The pulsing bass of electronic music filled Club Platinum as the Head Hunter sat in the VIP section, surrounded by scantily clad dancers and expensive bottles of champagne. Neon lights cast shifting colors across his tattooed skull as he enjoyed what he considered a well-deserved celebration."Boss," Giuseppe Romano approached cautiously, knowing better than to interrupt the Head Hunter's entertainment without good reason. "You got a visitor.""I'm busy," the Head Hunter replied without taking his eyes off the blonde dancer performing on the table in front of him. "Handle whatever it is.""It's that Yale woman, boss. Sophia Yale. She's asking to see you."The Head Hunter's head snapped up immediately, his interest piqued. "Sophia Yale? Here?""Yeah, boss. She looks pretty upset about something."A slow, predatory smile spread across the Head Hunter's face. "Well, well. This night just got a lot more interesting."He dismissed the dancers with a wave of his hand and straightened his ex

Karvel looked at Mariya with cold indifference from his hospital bed, his swollen face showing no emotion despite her tears."Exactly," he said quietly. "You ended our marriage, so there's no need for you to feel tied to me or responsible for what happens to me.""I'm not leaving," Mariya said defiantly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Not until I know you're going to be okay.""I'll be fine. I always am.""Will you? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're going to keep letting people beat you up until someone finally kills you.""That's my choice to make, not yours."Mariya sat down in the visitor's chair despite his obvious desire for her to leave. "I'm staying, Karvel. Whether you like it or not.""Stubborn as always.""When it comes to people I care about, yes.""You have a funny way of showing you care.""I'm here, aren't I?"Meanwhile, across the city, the Head Hunter was implementing the next phase of his pressure campaign against Mariya. He sat in his

Karvel lay in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling as the weight of the situation settled over him. He knew the Head Hunter well enough by now to understand that this wasn't an idle threat. If Mariya didn't comply with his demands, her family would die, and knowing Mariya's stubborn pride, she would likely try to find some alternative solution rather than submit to extortion.He also knew that seventy-two hours wasn't enough time for anyone to raise twelve billion dollars through legitimate means, which meant the Head Hunter was essentially signing Elena and Antonio Castellano's death warrants.Through his partially swollen eye, Karvel could see the hospital corridor through his room's window. Giuseppe Romano and Marco Benedetti were still positioned in the lobby, pretending to read magazines while keeping watch on everyone who entered or left his floor."Time to end this charade," he muttered to himself.Karvel reached for the hospital phone beside his bed and dialed a number he

After their heated argument about who had the right to claim Karvel, both Sophia and Vivian decided to put aside their differences temporarily and rushed to Metropolitan General Hospital to check on his condition."Excuse me," Sophia said to the receptionist at the front desk. "We're here to see Karvel Cross. He was admitted yesterday after a severe beating."The receptionist, Patricia Romano, checked her computer system. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Cross checked himself out against medical advice about two hours ago.""He what?" Vivian asked in disbelief. "That's impossible! He had internal bleeding!""I'm afraid it's true. Dr. Romano tried to convince him to stay, but he insisted on leaving."Sophia turned to Vivian with worry etched across her face. "Where could he have gone? He doesn't have a house anymore after that fire.""Don't worry about it," Vivian replied, though her voice carried an odd confidence that made Sophia suspicious."Don't worry about it? He's injured and homeless, and y

Mariya sat in her car outside the police station, feeling completely defeated. The realization that law enforcement had essentially abandoned her family to protect a corrupt arrangement with The Ronin left her with a crushing sense of hopelessness."If the police won't help, who else is there?" she whispered to herself, staring at her phone. "Maybe Dr. Yale? But he already said he wanted nothing to do with The Ronin."She considered her limited options. Her business contacts were wealthy but not powerful enough to challenge an international criminal organization. Her legal team was competent but operated within a system that apparently had no jurisdiction over The Ronin.Her phone rang, interrupting her desperate thoughts. The caller ID showed an unknown number, but she knew who it had to be."What do you want now?" she answered."Mrs. Castellano," the Head Hunter's emotionless voice came through the speaker. "I trust you've had time to consider your payment options.""I told you befo