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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 132. The Community Station
"You told Cynthia to help you find them right? She came to me for help. And now I've found them for you." He said with pride. Ivy stayed still, she didn't shut the door but she didn't turn to Chris either. Her first instinct was to turn around and hear him out. But the rest of her wanted to tell Chris that she wouldn't fall for his tricks anymore and slam the door in his face. The chances that he was actually telling the truth was below ten percent, and she would be an idiot to risk her marriage again just for that. As much as she wanted to find her foster parents, Ivy had made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let it ruin her current life, her relationship with Van and her family. Without turning back, she shut the door and made her way to the station, ignoring Chris's calls for her. ★★★When Ivy arrived at the police station, Boyd was already there. She walked up to him and tapped his shoulder to let him know that she was behind him. "Oh hey, you're here." He said. "Yes.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 133. Vindicated
After Ivy called Boyd, he suspected that it wouldn't be so easy to get Van out of the station even though he was innocent, so he decided to call his supervisor. "Welcome, Inspector Dan." He smiled. Inspector Daniel Thompson was a senior investigator at the station, even Chris didn't dare offend him because he was one of the very few who wouldn't hesitate to arrest him and have him face the law. The last time they met, Chris had tried to assault a young girl, and luckily for her, she was related to inspector Daniel, and he made sure that Chris was punished for it. Chris who believed that he was untouchable- especially at his father's place- was shocked to the max when the inspector marched into his father's mansion and placed him under arrest for attempted rape. At the sight of the inspector, the two officers who arrested Van couldn't help but to shiver. If, after the investigation was complete and Van was found innocent, they could receive huge penalties, or worse, they could los
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 134. Old Acquaintance
Ivy and Van headed out of the station and made their way to the bus stop, where they would take the bus back to their place. As they walked hand in hand, Ivy couldn't stop thinking about what happened at the station. The only way Chris would have known that she was pregnant was if someone told him, and asides from her, Van and Boyd, the only other person that knew she was pregnant was Cassie. Was she really that pissed that Ivy was pregnant that she had to tell Chris?, even though she knew that it would expose her connection with him. What was going on?"Hey, are you okay?" Van asked, squeezing her hand gently. "Yes." She said without looking at him. "Are you sure? You have that 'I'm worried about something' frown on your face. Talk to me." He urged with a smile. Ivy smiled at him. "It's Cassie.""What about her?""I wonder what possessed her to tell Chris about my baby. Does she hate it so much that she didn't mind me finding out that she was working with Chris? I don't understa
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 135. The Shot
Flashback.Jasper woke up with a splitting headache, he couldn't remember what had happened the night before, and he was having a hard time getting his bearings.He looked around and noticed that he was seated outside a bar. "Ugh my head," he groaned as he tried to get up. "What happened?" There was no one to answer his question, so he just managed to drag himself up to his feet and practically staggered back to the Airbnb he was staying at with Macy. As he walked through the reception, he noticed that the women there were staring at him awkwardly, but thinking it to be just in his head, Jasper didn't pay much attention to it. He got in the elevator and headed up to the floor their place was. He turned the knob and the door came open with ease. So Macy was inside, that was good. He slumped on the bed, feeling exhausted even when he hadn't done anything. "Macy? Where are you?"When he didn't get any reply, he sat up and called for her again. Same thing. He took out his phone to c
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 136. An Attack
While he was on his run, Van bumped into Cassie. She was dressed like she had also gone out for an evening stroll, but Van saw it a little too convenient to be just a coincidence. He had spotted her from afar and intentionally made a detour just so he could avoid her, but somehow she managed to catch up with him. Remembering Boyd's advice to stay clear from all of hem, Van increased his speed by a little but he didn't act like he saw her. To make sure he was passing his message clear enough to her, he took out his earpiece, even though he wasn't listening to any song. He kept on going at a steady pace, still aware that she was behind him. If he didn't say anything, maybe she would give up and just leave. He recalled that he had promised Ivy he wouldn't be gone long, and if he stuck to that strategy, he would have to run longer that he had promised. He came to a stop and started to stretch, and he noticed that just a few feet away, Cassie had done the same. He decided that he wo
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 137. The Plan
