Dane’s eyes darted to his pistol—it lay several feet away, glinting faintly under the warehouse lights. He locked eyes with Nico.Neither man spoke.They bolted.Just as Dane was about to reach it, Nico grabbed a fistful of his trousers from behind, yanking him back hard. Dane stumbled, then—crack!—a fist smashed into his face.Dane recovered fast, swinging back. The two traded brutal punches, blocking and weaving, fists slamming into ribs and jaw. Dane drove a shot into Nico’s stomach, folding him slightly, but Nico seized his collar and smashed a headbutt into his brow.Another blow to the face sent Dane reeling.He shook it off and caught a glimpse of Jane. She and the suited woman were circling each other, eyes sharp as knives. Then they lunged—Jane blocking a swing, the woman countering with a kick. The two women clashed fiercely, neither giving an inch.It was clear to all four of them—the first one to drop was finished. Whoever stayed standing would make a break for the gun.Th

Dane’s grip on the pistol didn’t waver. I’ve done this a hundred times… and in a hostage situation, I always control the board. Their boss’s life is in my hands—no way they’ll risk it.But the soldiers kept coming.“I said move back!” Dane barked.They didn’t. Their boots echoed closer, step by step.Nico’s smile spread like a crack in stone.What the hell…? Dane thought. First time ever I’ve seen men ignore the hostage taker. They should be scared for him—why aren’t they?Jane rose to her feet, her pistol snapping up toward the advancing men. Still, they didn’t slow. The circle tightened. They were betting on numbers—and they were winning.Nico chuckled. “Good for you. Well… now you see. You’re going to get killed.”Jane’s lips curled into a sudden grin.BANG!Nico’s leg buckled under him, the shot echoing through the warehouse.“I said shift back,” Jane snapped, voice hard. “Or I blow his head off.”The men finally hesitated. Nico screamed, clutching his leg.“You bastard! You dare

Jane dropped to a crouch, straddling Nico’s stomach. Her weight pressed him into the cold floor as she yanked out her gun and jammed the barrel against his forehead.“How dare you,” she snarled, her voice trembling with rage. “How dare you do that to them… to my comrades?”Her hands shook—not from fear, but from the boiling fury she could barely hold back.Dane stepped forward, tense. “Jane. Don’t do what you’re about to do. Don’t shoot him.”“He has to die,” Jane hissed, eyes wet. “He has to.”“This is the first time I’ve ever seen you cry,” Dane said quietly.Jane’s breath caught. She swiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, still holding the gun on Nico.“He has to die,” she repeated.“Wait.” Dane’s voice hardened. “Not yet. I want him to say his boss’s name himself. We already know, but I want to hear it from his own mouth. Don’t let your emotions control you. You know what happens to people who do that.”Jane’s jaw tightened. She finally lowered the gun, standi

“I think we should find it in one of these drums or something—the key,” Dane said.Jane laughed under her breath. “Seriously? You can’t really use your head, can you? If it’s a car key, it’s not going to be buried in a drum. It’ll be by the desk.”Dane scratched his neck and chuckled. “Well, you’re right. That wasn’t the first thing that crossed my mind.”He strode to the desk, shoved aside a crate, and there it was—a small hook with four keys dangling from it. Rolls Royce. Jeep. Toyota. Hummer.“The Hummer,” Dane said with a grin. He plucked it off the hook and tossed it once in his palm. “I’ve got the key.”“Good,” Jane replied.Dane hurried back, crouched, and lifted Sofia into his arms. He eased her carefully through the small window, making sure not to bump her head. Outside, he climbed out himself, gently lowering her onto the ground. Then he carried her to the Hummer, opened the back door, and laid her across the seat.He returned inside.“Now, Luca,” Jane said firmly.“What do

Butcher exhaled slowly, his voice dropping lower as Dane and Jane stepped closer.“It’s good they’re back,” he said, almost to himself. “Even if I never knew who they really were… it doesn’t matter. They survived.”He turned to them fully now, his expression hardening.“Listen carefully. I’ll tell you both the plan before I tell the others. I don’t trust many people here. Some I’m meant to trust, but I can’t. If even one loose tongue slips, Leo will know everything. I won’t risk that.”Dane and Jane exchanged a glance but stayed silent.“Leo might make his move tomorrow—or the day after. We have to be ready. This ship is no longer safe. Every man, every weapon, every piece of equipment will be moved.” Butcher’s eyes narrowed. “We’re relocating to one of my mansions. The largest one I own. Three hundred rooms. Built like a castle. Big enough to fit everyone on this ship, and then some.”Jane blinked, startled. “Three hundred rooms?”Dane frowned. “Boss… you’re serious?”Butcher’s lips