Dave saw a few big guys step out of the club's back door, dragging a struggling woman. That woman was Luna. But Dave only caught a glimpse from behind and it was dark. He wasn't sure who the woman was.Matteo Anderson followed out not long after. Turns out, he was good at faking it. While Luna was trying to get him drunk, he acted wasted. But, he's actually super good with alcohol. His face snapped back to sharp and cold. He glanced briefly down the back alley, making sure his guys had taken Luna away.Dave immediately ducked behind a pillar, acting fast. He pulled out his phone, aimed his camera at Matteo Anderson, and snapped some pics stealthily. Matteo's face, his hateful expression—everything was clearly recorded. Dave didn't know how dangerous this guy was, but his gut told him this man was the center of the web of crime he'd been investigating.After making sure Matteo went back into his VIP room, Dave tucked his phone back into his inner pocket. He quickly headed back to his b

This morning, Dave took Milla somewhere, not bothering to explain where they were headed."Sir, where are we going?" Milla asked, a little confused.Dave just gave a faint smile. "Somewhere before we make our move."A few minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a luxury car dealership. Its massive windows showcased gleaming rows of cars from every brand imaginable. Milla frowned."A car? You're buying a car?" Milla asked, totally skeptical and a little shocked. Dave was loaded, for sure. But he wasn't the type to flash his cash, especially not with some flashy ride.Dave just nodded."Wait, seriously? You're actually buying a car?" Milla was baffled. "Don't you usually prefer to walk everywhere? You said it's easier to blend in, or to get a better read on the situation. This..." She gestured to the dealership in front of them. "This isn't your style at all."Dave got out of the taxi. "This time, I need a car," he said curtly, offering no further explanation. His expression was s

Matteo snarled. His anger boiled over. He felt humiliated, toyed with, and openly disrespected. Even worse, how could his body respond so completely out of his control? Those two strange women, whose looks were utterly outside Matteo's beauty standards—even leaning towards terrifying—were able to tempt him this far? This was the deepest humiliation for Matteo Anderson. He couldn't resist, even though rage burned through every inch of his nerves.Dave remained calm, holding his phone, recording every detail of the scene. A thin, triumphant smile never left his lips. He knew the effect of the drug he'd blown wouldn't wear off. There was no antidote. Matteo would remain under its influence until Dave got what he wanted."Tell me where Serena Miller is," Dave said, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable command. "Then all this will end."Matteo snarled. His eyes bulged, yet even as he continued to indulge the two strange women, it was clear he was under an invisible compulsion. He tri

Before Serena could even throw a slap, Dave suddenly pulled out a small notebook and a pen from his pocket. Quickly, he started writing. Dave's hand moved fast, jotting down a few herbal plant names and brief instructions, as if completely unfazed by Serena's anger.Serena was shocked to see Dave writing a recipe instead. "What the hell is this?!" She pulled her shirt down, covering her stomach area. "What are you writing?!"Dave didn't answer. He finished writing, tore off the page, and handed it to Serena. "Drink this," Dave said, his tone casual. "It's a natural recipe for your constipation."Serena's eyes went wide. She read the writing on the paper. "For constipation?! Are you insulting me?! I don't have constipation!" Her face flushed with embarrassment and anger. How could this weird guy, after all he'd done, just write a recipe for constipation?! It was a total insult.Milla, who had been watching the drama unfold, stepped forward. She knew Dave wouldn't do something without a

Serena was sharing a room with Milla. The air inside the old inn room felt cold, damp, and a bit stuffy. The creaky wooden windows, rattling with every slight breeze, just made it spookier. Even though it was late, Serena couldn't relax. She kept tossing and turning in her bed; the thin blanket wasn't helping her sleep at all."What's up, Miss Miller?" Milla asked, a little annoyed by Serena's restlessness. "Something seems to be bugging you."Serena sighed. "Dunno. Something's weird about this inn.""Weird how?" Milla shifted slightly, her voice sounding more curious."The innkeeper," Serena began, remembering Margaret, the old woman with the strange smile who'd greeted them. Her smile was too wide, her eyes too sharp, like she was watching their every move. "She's weird. From the way she looked at us, and then she was talking about guests who 'disappeared' yesterday."Milla yawned. "Nah, you're probably just imagining things. It's an old inn, so there are always stories like that."