As the police kept slamming the door—the entrance to the church—Ella ran to Dane, who was still punching Jugana.“Sir! Sir!” Ella kept calling his name.She grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back.Only then did Dane turn, finally realizing someone was talking to him.“Something is going on,” Dane said, dazed.“Sir, please, we have to leave. The police are here. What should we do? Stop punching him—we’re already here! What are we going to do?” Ella cried.Dane stood up from Jugana’s body and looked down at it. Jugana’s face was covered in blood, dripping down to his nose. His nose was already broken, bleeding heavily.“Hey! You two—follow me!” Dane shouted.He ran to the side of the church. Ella and Gina followed him quickly.There was a window in front of them, with a cross design carved into the glass. Dane raised his bruised hand and started punching it.His knuckles were already torn open, but he didn’t stop.Punch after punch, until finally—the window shattered.“Gina!” he calle

After Dane fainted during treatment on the floor, the medics carefully picked him up and carried him into the medical room where they usually treated patients.They worked on him for about three hours, stitching his wounds and stabilizing his condition.Dane remained unconscious the entire time—until finally, his eyes fluttered open. He started breathing heavily, confused and dazed.“Did I make it? Did I make it?” he whispered. “I’m not feeling the pain anymore…”Then he slowly sat up. Ella and Gina were nearby, watching him closely. Ella quickly stepped forward.“Sir, please,” she said gently. “The medics said you shouldn’t push yourself.”He turned and looked at her in silence.It’s like I saved them… he thought. So I actually saved them…He slowly lifted one hand and placed it on his chest, then exhaled deeply. “Good,” he murmured.Just then, a voice came from across the room.“So, you actually proved me wrong.”Dane turned—and saw Jimmy leaning against the wall, arms crossed.“So

“I don’t have a problem with you,” Dane said. “But ever since I joined the Mafia, people in the same crew act jealous. I don’t get it. Is there something special about me I don’t know?”He leaned back slightly.“Not that it’s a bad thing. I mean, look—just talking to you right now? That’s a privilege. You probably don’t even realize it. Do you know how rare it is for someone to have a conversation with Butcher? He only talks to me. Not the others. Does he ever speak to any other Mafia members on this ship?”Jimmy blinked. “You’re right… Could that be it?” He paused, thinking. “Yeah. He really doesn’t talk to other people. I never put that together before.”“I’ve always wondered why they envy me,” Dane continued. “But that’s not the only thing. Some of these guys have worked for Butcher for over 15 years—and he’s never even noticed them. Meanwhile, I show up, still a rookie… and he sees me. Talks to me. You think that wouldn’t get under their skin?”Jimmy gave a small nod. “Yeah… that

He shook his head and tried to refocus.Let me stop thinking about the girls. I need to get them their meal. That’s it.They breathed in, they breathed out.Now… I have to find Jota.But where could he be?When I need him, he’s never around. But when I don’t need him, he just shows up out of nowhere.Dane started moving through the hall, checking each direction, eyes scanning for any sign of Jota standing outside a room.He reached Jimmy’s office. He placed his hand on the doorknob—but paused.No. Jota won’t be in there.He kept walking, passing an area he hadn’t explored before. A narrow corner caught his eye. He took it.Around the bend, a staircase appeared. He frowned, then descended.Where does this lead?At the bottom, he found a door. He opened it.And froze.Inside, a man was tied to a chair. Chained. Injured. Bruised. Bloodied.Dane instinctively stepped back, ready to leave—but then the man stirred. He raised his head weakly.“Who’s there?” the man rasped.Dane hesitated.“I

Gina moved to the other side of the bed and sat down. Dane was now in the middle—both of them beside him. The energy in the room shifted. It was quiet, but charged.Ella gently placed her hand on top of Dane’s.“I don’t know the kind of life you or Butcher have lived,” she said, “but I can tell he means something to you. You wouldn’t be asking about him otherwise.”Then Gina placed her hand on his other hand.“She’s right,” Gina said softly. “We can feel it. You’re not just some outsider. You care.”Without another word, the two of them stood up. Ella lowered herself onto his lap, facing him. Gina followed, sitting on his left leg. Dane looked between them, his heart thudding in his chest.“What… what’s going on?” he asked. “Why does it feel like everything in the room just shifted?”His heart was pounding.Ella leaned in, eyes closed, and kissed him.His first kiss.When it broke, he turned to Gina—and she kissed him too. His mind was spinning.I can’t hold back anymore, he thought.