2024-11-21 17:23:16
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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 65. Mother And Son
About two hours later, Van was relaxing in the hotel room, Cassie and Shaun had gone back to their posts. Despite his protests, Cassie begged him to let her finish her last day as a waitress before assuming the post of a manager. He didn't understand why, but he gave her his permission. The news that the ownership of the hotel had just changed hands to a new person quickly spread around the hotel and the restaurant. Cassie was never one to gossip, so she didn't say anything about it. Shaun however, could not stop talking about it. "What?! Are you sure of what you're saying?" A waiter asked. The rush hour was over, so they had the time to talk . "That guy who walked in with Cassie earlier bougt the restaurant?""And the hotel!" Another replied. "Damn, that's amazing. But when I saw him, he looked pretty young, and he wasn't even dressed well.""That's why it's so shocking. Another shocker, I heard that he gave Cassie Mr Preston's position." "What?? No way!""Everyone has had their
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 66. Perfect Family
Cassie's heart sank in her chest the moment she heard that. "W-wife?" What was he talking about? "But…but didn't you already end things with Bian–" she immediately cautioned herself. "I mean, I didn't know you were married."Van stared at her for a while, definetly there was something she was hiding from him. "I am." He answered briefly. "You're welcome to stay at the hotel for as long as you want, and while you do, the hotel services are entirely complimentary. Well, I must be on my way home now. See you tomorrow." He started to leave when she suddenly grabbed his wrist. "Is something wrong?'"I…I…" she wasn't sure what she wanted to say. Was she really going to lose her chance again? And without even getting the opportunity to try this time too? "Cassie, what is it?" No! There was no way she was willing to admit defeat so easily. Not within trying. "I just wanted to say thank you…for today. I never thought I'd end up being the manager here.""You're welcome. Have a good night's
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 67. The Deed
"Um Van–uh I mean, Mr Everest. Mr Harper is here to see you." Shaun announced. Not that Van was his boss, he didn't think he had the privilege to address him by his first name any more. "Very well. Where is he?""At the VIP lounge sir.""Alright. I'll join you in a minute." After Shaun had left, Van waited exactly one minute before he left the office. He didn't have anything he needed to do, he just wanted to take his time. "Mr Harper." He said as he got to the lounge. The man looked up and was surprised to find a casually dressed guy standing in front of him. "Van…Everest?" He asked with uncertainty. He was expecting the younger man to laugh and say he wasn't the one but instead he nodded and took the seat across him. "I assume you're here to hand over the deed? Or is there some other contract I need to sign?"Bruce Harper could barely contain his shock. He had never for once thought that the Van Everest that bought the entire Golden Touch Series was a young man in his twenties. "
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 68. Shocking News
Even though they were fairly comfortable around each other, Van and Ivy didn't share a room. She had mentioned it before that she was okay with it but he still felt the need to let her have her own personal space. "Hey," "Hey."The days to their wedding was drawing closer and he felt that she might be under a lot of pressure about the whole thing. Even earlier during dinner, she had been oddly quiet. "You okay?" He asked, moving to join her on the balcony. "Yeah. I was just thinking, our wedding is in two days. I guess I just can't believe this is actually happening.""Oh…well I –""Don't get me wrong Van, I'm not regretting my decision to marry you. I guess I'm just…nervous. Like really nervous."When she said that Van felt the weight in his heart lighten by a lot. He had been worried that he was the one forcing Ivy into a marriage she didn't want and she was only keeping quiet because she wanted to please him. Hearing that she wanted it to happen as well made him feel a whole lo
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 69. Desperate Soul
Elaine stared at the pictures she posted, there was no way that Van would remain quiet after seeing something like that. She giggled to herself. "Let's see if you want to see me now or not." She had a wicked glint in her eyes as she sipped on red wine. Not more than five minutes later, her phone rang and she immediately jumped to answer it. "So, you finally decided to–" she paused and checked the ID of the caller. "Ugh what is it?" Disappointment washed over her as she saw that it was her secretary. "You know what, whatever it is, it can wait." She hung up and sat the phone right next to her. "Elaine, what is the meaning of those pictures that you posted online?!" Her father demanded angrily. "Don't you think you're going too far with this stuff of yours?! It was amusing to watch at first but this is just desperation on a whole new level. I can not believe that my daughter would stoop so low to do something so indecent. Where did you even get such pictures?""That is none of your c
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 70. The Plan
Two Hours Ago. Van's jaw dropped in horror and shock when he saw the pictures that Elaine posted. "W-wha- how– when–" he couldn't construct a simple sentence. "What is it?" Ivy dropped what she was doing and walked over to them. Taking a peak at Van's phone, she was equally surprised at what she saw. Pictures of Van, seemingly naked in bed with Elaine were all over her Instagram page with the caption; Future hubby and I after a spectacular date."I can't believe this." Ivy said quietly. "You know –""I can't believe she would go as far as editing pictures of you two together. This Elaine is much more of a psycho than I thought.""Editing…?" Van asked slowly. "Yeah. I mean, that's not you. Right?""Yeah of course." Van was surprised that Ivy didn't doubt him at all. Other ladies would have questioned him and might not even believe him no matter what his truth was. But Ivy was different, even before it sunk in his head that the pictures were edited, she already said it out, putting
