Finally, Dane’s phone buzzed. It was Butcher calling. He picked up immediately. “Sir, have you seen the address?” “Yes,” Butcher replied. “I just texted it to you. You’re going to number 7, Tia Street. That’s the building. My private investigator tracked it down—he gave me everything I need to know. Head there now, take the bike.” “Okay, sir. But… I think a car would be better for this,” Dane said. “Why is that? Speak, you fool.” “Because I’m wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. On a bike, it just looks ridiculous,” Dane explained. “The bike is fine, but this look doesn’t go with it.” “I knew it. That’s why I called you a fool. You were about to say something stupid,” Butcher snapped. “Just get your ass off that ship, on the bike, and move. Now.” “Yes, sir,” Dane said, cutting the call. He grabbed his briefcase, checked the address Butcher had texted him, and started heading out. As he passed Leo’s room, he noticed the door was still shut. He hasn’t come out since, Dane tho

A moment later, a woman opened the door. She looked confused, but cautious. “Yes? Can I help you?” she asked. “I’m with the police,” Dane said, voice firm but calm. “We’re investigating a case from last night. Your security camera might have captured something important. I need to see the footage.” The woman frowned. “Your badge?” she asked. Dane blinked. She stepped back slightly. “If you’re really police, you’d have ID. Show me proof. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to call the real police.” The moment the woman asked to see his badge, Dane lifted his gun and pointed it at her chest. Her eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry,” he said coldly. “I didn’t want to do this. But you’ve left me no other option. Now, I’m going to ask you again—either you let me in, or I send you to heaven. Your choice.” The woman froze, trembling. Then she nodded quickly. “I’m sorry… please, come in.” Dane picked up his briefcase and walked into the house, still keeping the gun trained on her. The wo

Dane sighed. “Why does he always end the call before I can even speak another word?” he muttered. “Typical Butcher.” He turned around and walked back to the woman’s house. He knocked again. The door opened cautiously. The woman’s face was pale. “You again? Please, leave me alone,” she said shakily. “I don’t want any trouble. What kind of person walks around with a briefcase and a gun? That’s not normal. That’s the kind of thing secret organizations do.” “I don’t care what you think,” Dane said calmly. “I’m not here to argue. I just don’t want any problems—for either of us.” He stepped closer. “Earlier, you took screenshots of the CCTV footage. Now, here’s what you’re going to do: delete everything. The footage. The screenshots. All of it. Right now.” “Please,” he added, voice lower, firmer. “Comply. I don’t want to have to come back here again.” “I know you understand, please,” Dane said softly. “Just do as I say. I don’t want to hurt you in any way.” She hesitated, then immedi

“I’m not trying to mess with you, sir. I don’t know anything. Who are you?” Ryan said nervously. Dane lowered his gun slowly and stepped closer, grabbing Ryan by the collar. “Don’t mess with me again. Don’t mess with me, Mr. Ryan. And listen to this — you have to answer my questions if you love yourself, right? You love yourself?” “Yes, I really love myself,” Ryan stammered. “Okay, now tell me what happened last night.” “I don’t really know anything. Please, just leave me alone,” Ryan pleaded. Without warning, Dane slammed the butt of his gun hard against Ryan’s face. Ryan’s body jerked; his face instantly flushed red, blood trickling from his mouth. “What did I do to you? What did I do? I didn’t do anything!” Ryan cried. “Please, leave me alone! I didn’t go there to party or anything — my friend invited me. He said there’d be girls. I’m bad with girls ‘cause I’m fat. Please just let me be.” “So you do know something. Don’t say you don’t. You know something, and I’m telling you

He stabbed—Leo stabbed someone. What should I do? I have the address of the person. I’m not sure if the person has been discharged from the hospital or not. But I’m going to go check the hospital first to see if he was discharged,” Dane said. “It’s no surprise to me. The only problem now is… Ben is missing. I don’t care if war starts, but we’re going to lose a lot of men. And Richard is going to lose a lot of men too. So, first of all, go after the guy who got stabbed. And don’t let him… You know we know police. Some police work for us—in fact, most police. But some don’t. Especially in that area you’re in. We don’t have police that cooperate with us there. So it looks like you’re going to have to find him fast. You have to do all that today,” Butcher said. “Okay, sir,” Dane replied. Butcher hung up. “Now wow… this is a lot of work. I actually haven’t eaten… I haven’t,” Dane muttered to himself. “So what should I do? Should I go get something to eat? No, I shouldn’t. Let me just as