2026-03-27 19:32:26
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9
Kellan didn't get into the car immediately. He stood behind a concrete pillar beside the coffee shop exit, letting the night shadows swallow his imposing frame. His eyes were sharp, locking onto the movements of Paulo and the General, who appeared to stand, straighten their suits, and head toward a heavy wooden door at the back of the cafe marked Private Lounge."Mr. Crowe, don't be insane! The satellite shows four armed guards in the back corridor!" Vane’s voice shrieked in his ear."Cut the comms, Vane. Don't disturb me for the next five minutes," Kellan hissed. He pulled out his earpiece, dropped it to the floor, and crushed it under his heel. He didn't need Sydney’s instructions right now. He needed answers.Kellan moved with the grace of a predator. He didn't use the front door. He circled toward the narrow alley beside the shop, climbed the air exhaust pipe, and slipped in through a slightly ajar kitchen ventilation window.Inside, the aroma of butter and coffee gave way to the
8
Kellan sat in the darkest corner of The Gilded Bean coffee shop. Located in the heart of the business district, it was a place where young executives sought caffeine before charging into the battles of the stock market. In front of him, a glass of double espresso sat untouched and stone cold.His mind was still trapped on the balcony of his home. The image of Dwayne tucking Gina in and ruffling Leo’s hair looped like a broken record, agonizing his sanity. His hand, encased in a black leather glove—to hide the rough calluses of a soldier—gripped the edge of the wooden table until it let out a faint creak."Mr. Crowe, you need to stay calm. Your heart rate is reading as unstable on Sydney’s monitoring system," Vane’s voice drifted through a nearly invisible earpiece."Quiet, Vane," Kellan hissed softly. His eyes stared blankly at the street beyond the coffee shop's large glass windows.The rain outside began to subside, leaving behind wet asphalt that reflected the glow of colorful neon
7
The rain fell in a light drizzle, blurring the silhouette of the tall man standing in the shadows of a large oak tree across the street. Kellan—or Sebastian Crowe—pulled the collar of his black coat tight. His dark glasses were off, leaving behind a gaze hungry for the sight in front of him.This was the fourteenth night since the world presumed him ashes at the border.Kellan knew he was violating Sydney’s orders. He knew Vane was likely reporting his position right now. But the union of longing and rage in his chest had reached a boiling point. He had to see his home. He had to make sure the door was locked tight to protect his family.However, what he saw instead made him want to burn the entire block down.The porch light was on, casting a warm yellow glow toward Dwayne’s black SUV, still parked in the driveway. It was no longer the parking job of a guest; the car was positioned dead center, exactly where Kellan used to park his old car.Kellan stepped closer, his trained feet mov
6
Thin cigar smoke filled the penthouse as Sydney stood by the balcony, watching the rain lash against the windowpanes. Behind her, Kellan sat on the sofa, though his body betrayed no sense of calm. His eyes repeatedly flicked toward the black phone, which displayed the silhouettes of two people in the living room of his home."You've crossed the line, Sebastian," Sydney’s voice broke the silence. "Sabotaging Dwayne’s construction project is one thing. But asking to 'bring in' Gina now? That’s suicide."Kellan stood up, his stride heavy and fueled by suppressed rage. "Dwayne is starting to play father there, Sydney! I saw him ruffling Leo’s hair. I saw him holding Gina’s hand while she cried. You think I can just sit here and wait for two years?""Our deal was two years to build your power!" Sydney turned, her eyes flashing sharply. "If you take Gina now, how exactly would you do it? Kidnap her? Or show up on her doorstep and say, 'Hi, I’m not dead, sorry for nearly driving you mad with
5
Kellan sipped his black coffee, which had already gone cold. In front of him, three large monitors displayed stock graphs fluctuating like an unstable heartbeat. But his eyes weren't focused on the red or green numbers. His gaze was fixed on a small window in the corner of the screen: the CCTV feed from the McKenn Logistics office.There, Gina sat at her desk, massaging her temples. Beside her, Dwayne stood, proffering a folder. The way Dwayne leaned in, the way his hand almost brushed Gina’s shoulder—every inch of his movement was an insult to Kellan."Vane," Kellan called out without looking back.Vane appeared from behind the apartment's sliding door, carrying a tablet. "The data for Philips Construction is ready, Mr. Crowe. Dwayne is betting everything on the downtown Superblock development project. He’s borrowed heavily from the Central Bank, using all his personal assets as collateral."Kellan smirked. It wasn't the smirk of a hero. It was the smirk of a predator watching its pr
4
Kellan slammed the black phone onto the marble table with a restrained violence. The sound of the impact echoed through the silence of the penthouse unit, which felt far too vast for a single person. He had only just woken up, but his breath was already ragged, as if he had just finished a ten-mile sprint through muddy trenches.On the glowing screen, a CCTV angle displayed the front gate of his house. The house he had bought with the bonus from his first mission—the house where he was supposed to grow old.A black SUV was parked there. It belonged to Dwayne Philips."Bastard," Kellan hissed. His hands, covered in scars from parachute cord friction, fumbled in his pocket for a cigarette—a habit he had actually quit since joining the Raptor Unit. Empty. All he found were the keys to a Rolls-Royce that felt foreign between his fingers.He looked back at the screen. The front door opened. Gina stepped out, wearing a thin nightgown layered under an oversized knit cardigan. She looked... b
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