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 71. Andrew
'Hi, this is Van, your long lost brother. I would like for you to be my best man. My wedding is tomorrow by the way.'Andrew laid his head back against the couch, a side smile on his smooth face. That was some way to introduce himself after all those years. He scoffed at the invitation but of course he was going to attend, after all his mother had invited him as well. He glanced at the time on his golden wristwatch. 08:30pm, it read. If he wanted to make in on time, he would have to leave home early. He thought about how awkward it would be to see Van after all those years, especially due to the way they parted back at the orphanage. He was sure his estranged baby brother would still harbor some resentful feelings towards him. In fact, the whole 'best man's thing might just be an excuse to get him there to receive an earful from his mother and siblings. Still, he made the decision to go. Strolling upstairs to his bedroom, he marched straight to his walk in closet to select his choi
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 72. Brothers
Even though he barely knew him, Van could immediately tell that the man standing in front of him was his brother. He was never one to look at himself that much but he could tell what he looked like, and the man he was staring at had similar features to him. Just more sinister looking. He dropped the little traveling bag he held, a half smile on his face. "Whoa, is this your bride baby bro?" He eyed Ivy from head to toe, admiring her appearance. "Damn she's hot." He walked over to their mother and sat next to her. "Why do you all look so gloom? Didn't you invite me because you wanted me here?"All eyes turned to Van and he realized they were waiting to see his reaction. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel. His brother who fired a gun at him when they were kids was sitting right in front of him. Up until recently, he didn't even remember that he had a brother. "You came." Was the only thing that he could voice out. "Well you did ask me to be your best man. It would be cruel t
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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."
221. Final Hunt
The storm hadn’t let up by morning.Thunder rolled over the city like distant gunfire as Van paced the length of Keller’s safehouse, phone clutched in a death grip.The message replayed in his mind over and over:"Transfer complete. Barron expects the shipment before Friday."Today was Thursday.That meant they had less than twenty-four hours to find Bianca before she vanished — maybe forever.Carla spread a map on the table, jabbing her finger at different points marked in red."These are known drop sites tied to Barron’s network. Truck yards. Private airstrips. Warehouses near the docks. If they’re moving her, it’s through one of these routes."Van stopped pacing, leaned over the map."Which one?"Carla’s mouth pressed into a thin line."If I knew that, we’d already be on the road."Keller stormed in from the other room, phone to his ear."No, I don’t care if it’s off the books—pull every asset we have! She’s out there, and I want eyes on every exit point in this city!"He ended the
220. The Raid
The black SUV tore through the city streets, weaving between cars and running red lights.Rain slapped against the windshield in heavy sheets, turning the world into a blur of lights and shadows.Van sat in the passenger seat, jaw tight, fingers tapping a restless rhythm on his knee.Beside him, Keller drove like a man possessed, silent and focused.Carla sat in the back, double-checking the blueprints of the warehouse on her tablet."Franklin and Third," she muttered."Two floors. Old textile plant. Abandoned for years. No security cameras, no neighbors — perfect place to stash someone."Van’s stomach twisted.It was too perfect.He kept flashing back to Vance’s words: If they think you’re coming, they’ll move her—or worse.He couldn't afford to think about what worse meant.Not now.Not when they were this close.They arrived in less than fifteen minutes.The warehouse loomed out of the mist like a dead thing — gray, crumbling, windows shattered, rust eating through the metal doors.
219. Confession
The air inside the van was thick with tension.Julian Vance sat slumped against the wall, wrists cuffed to a metal ring bolted to the floor.The blindfold was gone, but fear had carved deep lines into his face.Sweat soaked through his shirt despite the cold night air.Across from him, Van leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, studying him like a puzzle that needed solving.Keller sat beside Van, silent and looming, while Carla hovered near the door, tablet in hand, recording everything.No one spoke for a long moment.They let the fear do its work first.Vance fidgeted, his eyes darting from face to face, looking for a crack, a kindness.He found none.Finally, Keller broke the silence."You know who we are," he said calmly."You know why you’re here."Vance licked his lips."I—I’m just an accountant," he stammered."I don’t know anything."Keller smiled thinly."You know enough to get yourself killed. Or saved. Your choice."Vance’s hands twisted in the cuffs."I can’t," he whisper
218. The Aftermath
The night was soaked in the heavy stench of gunpowder and rain.Sirens howled in the distance — getting closer — but Agent Keller’s team moved fast.They swept the abandoned lot, securing what little evidence Moses had left behind: a few casings, tire tracks gouged deep into the mud, a broken phone.It wasn’t enough.Moses had disappeared like a phantom into the night, and worse — he had seen through the setup.Van had barely made it out alive.Inside the mobile command van, Keller slammed his fist against the table."Someone tipped him off," he growled."There’s no way he walked into that meeting with backup unless he knew we were coming."Carla sat beside Van, wrapping a makeshift bandage around his bleeding arm.Her hands were steady, but her face was grim.Van winced as the gauze tightened, but he barely felt the pain.His mind was somewhere else.A traitor.Someone inside their circle.Someone who had sold them out to Moses.Keller paced furiously, barking orders into his radio,
