Hector Packwood flashed her a broad grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ah, Ms. Verrick remembers me! I’m honored—truly honored!”His voice dripped with charm, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it — something sly, possessive.Selena stiffened, taken aback by his familiar tone. Memories she had buried came rushing back.Years ago, when she found herself pregnant out of wedlock, her family — the Verricks — had been furious. They called her a disgrace, a stain on their name. Her father, Xander Verrick, was desperate to marry her off and save face.And the man he’d chosen for her? None other than Hector Packwood — a widower in his forties, vice-captain of the Investigation Unit, and, supposedly, “stable” and “respectable.”Selena hadn’t known the dinner was a setup. She had gone, thinking it was just a casual family introduction. The moment she saw Hector, though — the slicked hair, the confident smirk, the way his eyes wandered a bit too much — her instincts screamed

In the South, where power breathed down from old names and darker hands, a death could be arranged like moving a chess piece. If Jaden died in a holding cell tonight, the newspapers might call it a tragic incident. The whispers would die. The men who ordered it would shrug. Mr. Nagger’s word was law; his shadow swept through courtrooms and back alleys alike, and no one in the region wanted to be the one he scolded.Chase felt that truth like a cold weight settle in his gut. Once Henry had said the name, the rest was not his business. He could no longer protest; his duty was to follow orders. He straightened his spine, plastered on an apologetic grin for the men present, and gave the command that made the whole plan official.“I didn’t realize that,” he said, voice low and embarrassed. “In that case, I’ll take care of it right away.” He looked to Zander with an instruction that held no room for negotiation. “Follow me. I’ll lead you to Jaden’s cell.”Zander nodded once. His men fell in

Selena’s throat tightened, her voice barely more than a whisper. “W-what?”Her pulse hammered in her ears. The air felt heavy, thick with dread. For a few seconds, she couldn’t even breathe.Hector gave her a long, almost pitying look — then his eyes flicked toward Morganna, who was standing anxiously by the doorway. With a deliberate slowness, he walked over and shut the door, sealing himself and Selena inside the small, dimly lit waiting room.The click of the lock sounded final.Selena swallowed hard. “Please, Mr. Packwood,” she said, her voice trembling. “You have to help me. Please don’t let my husband stay locked in with those criminals. They’ll kill him!”Hector smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curling with amusement. He folded his arms and leaned casually against the desk. “I can help,” he said. “But…”He let the word hang in the air, drawing it out like a hook. “What will Ms. Verrick offer me in return?”Selena blinked, confused. “I—I’ll pay you,” she said quickly. “I’

Henry couldn’t help the crooked grin that spread across his face. “This is far from over,” he sneered, his tone dripping with malice. “In fact, it’s only just begun. You’re finished, you little punk.”Jaden’s gaze flicked toward him, cool and unreadable. The air between them felt charged, heavy with the promise of violence.Chase, trying to reclaim control of the situation, puffed out his chest and barked, “Guards! Cuff him!”Several officers hesitated, their eyes darting nervously between Jaden and Chase. The aura radiating off Jaden was like a wild storm—calm on the surface but deadly underneath.Still, Chase ignored the unease creeping into the room. He reminded himself that Henry wasn’t just anyone—he was connected to Leon Nagger, the infamous King of the South, a man whose name alone made half the city tremble.That thought gave Chase false courage. His lips curled into a mocking grin.He stepped closer to Jaden, waving his baton as he taunted, “Punishment? You’re in my territory

Granddon snorted coldly. “We act by the letter of the law here. So yes, Captain Lancaster—we dare. Arrest them!”His voice cracked through the air like a whip.The fifty fully armed elites standing behind him moved as one, their boots pounding in unison as they surged forward.The command had barely left Granddon’s lips before his men surrounded Henry and his team with military precision. Within seconds, the Shadowmoor officers were disarmed and restrained.Henry’s face went pale, then flushed with fury. “Grandon Vax!” he barked, struggling against the officers restraining him. “You’ve bitten off more than you can chew! We’re from the district-level bureau! You dare touch us, and you’re done for! You’ll regret this—you hear me?”Grandon didn’t even flinch. He folded his hands behind his back and said with cold indifference, “Then I’ll wait for that regret to arrive. In the meantime—find a larger holding cell and throw them all in there.”His tone was calm, but the quiet authority in i