Soon after landing in Cobalt Cove, Alex had taken a private cab to Milton Heights, the only four-star hotel in the city, and reserved a business suite for the whole week.By flying on a private jet and reaching the city in the middle of the night, he had avoided being swarmed by the media vultures, but he was soon about to find out that he hadn’t gone completely unnoticed.As soon as Alex and Josiah were done unpacking, there was a knock on the door, and the manager of the hotel greeted them, accompanied by a female attendant.“Welcome to Cobalt Cove, Mr. Verlaine. We are honored to host someone so influential like you.” He handed Alexa a bouquet and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine before adding with a smile, “Please enjoy your stay at Milton Heights. And let us know if you need anything. We are always at your service!”Alex accepted the gifts but made it very clear that he’d like to keep his visit to Cobalt Cove private to avoid causing a stir in the media.Once the manager

Ross Spencer was relaxing at a spa, listening to the soothing sound of ocean waves while enjoying a back massage from two beautiful women, when the sharp clicking of high heels disturbed his concentration.The music stopped abruptly, and the delicate fingers pulled away from his back.“What the hell is wrong now?” Ross snapped, thoroughly annoyed. “I paid for the full body massage. It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes!”“Mr. Spencer, I apologize for the interruption. But I have some news for you.”Hearing that familiar voice, Ross instantly recognized it was Tracy. He hurriedly covered himself with the towel and sat up straight on the massage bench.“You could have just called. This is awkward.”“Please put on some clothes. I’ll be waiting outside.”Ross heaved a frustrated sigh and slipped back into his formal clothes before handing a stack of tens to the masseuses and walking away.“What is it? Anything to do with Alex?” he asked as soon as he stepped outside.“Oh, no. This is about

The two bikers on the upper floor were ready to kick the door open and burst in when the sound of gunshots caught their attention.On the floor below, Alex had just shot Mitch in the legs, bringing him down.“Son of a bitch!”Cursing and grunting, Mitch flipped around and fired his shotgun.The slug shots shattered the fire alarm panel, triggering the sprinklers and setting off the emergency sirens.Alex jumped to his left and took cover behind a disposal bin placed on a rolling trolley.“God damn it! I swear I’ll kill you!” Mitch reached out to his men on the phone. “Someone…got in. And he’s armed! Stay alert!”Alex crouched and moved to one side of the trolley before pushing it into the open.As the trolley rolled out from behind the bleeding racks, Mitch reacted on instinct and fired again, blasting it with three slug shots.Alex jumped out and took Mitch by surprise, shooting him in the chest.“I see him!”The bikers on the upper floor opened fire with their Micro Uzis, raining do

Howard instructed the driver to take them to a safehouse on the outskirts of the city, where Alex was already waiting for them.“I am really sorry I got you into this mess, Josiah. Are you alright?”Josiah heaved a sigh of relief and embraced Alex. “I was more worried about you. Those cops wanted me to take your name. Almost like they had a personal vendetta against you.”“I figured they’d do that,” Alex replied. “Those bikers didn’t attack you for no reason. They wanted to lure me out. I was their real target.”“But why? Did you know any of them?”“No, I didn’t. I don’t think they were in this alone.”“What do you mean?”“Someone hired them,” Alex replied in a low voice. “Cobalt Cove is not our territory. And I think we’ve managed to piss off someone quite influential.”“Who?”“We are still working on that,” Howard pitched in. “But it will take some time. This city isn’t run by law. Only power and influence talk here.”Howard instructed his agents to stand guard outside and escorted

The following day, Alex arrived at the Hoffman Steel Mill, completely unannounced. Josiah Warrington had driven him to his destination, but the plan wasn’t to go together.As Alex stepped out of the rented car, he gazed at the industrial juggernaut with its towering chimneys, spearing the skyline as smoke guzzled out of their black-capped crowns.So used to seeing polished glass and marbled floors, this place offered a stark contrast to Alex’s natural habitat back in Glenmonte.The concrete monstrosity before him had flames burning in its belly 24/7, and the people who were scurrying across the factory floor like ants had the mammoth task of keeping it well-fed throughout their 12-hour shifts.“This is the largest mill I have ever seen,” Josiah mumbled, awestruck by the sight of the smoking concrete giant. “I don’t think I could ever work here. It’s suffocating and bleak.”“Good thing I didn’t bring you here to start a new steel mill,” Alex joked. “But I need your help dealing with th