“That is something I don’t know,” Paul admitted. “But I do know this—he’s connected to someone in the underworld. Someone just as powerful. That’s where his sudden rise comes from. Those connections.”Butcher narrowed his eyes. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re wrong. Either way, I leave tomorrow. Be ready. This mission… it’ll be on you to see it through. Dane and Jane have already done enough. It’s time they rest. I haven’t told them yet, but this one—I’ll handle it myself.”Paul nodded firmly. “Understood, sir. As you wish.”“Good,” Butcher replied with finality.Paul turned and left the office. Almost immediately, he began giving orders, shouting through the corridors. Men who hadn’t started packing were told to move their things at once. The announcement echoed across the ship.Dane stirred awake, irritated by the noise booming through the speakers. “Who the hell is making all that noise? Some of us are trying to sleep…” he muttered. But sleep wouldn’t return. The weight in his ch

“Are you sure you can trust him?” Dane asked.“Well, yes,” Butcher replied. “Paul’s very important to this mafia. You don’t get along with anyone here apart from Jane, but I trust him more than I trust you, to be honest.”Dane gave a crooked smile. “That’s not the problem. I wanted to ask you something. You once said you were going to pay me for a mission. Have you forgotten?”Butcher narrowed his eyes. “Well, yes—I have. But this isn’t the time to bring up things like that. And besides, I’m sure you don’t need the money for anything right now.”“Well, you’re right. I don’t,” Dane admitted, leaning back. “I just wanted to see how it feels to hold a hundred grand.”Butcher chuckled faintly. “After I’m done with my mission tomorrow, I’ll give it to you. That, I promise.”Dane smiled, satisfied. Butcher rose from the edge of his bed, gave him a nod, and walked out of the room.What does he mean he trusts Paul more than me? Dane thought bitterly. Well… it’s true. I don’t really know anyon

After three hours on the road, they finally arrived at the mansion. The compound stretched across more than twenty plots of land—vast, elegant, and intimidating.Jane’s Lamborghini slowed to a stop at the front gate. She tapped the horn, and a young man in a security uniform appeared, pulling the heavy iron gates open. Jane drove in first, Dane close behind on his bike, while the vans carrying the other men rumbled in after them.Dane’s eyes widened. This place… it’s enormous. As they passed the gardens, the open lawns stretched out beautifully, filled with trimmed hedges and fountains that sparkled in the afternoon sun. “Wow,” he whispered under his breath, barely keeping his focus on the road.Jane finally pulled up to the front steps of the mansion and parked. Dane stopped his bike beside her, pulling off his helmet, still staring in awe. This place is massive.At that moment, a notification buzzed on his phone. A message from Butcher’s team. Each man was assigned a room. Dane’s ey

“Sorry,” McGregor said with a grin, “but I need to go meet some of my people. They came with the invite.”Butcher gave him a simple nod. “Go on.”As McGregor drifted away into the crowd, Anita stepped closer, her hand slipping into Butcher’s. She leaned toward him, her lips brushing near his ear.“I didn’t know you were that type,” she whispered. “Getting all the girls back in your school days.”Butcher arched a brow. “You heard that?”“Yes,” Anita replied with a sly smile.“Well,” Butcher said, his tone cool but edged with pride, “he wasn’t lying.”Anita laughed softly. “Hard to believe.”Butcher leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping. “Believe it. I have a boss who looks hotter than any twenty-year-old.”She smirked, rolling her eyes. “Don’t try to flatter me.”“I’m not flattering you,” Butcher replied, his voice steady. “Just speaking the truth.”With that, they stepped further into the heart of the yacht. The main deck opened up before them—a sprawling $300 million masterpiec

“You’re such a good dancer. I didn’t even know,” Anita said, smiling faintly as their steps fell into rhythm.Butcher gave a half-smirk. “Same. I thought you only carried yourself with cold masculinity.”“Well, you know that’s not true. I’m a hundred percent feminine,” Anita replied, brushing her hair back with a proud tilt of her chin.Butcher chuckled softly. “Mm. You can’t be a sensual killer.”“Let’s just leave that,” Anita whispered, her tone shifting back to seriousness.The crowd clapped, cheering for the couples dancing. The atmosphere masked their deadly intent—until a man in a tailored suit approached. He leaned close to Butcher, whispered something, then disappeared back into the crowd.Anita narrowed her eyes. “Who was that? Who came to you like that?”“One of my men,” Butcher said quietly.“Your men? Here? I thought it was just the two of us inside this yacht.”“No,” Butcher corrected. “I’ve got five more men here.”Anita’s lips curved into a dangerous smile. “So that mea