The echo of Teacher’s voice roared through the marble walls of the private resort, sharp and venomous. “Find her!” he barked, slamming his palm against the glass table. The sound reverberated like a gunshot. “I paid for top-class security, didn’t I? Cameras everywhere, guards at every damn corner, so tell me, how does a grown woman vanish into thin air?!”The manager of the resort trembled, sweat clinging to his temples despite the air conditioning that hummed faintly in the background. “Sir, we… we checked the CCTV footage,” he stuttered, his voice wobbling. “There was no sign of forced entry, no struggle, nothing.”Teacher’s hand shot up mid-sentence, silencing him instantly. “Don’t insult my intelligence,” he hissed. “You think I care about your excuses? I’m not paying you for stories, I’m paying you for results.”The guards stood in rigid silence, their heads bowed. No one dared breathe too loudly. Teacher’s rage was unpredictable. His eyes were cold, calculating, predatory. He ad

Inside Amber’s estate, the world was still until her phone buzzed violently on the bedside drawer.Amber stirred awake, glancing at the clock. 2:43 a.m.She groaned softly, snatching the phone and answering without checking. “Who is this?”A rushed, breathless voice came through. “It’s happening, Lady Amber! It’s Clarissa, she’s in labour!”Amber sat up immediately, the sleep vanishing from her tone. “What? How far along?”“She started contracting not long ago. We’re on our way to St. George’s. Matteo’s with her.”Amber didn’t waste another second. “I’ll be there soon.” She hung up, swung her legs off the bed, and reached for her robe.Moments later, the light in the hallway flicked on. Lisa appeared, wrapped in a shawl, rubbing her eyes. “Amber? What’s going on?”Amber was already slipping on her coat. “Clarissa. She’s in labour.”Lisa blinked, still groggy. “Clarissa? The one you told me about? Matteo’s wife?”Amber nodded, fastening her buttons quickly. “Yes. I need to be at the ho

The city lights of New York bled through the wide glass windows, reflecting off Teacher’s face as he stood still with his hands clasped behind him, jaw tight, the veins in his neck visible beneath his skin. Behind him, two of his men shifted uneasily, their heads lowered like schoolboys caught in the act.“Say that again,” Teacher’s voice was calm, too calm for a man filled with rage.The first man, a bulky fellow with a scar running across his chin, swallowed hard. “Sir… we searched everywhere, every location you listed. The penthouse, the hotel suite, even the safehouse in Brooklyn. No one’s seen Amber, Lisa, or the little girl. It’s like they vanished.”Teacher didn’t move. He kept his back to them, staring at the city. His reflection in the glass was rigid, unreadable. “And the airports?” he asked finally. “Private terminals. Docks. Charter services. You checked them all?”The second man, slimmer and younger, nodded nervously. “Yes, sir. We checked. Nothing. No flight manifests, n

Emerald sat cross-legged on the couch, eyes glued to her tablet, half-listening to Lisa and Amber chatting about brunch.Then a sudden knock echoed through the hallway.Amber smiled knowingly. “He’s here,” she murmured under her breath as she rose to open the door.Lisa frowned. “Who’s here?”Amber only smirked. “You’ll see.”The door opened, and there stood Xavier, travel-worn yet effortlessly striking in his navy coat and calm composure. The second Lisa saw him, her teacup nearly slipped from her hand.“Xavier?” she gasped. “What...how...?”He grinned. “Surprise.”Emerald’s tablet flew onto the couch as she jumped up and ran straight into his arms. “Uncle Xavier!” she squealed. “You didn’t even tell us you were coming! You’re bad at surprises but this one’s so good!”Xavier laughed and spun her around lightly before setting her down. “You’ve grown a foot taller in just a few weeks, haven’t you?”Emerald giggled. “Maybe it’s the London air. Or the food. Or Amber’s fancy milk.”Amber

The call came in while Teacher was at his usual corner, a dimly lit warehouse office that smelled faintly of gun oil and cigar smoke. “Boss,” a shaky voice came through the receiver. “We haven’t been able to reach Eli since morning. He was supposed to report back after tailing Deluca.”Teacher froze. His fingers stopped mid-rosary. “Eli?” he asked quietly, his tone flat which was always a dangerous sign. “The same Eli I sent personally?”“Yes, Boss.”A silence followed. Then the sound of wood splintering as Teacher’s hand slammed against the table. “Do I look like someone who sends men that don’t come back?”The other end went silent. Nobody dared to answer him when his voice dropped to that low, terrifying octave.Teacher pushed back his chair and stood. “Find me everything. His last location, who he was seen with, every bloody CCTV within ten blocks. If that boy doesn’t show up in one hour, I’ll have you all digging your own graves. Move!”The line cut.He began pacing the room, hi