“He’s got a gun! Security!” Phillip yelled while the whole room broke into panic with shrieks and screams echoing across like sirens.As people scampered to safety, Josiah Warrington vaulted over the table and pounced on Henry, knocking the gun out of his hand and pinning him to the ground.“You son of a bitch!” He rasped, punching Henry in the face until he groaned in pain with blood dripping from his broken nose.Meanwhile, Jakob rushed over to check on Alex.“Alex! We need to call an ambulance!” he cried, trying to get Alex back on his feet.But Alex got up without any help and stood up straight, shocking him completely.“I am perfectly fine. No need to call anyone.”As the guards came in, Josiah finally released a bleeding Henry from his clutches. But as they hoisted him back on his feet, Henry spat out the blood from his mouth and hissed like a maniac.“That’s what you get for playing with fire! You burn yourself, Alex Verlaine!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “Now keep playin

Finally free from all interference, Alex now had the chance to re-evaluate his businesses and get all his projects in order.With Henry Pietersen dead, his shares in the company were transferred to a trust, giving Alex complete control over the Pietersen Group of Industries.While there was some talk about this hostile takeover violating business ethics, Jakob used his media influence to paint Alex in a positive light and clear all blemishes from his name.Still, Alex knew there was going to be public backlash unless he found a way to assure both the investors as well as the old clientele about his business plans.After taking over the reins of the Pietersen Group, the first thing Alex did was shut down all oil wells in North Camerina, and as promised, he handed the land back to the native Americans without any negotiations.This gesture of goodwill not only earned him the trust of the indigenous population but also improved the public image of the company, bringing high praise from va

Alex’s demand surprised the Governor. He had expected Alex to ask for some favor which would help him expand his businesses, but the demand for a position on his cabinet came completely out of the blue.Du Monte furrowed his brow, and his expression turned serious.“I have already done a lot for you. Helped you acquire that plot in Washington Square, track down the men who tried to kill you, and even bring down Henry Pietersen. You were supposed to help me win the elections in return.”“And I have been doing just that. Glenmonte, Liechtenstein, New Nevada, and Nexus City are all yours. But if you want me to sway the people of Cobalt Cove in your favor, I am afraid I am going to need a little incentive.”“Not so little after all,” Du Monte muttered, wiping his forehead. “You must understand that I am answerable to the people. And I have obligations to other members of my party and their associates. I can’t just offer a cabinet position to anyone so readily.”“I understand perfectly. Bu

Alex had come out on this dinner date to relax and enjoy a peaceful night with Dr. Lucy. But he realized that he had let his guard down at the worst possible time.Someone wanted him dead, and the bullet had barely missed its mark. And the worst part was that Dr. Lucy was still with him, putting her at even more risk.As Alex lay on the floor of the rooftop, hunched over Dr. Lucy, another shot rang out from afar, shattering one of the sky lanterns dangling above.Chaos ensued in an instant as panicked screams shattered the still silence, and hurried footsteps rushed across the open rooftop.“There’s a shooter out there!”“Get to safety!”“Argh!”“Damn it! Someone calls security!”The waiters and attendants dropped their trays and rushed to cover, ducking behind the sushi bar and hibachi counter while the manager hit the floor with his head tucked between his arms.Dr. Lucy’s heart thumped inside her chest as she lay on the ground, her eyes fixed on Alex as she threw her arms around hi

This was the first time Alex had heard about the Brotherhood. Having gotten used to his tame life as a quiet home husband, he hadn’t explored the depths of Glenmonte’s underworld for years. But now his sheltered existence had come back to bite him like a bitch.More than the Brotherhood, what interested Alex, rather viciously, was the sniper rifle placed on the table before him.It was a highly customized Ruger Precision Rifle coated in tactical gray paint with the letters KRW inscribed on its handguard in sleek green letters.Alex ran this thumb along the handguard and remarked with all the sincerity of a gun merchant, “Laser-engraved initials. Probably a mark left by the one who customized the rifle.”As he continued to analyze the sniper, Samantha and Jakob sat there, caught between feelings of curiosity and terror.“A titanium bolt with a customized titanium shroud, vertical grip, hybrid compensator for better recoil control and accuracy, complete with a double-set hair trigger,”