2026-07-18 04:18:45The warehouse sat on the waterfront, rotting and forgotten.
Marcus approached from the east side, moving through shadows. Nadia was twenty meters behind him, her service weapon drawn. The meeting with Gregor was set for midnight. They were early.
"Stay here," Marcus whispered. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, call Darnell."
Nadia nodded. "Be careful. Gregor is loyal to your father. This could be a trap."
Marcus moved forward. The warehouse door was rusted, the lock broken. He slipped inside.
The interior was vast and dark. Crates stacked to the ceiling. A single light bulb hung from the center of the room, illuminating a figure in a chair.
Gregor. Big. Bald. A scar across his face that looked like a knife wound.
"You're early," Gregor said. His voice was a low rumble. "I like that."
Marcus stepped into the light. "You have information about Simon Webb."
"I have many things." Gregor leaned back in his chair. "But information is dangerous. And dangerous things cost money."
Marcus pulled a roll of cash from his pocket. "Ten thousand. Half now. Half when I confirm the information is good."
Gregor's eyes flickered to the money. "Your father is planning to leave the city. Tomorrow night. He's taking a private jet from the east airfield."
Marcus's heart hammered. "Where is he going?"
"Europe. He has a safe house in Switzerland. He's been moving assets there for months." Gregor paused. "But there's something else. Something you should know."
"What?"
"Your father has a partner. Someone inside Viktor's organization who's been helping him prepare for the escape. A woman."
Marcus's jaw tightened. "Who?"
Gregor shrugged. "I don't know her name. But she's high up. Close to Viktor. She's been feeding your father information about your movements."
Marcus's mind raced. A mole. Someone close to Viktor. Someone who knew about Marcus's hunt.
"How do I find this woman?"
Gregor's eyes narrowed. "That's not part of the deal."
Marcus pulled out more cash. "How much?"
Gregor named a price. Marcus paid it without flinching.
"Vivian Rourke's club," Gregor said. "The woman meets someone there every Thursday night. A man who works for your father. If you want to find her, that's where you start."
Marcus pocketed the remaining cash. "Anything else?"
Gregor shook his head. "That's all I have. Your father is leaving tomorrow night. If you want to stop him, you need to move fast."
Marcus turned to leave. Then he stopped.
"One more question," he said. "Why are you helping me? You're supposed to be loyal to my father."
Gregor's face was unreadable. "Your father pays me to protect him. He doesn't pay me to lie. And he doesn't pay me enough to die for him."
Marcus nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
He walked out of the warehouse. Nadia was waiting in the shadows.
"Well?" she asked.
"He's leaving tomorrow. Europe." Marcus pulled out his phone. "But there's a mole in Viktor's organization. Someone high up. She's been feeding my father information."
Nadia's face went pale. "Who?"
"I don't know yet. But I'm going to find out." Marcus started walking. "Vivian's club. Thursday night. That's where the trail leads."
Nadia followed him. "Marcus, wait. If there's a mole in Viktor's organization, that means someone knows about you. Someone who could warn your father before you reach him."
Marcus stopped. His hands curled into fists.
"Then I'll just have to be faster."
He walked away into the night. Behind him, Nadia watched, her face troubled.
The hunt was getting more complicated. But Marcus had one advantage his enemies didn't.
*Should Marcus trust the information from Gregor, or is this another trap set by his father?*
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Thursday Night
The Black Lotus was packed for Thursday night.Marcus stood at the bar, nursing a glass of water. His leg was wrapped in a compression bandage. His spine was a constant throb. But he was here. Watching. Waiting.Vivian Rourke's club was the meeting point. Gregor had said the mole met someone here every Thursday. Marcus had been watching for three hours. No sign of anything suspicious.Darnell appeared beside him. His ribs were still bandaged, but he'd insisted on coming."You should be resting," Marcus said."You should be dead." Darnell ordered a drink. "We're even."Marcus almost smiled. Almost.The crowd shifted. A woman entered through the VIP entrance. She was tall, elegant, dressed in white silk. Her face was familiar.Marcus's blood went cold.Detective Nadia Cross.She moved through the crowd like she owned the place. No one stopped her. No one questioned her. She walked straight to the VIP section and sat down at a private table.Marcus's hands tightened on his glass. Nadia.
