Seraphina Doyle stood before the surveillance screens with her arms crossed and her eyes narrowing as she watched the chaos downstairs unfold, and she could also see Adrian calm and silent while the tension in the air was almost palpable, and although panic spread like wildfire around him, he looked as though none of it mattered.She exhaled slowly and reached for her headset “Adrian” her voice came through, smooth but laced with warning. “Don’t panic. I’ve got this handled. I can make a call and clean this up before it gets out of hand.”Adrian didn’t even look toward the nearest camera but simply stood by the window upstairs with his hands tucked into his pockets “There’s no need” he said evenly.Seraphina’s brow furrowed “You’re not taking this seriously.”He finally turned his gaze toward the camera with his tone as steady as ever “Why should I?”“Because you just crippled Darius Cortez” she snapped, losing her composure for the first time, “That man isn’t just some spoiled heir th

The banquet hall was very quiet now with the lively noises; the laughter, the music, and the chaos all gone remaining only the faint hum of the monitors breaking the silence.Adrian stood by the control desk with his gaze fixed on the surveillance feed displaying empty hallways, abandoned tables while the guests had fled long ago.He set down the half-finished glass of whiskey with the liquid swirling lazily as the faint reflection of his tired face rippled across it “Finally over” he muttered, with his voice low, detached and almost as if the night had taken something from him that he hadn’t realized was there.Seraphina Doyle crossed her arms while watching him from the doorway just behind him “You’re really planning to walk out there alone?” she asked with her voice sharp with disbelief, but Adrian didn’t answer but simply picked up his jacket and turned towards the door.“Adrian!” Seraphina called out as Adrian grabbed his jacket, “Where are you going?”“Out” he said simply while a

Adrian Kane had barely finished bandaging his scratches when his phone rang, and he frowned when he checked because it was Clara, Elena Hart’s secretary.He answered “What is it?”“Where the hell are you?” Her voice was shrill and furious through the receiver, “Miss Hart went to negotiate with Mr. Cortez all alone! Her tracker just went dead, her phone’s off. If you still consider yourself a man, get to Darius Cortez’s hospital right now!”The line went dead before Adrian could speak while the world seemed to stop for a minute ‘Elena… went there alone?Seraphina Doyle still lay unconscious on the hospital bed behind him with the monitors humming softly, but Adrian turned to the doctor on duty “Call her family” he ordered with his voice tight with urgency, “And keep the police close… just in case.”The doctor was startled by his tone but Adrian grabbed his jacket ignoring the sting of his wounds and then he sprinted out without another word.Adrian’s mind was a storm ‘why would she go

“Go ahead, shoot me if you’ve got the guts!”Mr. Cortez’s voice thundered as he spat blood with his jaw twitching and eyes gleaming with lunatic pride “You think you can walk in here, Kane, humiliate me in front of my men, and live to tell it? You’re insane!”He staggered to his feet with his face swollen from Adrian Kane’s earlier punch, veins standing out on his neck as he yelled “If you’re a real man… kill me now! Or I swear you’ll never leave this place alive!”His men spread out behind him the moment he shouted this time, with their guns clicked and each one aimed directly at Adrian, but Adrian didn’t flinch, his breathing was steady and his eyes were cold, razor-sharp, and merciless while scanning the line of trembling men.Then he moved and with a twist of his arm, a sickening crack echoed as Adrian’s hand landed on Mr. Cortez’s face and yanked hard.Mr Cortez tried to scream but the sound came out strangled with his jaw hung crooked and useless.Adrian dropped him to the floor

Chapter 20 “Jessica Miles” the name flashed across his screen, and it was the daughter of the State Commissioner of Police.The call connected. “Hey, Vic” Jessica answered breathlessly like she’d been somewhere important, “It’s been a while… What’s up?”“Jess” Victor said lightly while his voice was smooth “I need a quick favour. Big one.” He kept his tone light because Elena was with him and he wanted her to hear his commitment.“Victor?” Jessica’s voice was half-surprised, “What’s going on?”“It’s been crazy.” He lowered his tone just enough to sound serious, “A man named Adrian Kane was just taken in. He’s innocent, but the case is messy. Can you talk to someone at the station?”There was a pause “Victor, you know my father…… I really can’t. I’m barely speaking to my father right now, and you know how that goes. He’s the only one who could move that kind of case. ”“I know” He interrupted softly, “I know exactly who he is. I just need a little pressure from the home front. C