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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 167. Live Video
Bianca had tried different ways to get Van's attention but all to no avail. It felt like no matter what she did, he was unmoved, almost like he couldn't even see her at all. And she hated that. She tried sending text messages but she didn't know if he had blocked her number or maybe he changed his but it didn't go through. She also couldn't go to his house because she had no idea where he lived currently. The only other way she could reach out to him was through social media, but either he wasn't active or he had blocked her there as well. So her last resort was this. If she couldn't reach him personally, then she might as well reach out to the whole world. If he didn't see it, surely someone around him will. As soon as the live video started, Bianca's face filled the screen, her eyes cast downward in a gesture of remorse. She took a deep breath before speaking, her voice trembling with emotion."Hello, everyone. I would like to apologize for my behavior at the restaurant the ot
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 168. A decision
Moses's face contorted into a deep frown as he stared at his phone. He groaned and tossed the device aside. "What's wrong?" Greg asked, noticing the change in his demeanor. "Bianca. She said she wants to see me, that it's important. If I'm being honest with you Greg, I'm done with this relationship.""Why? She did something again?""Are you seriously asking me that? What the hell is the meaning of that nonsense she posted online the other day? Asking that son of a bitch to see her, and I bet the bastard ignored her too!""Just listen to her, Moses," Greg urged. "You never know what she might have to say, it could actually be important."Moses sighed, but eventually agreed to meet with Bianca. They agreed to meet at L'amor Del Rosario, a first class restaurant popular for their steaks.Bianca was already seated when Moses arrived, sipping a glass of wine. She looked beautiful, there was no doubt about that. The beauty that attracted him to her from the start was still there but Moses
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 169. More Questions
Ivy's eyes widened in shock as Detective James told her about the mayor's kidnapping. This was getting out of hand."What do we do now?" Ivy asked, her heart racing with fear.Detective James' expression was grim. "We need to find out who's behind this and get the mayor back."Ivy nodded, her mind racing. She knew that she had to do something.As they arrived at the police station, Ivy could see the chaos. Police officers were running around, trying to coordinate a rescue mission.Ivy's eyes scanned the room, looking for someone to talk to. And then, she saw him. The police chief, standing in the corner, looking smug.Ivy's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be under arrest.As Ivy approached him, the police chief looked up, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Ivy, I see you're still trying to play hero," he said.Ivy's eyes flashed with anger. "What do you know about the mayor's kidnapping?" she demanded.The police chief shrugged. "I don't
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 170. Family Meeting
The Wilson and Hartley family had gathered at the Wilson's residence to discuss the upcoming wedding between Bianca and Moses. The event was delicate and needed lots of attention both in the physical and monetary aspect. The wedding was a whole lot more than just marriage between Moses and Bianca. It was a business contract between both fathers. A union between both mothers, though in this case, the Hartleys had a lot more to gain. Bianca's mother was busy scribbling notes on a pad as they discussed the guest list. "I think we should invite at least 100 people," she said, looking up at her husband for confirmation.Bianca's father nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's a good number. We want to make sure all our friends and family are there to celebrate."Moses's mother, Mrs. Wilson, looked concerned. "I'm not sure if we want that many guests," she said. "My husband and already have plans for twenty people from our side- all important personnels- and we were expecting something between th
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 171. Family Meeting II
Both families were stunned by his announcement, but the most surprised person in the room was Bianca, she had never expected him to actually say it. "Moses, what's going on?" Bianca's mother asked, her voice filled with concern. "Why are you calling off the wedding?""Are you surprised? I was just as surprised when she told she told me too." Moses's voice was calm and collected, but he knew his words would cut deep, especially Bianca's mother. "Out of desperation, I even offered to buy her a house on Venus island, anything to make her change her mind. She refused."When he said that, Bianca and her mother's jaw dropped, both for entirely different reasons."She told me she never loved me, and to be honest I knew that. I am well aware that she only agreed to date me because of what I had to give her, and I was okay with it. I guess I never imagined a day would come when she would get tired of me. "Moses, what are you talking about?" Bianca asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 172. The Comment
The family meeting ended terribly, with Moses's father kicking them out like they were beggars. “I want nothing to do with the Hartley family ever again!” He had declared in a loud voice. Bianca's parents complained and criticized her all the way home but she was less concerned. It was for the best. That was what kept ringing in her head. It was good the way things ended, after all she had never loved Moses, and since he said he was done with their relationship, she might as well find someone else who would be willing to spoil her the way she wanted. Then there was also Van. Bianca refused to believe that his feelings for her had vanished completely. That was impossible. What they had was different from a regular relationship, even though they hadn't tied the knot, they were already acting like a married couple. Van was always telling her how much he loved her and that he would do anything for her…and to some extent, he actually did. If only she had just left things the way they
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 173. A Hard Decision
Ivy paced back and forth in her dimly lit bedroom, her mind racing as the weight of the past few weeks pressed down on her. The soft hum of the city outside her window did little to soothe her nerves. It was late—too late—but sleep had become a stranger to her. Her mind kept returning to the same thoughts: the endless trail of deceit, the shocking revelations about the company she had worked so hard to build, and the people who had manipulated her life from the shadows.She had thought the detective's advice to stay home was logical at first, but now, in the silence of her room, it felt suffocating. How could she sit here, in the safety of her home, when everything around her seemed to be falling apart? There was a gnawing sense of guilt deep inside her, as if by hiding, she was putting her family in more danger. She should be doing something —anything— beyond waiting. But what? The police had their hands tied, and the deeper she dug, the more dangerous the situation became. The web
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 174. An Aunt??
Two days had passed since Ivy’s conversation with Van, and in that time, she had made a decision. The weight of it pressed down on her chest, but it felt necessary. She had to rid herself of the past, of the memory, of the complication. Van had told her to trust him, that things would get better, that she had a chance to start anew. At first, the idea had terrified her, but now it seemed like the only path forward. She was ready. Ready to take control of her life. When she walked into Van's office that morning, her expression was determined. He had been going over some papers, his focus entirely on the documents in front of him. He had not been expecting her. "I’m ready," she said simply, her voice steady. There was no hesitation in her words. “Ivy hey,” he raised his head from his work and smiled at her. He didn't have to ask before he understood what she meant by her statement. “You sure?” “Fairly.” He chuckled slightly at her response. He knew it wasn't easy to let go of some
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231. The Storm
The door to the warehouse banged open, hard enough that everyone inside jumped.Carla spun, gun raised. Boyd was already halfway out of his chair, reaching for his own piece.Then they saw him.Van. He staggered inside. Blood streaked down one temple, jacket torn, eyes wild. Breathing like he’d outrun death itself."Jesus Christ," Carla gasped, lowering her gun."Van—"But he was already collapsing against the wall, sliding down, chest heaving. The door creaked shut behind him, sealing the dark back in.Louisa dropped the flash drive she’d been clutching for hours and ran to him. "Are you—are you hit?"Van waved her off, voice raw. "Not shot. Just… tired of running."Boyd knelt, grabbing his shoulder hard. "Talk to me. What happened? Did the deal go bad?"Van laughed — harsh, bitter, humorless. "Wasn’t a deal. Was a damn execution waiting to happen. Ramos sold me out to Barron’s people. Seven men with guns. All set to take me in — or take me out."Dan groaned from his corner, cradling
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
