Gloria grabbed Elena’s arm.“Look at the comments! Everyone is asking who the guy is!”Elena laughed, basking in the chaos they had unleashed.“Ladies, I knew we weee you to find hot history tonight.”What they didn’t know was that this wasn’t a celebrity scandal.This was a death sentence.The man in the photo was Viktor Kovac.A rogue lieutenant of the Global Triad.Officially declared dead three years ago.Unofficially?Running black-market operations that could destabilize entire nations.And by posting that picture…Elena unknowingly proved he was alive and revealed his exact location.Inside the restroom, Viktor’s breath was still ragged, his hands pressed against the model’s hips when a sharp vibration buzzed through his pocket.He ignored it at first.The model giggled and kissed his neck. “Ignore it… You’re busy.”The phone vibrated again and again.Viktor snarled and snatched it up.“What?” he barked.A panicked voice crackled through the line.“Sir... you’ve been exposed! Y

They all turned to her.Sophia straightened, ready to reject the answer she knew was coming.“No,” she said sharply. “Don’t you dare say her name.”Sarah pressed her lips tightly.“Lilith.”Sophia’s face twisted. “Absolutely not! That… that husband snatcher? The same Lilith, Adrian cheated on me with? You want me to go begging to her?”“We have no choice!” Gerald snapped. “Your sister is in enemy hands!”Sophia’s breath trembled. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt it in her throat.Images of Elena flashed through her mind.Sophia’s shoulders sank as the fight drained out of her.Finally… she closed her eyes.“Fine,” she whispered. “We 'll do it.”The family exhaled in relief.But Sophia’s hands were shaking.SOMEWHERE IN THE RED ZONE.Elena’s consciousness swam up slowly… painfully.Her head throbbed and her wrists burned. Her throat felt dry.When she finally opened her eyes, she realized she couldn’t move.Her arms were strapped to the chair. Her ankles were tied. A dirty clo

The guard answered without emotion.“The Aldridge family.”A heavy silence fell.Then.click… click… click…They could hear Lilith approaching them.Sophia felt her throat tighten.Sarah’s hand shook as she clutched her scarf.Gerald straightened unconsciously, bracing himself.Lilith’s silhouette approached through the dim interior until she stepped into the doorway.Her face twisted into a scowl the moment she saw them.“What,” she said slowly, “the hell are you people looking for at my house?”Sophia’s lips parted but no words came out.Her pride kept her silent.Sarah stepped forward with trembling desperation.“Lilith, please,” she said. “My daughter... Elena... She’s been kidnapped. We need… we need your help.”Lilith didn’t even blink.She didn’t gasp.She didn’t ask for details.She didn’t show a shred of concern.Her expression remained flat.Sarah’s voice cracked. “Your family has influence in the Red Zone. One word from you, and they’ll release her. Please… she’s just a gir

Lilith’s lips pressed together.He held her gaze.“Lilith,” he said gently, “please.”Finally, her shoulders dropped just a little.She sighed dramatically.“Fine,” she said, pointing at him. “But only because it’s you. And you still owe me that dinner, Adrian.”Adrian smiled warmly. "If that is what it would take... No problem."Minutes later, the powerful, custom-made exotic car owned by Lilith, a sleek machine that screamed wealth and danger, tore across the service roads toward the airfield. Adrian drove while Lilith sat beside him.As they approached the flickering lights of the airfield, they saw the Aldridge family... Gerald, Sarah, and Sophia were all standing waiting for them.Sarah had already given Sophia warnings to be polite to Lilith or at least she should pretend until all this is over Adrian pulled Lilith's car to a sharp stop near the fence line, the vehicle's unique engine roar drew the attention of everyone.Sarah immediately rushed toward the car. Gerald held Sop

The description was terrifying. It was a potent, forgotten aphrodisiac, the only known catalyst strong enough to restart the nerves and energy that Adrian had broken. It was illegal globally. It was not traded for money.It grew only in one place: the damp, forgotten underground tombs of the Cult of the Shadowed Hand.Malvin read the instructions, his breath hitching with fear and excitement. To even approach the herb, he needed to prove his worthiness to the cult’s ancient magic.He looked down at his own trembling hands. What is my life worth if I can’t be a man?The next morning, his mind was made up. He had to try.Malvin located the cult’s rumored entrance in an abandoned cemetery on the city’s industrial outskirts. The air was cold.He pried open the heavy marble slab covering the entrance with a rusty crowbar. The thick smell of decay and damp earth, rushed out, making him gag.He turned on a weak headlamp and began his journey through the twisting tunnels. The tunnel suddenly