Jinx’s wide, bloodshot eyes twitched.The manic grin on his painted lips split wider, exposing sharp, yellowed teeth as Slayde’s cold words hung in the damp air."Wasting your time?" Jinx purred, his raspy voice dropping an octave into a dark, vibrating hiss. "Oh... then let me save you some!"In a blur of garish yellow leather and neon green, Jinx lunged forward.He didn't fire the sky-blue revolver at Slayde. Instead, with terrifying, unnatural speed, he feinted toward the giant's massive chest, dipped low on his pink studded boots, and brushed past him like a sudden gust of wind.His true target was Nash."Guard dog gets put down first!" Jinx shrieked, sliding low across the slick concrete floor.He whipped a long, jagged metal file from his duffel bag with his left hand, thrusting it straight for Nash’s throat.Nash didn't panic. His eyes narrowed, and instincts forged in gritty underground fights kicked in instantly.CLANG!Nash threw his left forearm up, blocking the blade wit

Jinx opened his mouth to spit out another frantic retort, but no sound came. His throat tightened until he was gasping like a fish out of water. The pain in his shattered knees radiated up his spine in white-hot waves, completely fracturing his chaotic fantasy world.For the first time in his life, Jinx wasn't the monster in the room. He was just prey."N-No..." Jinx squeaked, his voice cracking into a pathetic whimper. Tears of pure agony cut through the smeared greasepaint on his cheeks. "Put... put me down..."Slayde didn't pull back, nor did his expression soften. His iron grip remained locked onto Jinx's yellow jacket like a vise, holding the full-grown man in midair with terrifying ease."You like to break things," Slayde rumbled coldly, his dark, hollow eyes staring straight into the depth of Jinx’s trembling pupils. "You break men, you break doors, you break rules. Because you think chaos makes you untouchable."Slayde slowly turned his gaze toward the bottom of the ramp

The next morning, the sun rose over the glass tower of Edyals Holdings.It was a major logistics firm, and one of the key companies Slayde had personally helped Harlyn acquire a year ago. Slayde stood near the grand glass entrance on the plaza below, his massive frame wrapped in his long dark coat. He stared up at the building, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets. He had some unfinished business inside. And since he had returned, it was high time that the company returned to its rightful owner. Even though he had been in jail for the past year, that didn’t change the fact that he was still the founder of the company, even though the company shares had been given to Harlyn.As Slayde took a heavy step towards the sliding doors, a sharp sound echoed across the place. Click. Clack.Click.Clack.The sound of high heels hitting the hard floor reached his ears. A sleek black sedan had just pulled up to the curb. Stepping out of the vehicle was Harlyn. She looked sharp in her

Before the lead guard could finish his sentence, Slayde stepped forward, his massive shoulder driving into the man's chest like a battering ram.The lead guard was lifted off his feet, his breath exploding from his lungs in a sharp gasp as he flew backward and crashed onto his back."What the—!"The second guard swung his baton toward Slayde's temple with all his weight.Slayde didn't even look at him.His thick arm whipped out from his coat like a steel cable, snatching the guard's wrist out of the air in a vise grip. Slayde squeezed.CRUNCH."AGH! MY WRIST! MY WRIST!" the guard shrieked, dropping the baton instantly as his knees buckled.Slayde tossed him aside like a bag of trash, sending him skidding across the slick marble floor right into his groaning leader.The third guard froze completely, his baton shaking in his hands. His face turned ghost-white as he looked up at the towering man standing before him.Slayde adjusted his heavy dark coat over his shoulders, stepping over th

She threw her head back and sneered, clutching her briefcase tightly."Let him sit in that coffee shop until he rots," she scoffed, her arrogant tone returning full force. "Do you think Edyals Holdings is my only asset? Please. I have plenty of other companies. I don't need this firm, and I certainly don't need to bow my head to an ex-con like him."She turned on her heels and walked toward the glass elevator, then paused to look back at her trembling executives."If that trash wants to play games, he can play them alone," Harlyn spat, her eyes burning with hatred. "Draft my resignation letter if you must. I am leaving."The head of finance swallowed hard, adjusting his glasses with a trembling hand as he stepped into her path."Ms. Harlyn, wait! You can't resign right now!" the finance head stammered, his face turning pale. "According to Article 14 of the corporate charter, a sitting CEO cannot step down or transfer assets while a majority acquisition deal is pending, unless the lead