. No one dared stand in his path.Nathan's eyes didn’t linger on them. Not yet. His gaze shifted downward to her. The woman.She was still lying on the ground, motionless. Her shirt half unbuttoned from the filth that had dared to touch her. Nathan dropped to one knee beside her, a soft grunt escaping his chest. He slipped off his jacket and laid it gently over her torso, concealing her from their vile eyes.Her face

Nathan stared at her, his expression unreadable, then gave a simple, unwavering response.“No.”Amelia blinked, her shoulders slightly sagging. “But…”He raised a finger, silencing her with a quiet authority that left no room for protest. His eyes flicked to the wall clock.“It’s just past nine,” he said, voice even. “Not quite late. And I know the hotel is about thirty minutes from here. You can get there before ten.”She exhaled sharply, folding her arms. “No. I’ve got night blindness.”Nathan turned to look at her fully. “What?”“I said I’ve got night blindness,” she repeated, her tone still calm but firmer now. “It’s called nyctalopia. It’s a condition that makes it difficult to see clearly in low-light or darkness.”A sharp snap of his fingers echoed. “I know what it is,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “I just don’t believe you.”She chuckled under her breath. “Why? You think I’d lie about that too?”He walked a step closer, head tilted slightly. “Definitely. You’re good at pretend

Thelma's heels clicked briskly on the sidewalk as dusk cast a hazy veil over the city. She glanced behind her once more before ducking into a narrow alley. No sign of Natalia. Not this time.Earlier that morning, she'd watched Nathan drop Natalia off, and though the exchange had been brief, something about Natalia’s sidelong glances and words from earlier told Thelma she was starting to suspect. It was only a matter of time before that girl followed her instincts.The warehouse loomed in the shadows ahead, an abandoned relic of brick and rust. She tugged her coat closer, stepped inside, and found James, still tied to the chair, leaning backward, lips pressed into a grim line.He didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Didn’t you say two days?” His brows drew together. “It hasn’t even been thirty-six hours.”“I don’t have time,” Thelma said flatly. “So, give me a response. Now.”James’s frown deepened. “Why? You're scared Nathan will catch on that you’re planning to throw him into the lion’s