The Bodyguard's Price
The warehouse sat on the waterfront, rotting and forgotten.Marcus approached from the east side, moving through shadows. Nadia was twenty meters behind him, her service weapon drawn. The meeting with Gregor was set for midnight. They were early."Stay here," Marcus whispered. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, call Darnell."Nadia nodded. "Be careful. Gregor is loyal to your father. This could be a trap."Marcus moved forward. The warehouse door was rusted, the lock broken. He slipped inside.The interior was vast and dark. Crates stacked to the ceiling. A single light bulb hung from the center of the room, illuminating a figure in a chair.Gregor. Big. Bald. A scar across his face that looked like a knife wound."You're early," Gregor said. His voice was a low rumble. "I like that."Marcus stepped into the light. "You have information about Simon Webb.""I have many things." Gregor leaned back in his chair. "But information is dangerous. And dangerous things cost money."Marcus pu
The Detective's Secret
Nadia Cross's apartment was dark when Marcus arrived.He'd been watching for an hour. No lights. No movement. Either she was gone or she was waiting.Marcus picked the lock and slipped inside. The apartment was small but neat. Photographs on the walls. A police badge on the counter. A half-empty coffee cup on the table.She was still here. Just hiding."Detective Cross," Marcus said. "I know you're here. We need to talk."Silence. Then a click. The safety of a gun being released."Show yourself," Nadia's voice said from the shadows.Marcus stepped into the dim light of the kitchen. Nadia emerged from the bedroom doorway, her service weapon trained on his chest. Her hands were steady. Her eyes were not."You're the Ghost," she said. "The one who's been tearing through Viktor's organization.""I'm Marcus Webb. And I know you've been working for my father."Nadia's face flickered. Just a fraction. Then it went hard again."I don't know what you're talking about."Marcus pulled out the ph
The Aftermath
The sirens came at dawn.Marcus stood on the rooftop of the Iron Tower, watching the police swarm the building below. Viktor was still on the ninth floor, bleeding, screaming, but alive. Marcus had called it in before leaving.Darnell sat against the wall, clutching his ribs. His face was a mess of purple and black. But he was breathing."You saved my life," Darnell said. His voice was rough.Marcus didn't look at him. "You saved mine first. That's how it works.""Does it? I thought you worked alone."Marcus turned. There was something like humor in Darnell's eyes. Not much. But enough."I'm learning," Marcus said. "Come on. We need to move."Darnell struggled to his feet. "Where to?""Somewhere Viktor's men won't find us. Mrs. Chen's. For now."They descended the fire escape. The streets below were chaos. Police cars. Ambulances. Journalists with cameras. Viktor Volkov, the untouchable king of Veridian Bay, was being wheeled out on a stretcher. His face was white with shock and rage.
The Iron Cage
The Iron Tower loomed against the night sky like a tombstone.Marcus stood in the shadows of the building across the street. His leg was trembling. His hands were steady. His mind was clear.Darnell was inside. Viktor had him. And every second Marcus waited was a second Darnell suffered.He checked his phone. No messages. No calls. Viktor was waiting. Testing. Watching to see what Marcus would do.Marcus pulled out the burner phone he'd given to Mrs. Heller. One contact. He dialed."Hello?" Her voice was shaky."Mrs. Heller. It's Marcus. I need you to do something for me.""What is it?""Call the police. Tell them there's a hostage situation at the Iron Tower. Tell them Viktor Volkov has a man trapped inside. Tell them you have evidence of murder."Silence. Then: "Will they come?""They'll come. But not fast enough." Marcus hung up.He crossed the street. The main entrance was guarded by four men in gray jackets. All armed. All alert.Marcus didn't try to be subtle. He walked straight
The Black Lotus
The Black Lotus pulsed with neon and bass.Marcus stood in the alley across the street, watching. The club occupied an entire block in the entertainment district. Purple and red lights spilled from the windows. A line of wealthy patrons stretched around the corner. Bouncers in black suits checked IDs with practiced efficiency.Neutral ground. No blood spilled. Vivian Rourke's rules.But Viktor's men had taken a family. They were inside. And Marcus was about to break every rule Vivian had ever made.Darnell appeared at his side. "You should have waited.""No time." Marcus pulled on a black jacket. "The family is in there. I need to get them out.""And Vivian Rourke?""I'll deal with her." Marcus started walking toward the entrance. "Stay outside. If I'm not out in thirty minutes, call the police."Darnell grabbed his arm. "Marcus—""I know what I'm doing."He walked through the front door. The bouncers barely glanced at him. He was just another face in the crowd.The interior of the Bl
You may also like
Unknowingly The Billionaire's Heir
Winner Girl79.6K viewsUnderestimated Son In Law
Raishico309.9K viewsUnderrated Son-In-Law
Estherace109.0K viewsTop Expert in Floraville
Earth at Dawn184.4K viewsThe Warlord's Vengeance
Frank. Ben 123 viewsMy Wife Let My Mother Die—Now I'm the Billionaire King
Ares Maximus192 viewsThe VIP Landlord
Qiananow222 viewsThe Laughing King
Lady Gema127 views