The next morning, after they had breakfast, Van and Ivy decided that it was time to start packing up. Judging by the way he handled the issue the last time, the couple guessed that it would take nothing more than two or three days to iron out the issue since they were getting inspector Dan involved, so hopefully by Friday or Saturday, they would hop on a plane and head back home. Van took Ivy to get checked at a hospital, she said she was feeling fine, but he just wanted to take extra measures. He explained what happened to the doctor about her attack, and how she felt. A proper test was conducted to determine the specific age of the baby, and how her body was reacting to it. All in all, Ivy was healthy, and so was the baby, but the result of the test would be out in a day, so they were to go back the next day. By the time they were done, it was already past twelve, so the couple decided to head to the police station. It was better to be early than to be late as Ivy had always sai
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 138. Victory
When Ivy and Van called Chris's cousin, she wasted no time in posting a video online. She apologized to her fans and all those who had been anticipating her visit. She said as much as she would love to come down to the town, she was feeling unsafe as a woman continued to threaten to harm her in many ways. She even went an extra mile and said that the woman, Cassandra M that lived in her hometown-which she had the plan of visiting that week- said she would make sure she regretted the day she was born if she stepped foot at the Hawaiian airport. So as much as she hated to disappoint her fans and family, she had to prioritize her safety. Sandra sat at the cafe, watching the news with gritted teeth. "That bitch!" She slammed her fist on the table. "How dare she? When did I ever threaten her safety?" She chugged down the rest of her coffee, thinking about how she was going to deal with the situation. She wanted to make her pay for saying such a thing on social media, and she didn't even
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 139. Exposed
"Are you fucking kidding me?!! After two whole weeks of searching, you're trying to tell me you weren't able to find anything?!""Dude, calm down. I haven't called off the investigation yet, all I'm saying is that this guy is very private with all of his doings. I'm not telling you it's impossible, I'm telling you to be patient.""Be patient for how long? I need answers NOW!" "And I'm going to get them for you. So stopped calling me into your office every two days and scolding like I'm your teenage son who's not doing his homework." The only reason Greg was allowed to talk to Moses like that was because of the friendship between them. Otherwise his job would be as good as gone. What brought about the heated conversation was the same issue he and Moses had been fighting over for the last two weeks. Dev. Moses was hell bent on uncovering the identity of whoever he was, and as usual, the job was given to him. Now Greg wasn't complaining, he was more than used to jobs like that. The p
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230. Midnight Deal
The night swallowed him whole. Van moved like a shadow through the back alleys, boots silent against cracked pavement. No headlights. No noise, just the hush of a city holding its breath.The old mill loomed ahead — dead and forgotten.Rust covered the walls like rot, windows smashed out years ago.But tonight, it was alive again. Lights burned inside. Dim. Yellow. Flickering.Van’s gut clenched, there were too many lights.Too many cars parked just out of sight.He checked his pistol — loaded, safety off.One extra mag in his jacket.Not much.But it would have to do.He stepped through the busted gate, every nerve tight.His contact — Ramos — stood near the loading dock, arms folded, a cigarette glowing in his hand."Van," Ramos greeted, voice rough. Like gravel chewed up in a blender. "You actually came.Didn’t think you had the stones anymore."Van kept his face blank. "Let’s skip the warm-up.You got the guns?"Ramos shrugged. "You got the cash?"Van tossed a duffel bag at his fe
229. Regrouping
The sedan rolled to a stop at the docks, wheels crunching over loose gravel.The old warehouse loomed ahead — rusted, half-abandoned, but still standing.Safehouse Two.For now.Van was the first out, scanning the shadows.Nothing moved but the water lapping against the pilings.It was good... for now.Boyd staggered out next, coughing from the smoke that still clung to his lungs.He looked back at the road, half expecting black SUVs to come roaring around the bend.None yet.But he knew it was only a matter of time. They all did. Inside the warehouse, Carla flicked the light switch. Nothing. It was obvious that power was long dead here.She cursed and grabbed the old lantern from the shelf, sparking weak yellow light into the gloom. "Great. We’re living like rats now," she muttered.Dan slumped against a wall, wincing as he peeled back the bloody cloth from his arm. The wound was deeper than he let on but no one had time to properly check on him yet. Louisa stood frozen in the midd
228. Counterstrike
The first sign came quiet. Too quiet.Carla’s laptop froze mid-search.The screen flickered once, then died.She cursed under her breath, smacking the side."That’s not normal," she muttered.But by the time she turned to call Van, the lights in the safehouse cut out too.Dark.Total dark.Van's instincts snapped awake.He grabbed Boyd by the collar, yanked him back from the window."Down. Now."A second later, the glass exploded inward — a single sniper round carving through where Boyd’s head had been.Dan was already rolling for the back door, weapon drawn.But he barely made it two steps before the walls shuddered — an explosion outside, close enough to rattle the whole building."They're here!" Dan bellowed."Barron's men — they’re hitting us now!"Louisa screamed, clutching the flash drive like it was her last tether to life.Carla grabbed her arm, dragging her toward the back.Her voice was sharp but tight with fear."Move! Go! Go!"Van grabbed the rifle from under the couch — o
227. The Leak
