2025-05-17 03:11:39
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The Setup
He’d overheard Gary and Leo’s earlier conversation. This was part of their plan. Dane walked over. “What’s going on?” he asked. Just then, Gary appeared behind him, acting concerned. “What’s going on?” Gary echoed. He bent down, looking at the man on the ground. “Who stabbed you? Talk to me! I saw someone running—someone just ran past me when I was coming this way. I don’t know who it was. First time I’ve ever seen him. Was that one of Butcher’s men?” Dane stayed calm, pretending not to know anything. “Someone ran past you?” Dane asked. “Yes,” Gary nodded. “They were fast. Gone in a second.” Then he turned to the wounded man. “What happened? Who did this to you?” The man groaned, clutching his side. “It was Leo. He stabbed me and ran. Leo’s escaped.” Dane played along, even though he knew it was all lies. “Leo? Escaped? Are you sure? Damn. Where could he have gone?” he said. He stood up and walked off to call the medics on the ship. As soon as Dane was gone, Gary bent do
Too Late
Butcher was right. He told me to make sure Leo doesn’t leave. I have to do that, Dane thought to himself.He zipped up his jacket, pulled an Uzi from under the bed, and loaded it with bullets.Then, slowly and quietly, he opened the door and stepped out.As he came out, he spotted someone nearby. It looked like the man had been watching his door. The moment their eyes met, the man quickly turned and walked away fast.“What’s going on? Was that guy really watching my door? Something’s not right… I hope Leo’s not still around,” Dane muttered.He hurried toward the room where Leo was being kept.At the same time…Gary was already moving Leo out.The man who had been watching Dane ran straight to Gary and said, “Gary, Dane just came out of his room.”Gary reacted immediately.“Leo, it’s time. Even if Dane suspects something, we stick to the plan. I’ll explain things later. Just go now. I’m going to stab someone as we agreed—to make it look real. Jason, take Leo and get off the ship.”Leo
Danger on the Line
“Well, thank you, Maria. I’m actually starving,” Butcher said with a grin. Maria walked over and sat beside him on the bed, placing the tray of food down between them. “I feel like feeding you,” she said playfully, taking a spoonful of rice and bringing it to his mouth. Butcher chuckled and opened his mouth, letting her feed him. As she lifted the spoon for a second bite, he gently took it from her hand. “This is actually a bit embarrassing,” he said with a shy smile. “We’re not as young as we used to be. It feels a little silly.” Maria smiled warmly. “Well, you’re right. We’re not as young as we used to be. But… it’s… those days still feel like yesterday to me,” she said softly. “I just wanted to have a little bit of fun. Because I’m really glad you’re back. Thank you.” Butcher looked at her for a moment, touched. Then, still smiling, he began feeding himself, the warmth between them growing deeper in the quiet moment they shared. Maria watched Butcher closely as he finished h
The Man She Thinks I Am
“I hope everything’s going well. I trust there haven’t been any serious problems. Still, I’ll need to check in with a few of my other headquarters in case they’re under attack,” Butcher said.He stood in a magnificent, castle-like mansion. The estate was vast and grand, stretching out in every direction. Rising from the chair in the room he’d been staying in, he made his way to his wife’s room. He knocked on the door, then stepped inside.“Baby, like I told you—I hope you understand. I want to spend some real quality time with you. I know I’ve been gone for a while, but I’d like us to travel together,” Butcher said. “It’s been so long since I last saw you. You just arrived this morning—I’m really glad,” Wait here. Let me prepare something for you to eat,” Maria said happily. She was Butcher’s wife.“No, no, that’s not necessary. Don’t worry about food,” Butcher said, shaking his head. “I haven’t even seen Mary, our daughter, since I got back. How is she?”“She’s fine, darling,” Maria
Target at the Ball
As the sun rose, Dane woke up around 9 a.m. His body still ached, but the pain had eased slightly since the night before. He hadn’t even washed off the dried blood clinging to his skin. Without wasting time, he shrugged off his jacket and clothes, stepped into the shower, and took a quick bath. The warm water stung his wounds but helped clear his mind. After drying himself off, he walked to the closet and got dressed. Then he checked his phone. The time read 11 a.m. exactly. He froze. Butcher had said he would call him—on the dot. At exactly 11:01, his phone buzzed — twice. It was Butcher. Dane immediately picked up and answered, “sir, I hope you reached safely.” Butcher said, “Yes, I reached safely. I’m currently with my wife now. I’m about to take them to the safe house — a place where they’ll be safe during the war.” Dane replied, “Okay, sir. But sir… early this morning, it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy.” “What wasn’t easy?” Butcher asked. “Was there a war? From what time to
While the Blood Dries”
The battle was over. Gunfire had gone quiet, the screams replaced by a haunting silence. As Dane approached the ship, his eyes locked with Gary’s. The look on Gary’s face twisted from surprise to anger in an instant. Without saying a word, Gary turned sharply and stormed back inside. Dane narrowed his eyes. “I know he’s planning to kill me,” he muttered under his breath. “But he won’t succeed.” His voice was low but steady. “If death wanted me, I’d be long gone. I was a thief, doing risky jobs my whole life—and I survived. I didn’t die then, I won’t die now. Gary can try whatever he wants, but he’s not going to win.” Blood trickled slowly from the back of his head, soaking into his jacket, already sticky with sweat and gore. Every muscle in his body ached. His legs felt like stone, but he kept walking, one step at a time, deeper into the ship. Inside his room, Dane tossed his gun aside and peeled off his jacket. He stood in front of the mirror, touching the wound on his
