The silence inside the clinic was heavy enough to suffocate a man. Harlan Ramsey sat crumpled against the glass wall, his hands trembling so violently he could barely hold the paper in his grip. His eyes darted across the official lettering on the certified cashier’s check, unable to process the weight of the ten-million-dollar sum.“This is impossible.” Harlan stammered, his slicked-back hair falling in disarray over his sweaty forehead. “Where did you get a certified check from the Central Reserve Bank? You’re just a nobody!”Before Gabriel could answer, the glass front doors swung open once more.Two men in sharp suits stepped into the room. They walked with firm strides, carrying leather briefcases stamped with the official crest of the Federal Financial Crimes Investigation Bureau. Behind them stood two state officers holding silver handcuffs.The lead investigator, a woman with her hair pulled tight into a bun, pulled out an official badge and held it directly in front of Harlan

The abandoned fuel storage depot near Pier 7 loomed against the night like an empty concrete fortress. A pair of SUVs slid quietly through the open perimeter gate, their headlights turned off as they coasted into the central loading yard. The vehicles came to a smooth halt near the main distribution hangar.The doors opened simultaneously, and eight figures stepped out. They wore high-grade vests, comms earpieces, and advanced military night-vision goggles that bathed their field of vision in an emerald glow. They were the elite members of the Black Wiki Squad.The commander stepped to the front, raising a hand to signal his team.“Check your thermal feeds and secure your suppressors,” the commander whispered into his comms unit, his voice laced with arrogant ease. “The target thinks he can trap us in an abandoned yard. We move in two-man squads. Sweep every hangar, plant the charges, and eliminate the target on sight.”The operatives split off into pairs, melting silently into the s

Julian hesitated for a split second, his chest heaving as he looked between the ticking explosive and Gabriel stone-cold expression. Realising that staying would only slow Gabriel down, Julian grabbed Lilian’s hand and urged Arthur toward the front doorway.“Move. Out to the street, now!” Julian shouted, ushering everyone across the lawn.Inside the quiet room, the red glow of the digital display flickered with cold precision.01:45!01:44!01:43!Gabriel knelt flat on the floor, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the intricate wiring beneath the timer. It was a dual-circuit setup, equipped with a sensitive mercury tilt sensor and a remote frequency receiver. Any sudden movement or careless cut would instantly trigger the main blasting cap.A shadow fell across the coffee table.Gabriel glanced sideways and saw Zane Mitchell dropping down onto his knees on the opposite side of the small wooden table. His face was pale from his recent shoulder injury, but his hands were steady.“I tol

The next day, in the afternoon. Gabriel and Christopher Vincent walked through the open doors of Naomi’s Clinic. Gabriel carried a bag filled with fresh groceries and dry foodstuffs, the weight of it resting effortlessly against his broad shoulder.Inside the quiet waiting area, they found Julian, Arthur and Lilian sitting near the front reception counter. Arthur had a small white bandage wrapped neatly around his right palm, nursing a minor cut he had sustained while inspecting a rusted winch at the docks earlier that morning. Lilian had insisted on dragging him straight to the clinic to ensure it was properly cleaned and dressed.Naomi Vincent stood beside them, holding a tray of antiseptic wipes and medical tape as she finished securing the bandage on Arthur’s hand, her gaze drifting naturally toward the entrance, locking onto Gabriel as he stepped into the room with her father.“Ah, look who’s here,” Christopher announced with a cheerful smile, stepping forward to unload some o

Lilian looked up, her eyes red and brimmed with tears. Seeing Gabriel standing in front of her, she let out a shaky breath, wiping her nose with the back of her wrist.Lilian cried softly, her voice cracking with despair. "Brother Gabriel, It's gone! Someone took my bag; the gown Julian bought for me is completely gone!"Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean it's gone? Was the room not locked?"Lilian explained, clutching her trembling hands together. "I locked it before the opening round! When the stage coordinator sent us back to change for the final evening gown walk, I opened the door, and the garment bag was missing from the rack. Everything else is there, but the dress is gone."She looked at her wristwatch, her chest heaving as panic tightened its grip on her. "The stage manager said if I'm not in line at the curtain call in less than five minutes, I'll be automatically disqualified. Julian spent so much money on that dress, Gabriel, and now I've lost already! I have disap