By dawn, the first leak was already live.A small, half-forgotten blog out of Riverside — City Watchdog — dropped the bomb.No flashy headlines. No screaming sirens.Just cold facts: financial records, timestamps, and the name of a sitting state senator wired half a million from one of Barron’s shell companies.No context. No accusation, just enough to light the fuse.Van watched the post go viral in real time.At first, nobody cared. Then, somewhere around seven AM, a bigger account picked it up — a political gossip page with just enough clout to make people squint.By noon, national blogs were calling it "The Slush Fund Scandal."At around two PM, the senator’s office released a frantic denial.That’s when Van knew they’d drawn blood.Boyd let out a bark of laughter when the news hit the TV in the safehouse."Look at them squirm! Man, they thought they were gods. Now they’re crying on camera like school kids who were caught cheating."Dan just grunted, never looking away from the wi
226. The Accountant's Secret
The safehouse smelled like old coffee and fear when Louisa Martin finally showed up.She came alone, wrapped in a cheap raincoat two sizes too big, hair hidden under a beanie.Her eyes darted everywhere — ceiling corners, dark windows, even the cracks in the floor like they might bite her.Van watched her quietly from across the room, arms folded.She looked nothing like the sharp financial shark Keller described.This woman was frayed at the edges, like someone who hadn’t slept properly in months.Keller made the introductions. "Louisa. This is Van. Van — Louisa."Louisa’s voice was brittle as glass. "I know who he is."Her eyes flicked to Van, then away again like looking at him too long might get her killed.Van didn’t bother with small talk, time was blood now. "You worked for Barron, that means you know where the bodies are buried. You talk — I make sure you stay breathing.You stay quiet — and you’ll be next on his list."Louisa’s laugh was short and humorless."Sweetheart, I’ve
225. Next Move
By mid-morning, Van couldn’t step outside without seeing his own face staring back from every screen.Some called him a vigilante.Others spat the word criminal like poison.But the city was buzzing, and Barron’s name was finally dragged through the dirt alongside his own.Van didn’t care about the headlines. He cared about the numbers Carla showed him — accounts traced, shell companies linked, wires exposed like raw nerves.Money. That’s where they would cut next.She tapped the screen, her nail chipped and trembling slightly."See this? Phoenix Holdings. Looks clean on the outside, but dig deeper and it’s washing Barron’s trafficking money through luxury imports. Art, watches, cars—hell, probably gold toilets for his mansion."Van grunted. His mind wasn’t on art.It was on Lenny, still fighting for his life three floors up."You said we could burn him financially. How?"Carla smirked, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She looked as tired as he felt."We leak it. Quiet first — to the rig
224. First Blood
The attack came at dawn.Silent. Surgical. Cruel.Lenny never saw it coming. He was stepping out of his apartment, headed to meet Van at the old mill, when the van screeched up.Three men in black masks.No words — just steel pipes and fists.Neighbors heard the commotion but kept their doors shut.Everyone knew better. When Barron’s men came calling, you looked away.By the time the van peeled off, Lenny lay in a broken heap, blood pooling beneath his head.His niece’s picture, which he always carried in his pocket, fluttered to the ground, soaked red.★★★Van got the call an hour later.Nora's voice shook."They nearly killed him, Van. Lenny’s in ICU. Skull fractures, broken ribs. They meant to send a message."Van stood frozen in the middle of Keller’s living room, heart pounding like a war drum.Carla looked up from her laptop, face pale."This is escalation. Barron’s going full scorched earth now. If we don’t hit back hard—"Van was already moving.★★★At the hospital, Lenny lay
223. Raising An Army
Van’s phone buzzed just past midnight, it was an unknown number but he answered without hesitation.A familiar voice, rough and low, crackled through."You said if we ever wanted payback, we should call. Well, we’re calling."It was Lenny — an old cellmate from the prison days. A man who’d lost his niece to the same trafficking chain Bianca had just escaped.Van’s chest tightened."Where are you?""Abandoned mill off 43rd Street. And we’re not alone."Van grabbed his jacket and keys.This was the sign he’d been waiting for.★★★The mill was a ruin of rust and cracked windows, but inside, the air was electric.Dozens of faces turned when Van stepped in.Ex-cons, street runners and women with haunted eyes — survivors of Barron’s network.At the front stood Lenny, his massive arms crossed over his chest. Beside him, a thin woman with a scar along her jaw — Nora, who had once testified and then vanished from public sight.Van took it in: a gathering of the discarded and the damned.People
222. Barron Retaliates
The news broke before dawn. Grainy footage leaked online — flashing lights at the docks, bodies being loaded into ambulances, women wrapped in blankets, their faces blurred.The headlines screamed in bold:Human Trafficking Ring Busted in Dramatic Night Raid.But behind the headlines, in dark rooms far from the public eye, powerful men were already plotting their revenge.Van sat beside Bianca's hospital bed, watching her chest rise and fall. She was sedated, her body too battered and exhausted to stay conscious for long but she was alive.That simple fact kept him breathing.Keller stood near the door, on the phone with someone high up — probably trying to keep this operation from exploding into a political scandal.Carla scrolled through her tablet, her face grim."They’re already spinning this," she muttered. "Barron’s people are leaking stories that this was a rogue smuggling crew. Small-time. Not connected to him."Van’s jaw clenched."Typical. Burn the pawns, protect the king."
