Shadow Of Kingscity

Warehouse Trap

The 1967 Shelby GT500 was still parked at the workshop. The engine was off, yet Damian’s men stood beside it like stone statues, too scared to move the car without Ethan’s approval. Mara drove out in her Ferrari first, and long after she left, Ethan stepped out too. The men exchanged nervous glances. None dared ask if they could take the car now.

Ethan looked toward his uncle, who was bent over another vehicle, elbows deep in engine parts.

“Uncle, I will be back soon,” Ethan called out. “Let me drop this car at the Vancroft mansion.”

His uncle lifted his head, sighed, and nodded. “Be careful.”

He wanted to tell Ethan to stay far away from the Vancrofts. But he already knew it was pointless. Ethan had the look of a man who had chosen his path and was not turning back.

Ethan started the Shelby and drove out. The guards climbed into their SUV and followed behind him. By the time they reached the mansion, the sun had already sunk low. Bright lights flashed across the compound, and there was a party in full swing. Music, chatter, and laughter filled the air.

Ethan drove through the gate, and heads immediately turned. Many of the guests were rich people who loved showing off. The moment they saw the Shelby, they leaned forward eagerly, expecting some wealthy playboy to step out.

Instead, they saw a young man in simple clothes with a body built like he trained for war. Their surprise was loud enough to feel.

The Vancroft men hurried toward him. One guard stepped up.

“Sir, please hand me the key. I will park it in the right spot.”

Ethan faced him. “I want to see Mr. Vancroft first.”

“Sir, Mr. Vancroft is very busy,” the guard replied politely. “He is hosting his best friend’s birthday party. Many important guests are here. And this car is a gift he plans to present tonight. You cannot see him without an appointment.”

“Then I disagree,” Ethan said. His tone was calm but iron-hard. “Or I take the car back.”

Before the guard could answer, a sharp voice cut through the noise.

“And what is this dirty thing doing here?”

The crowd parted slightly as Damian walked forward. His glare was full of disgust.

“Who allowed this overgrown rat into the mansion?” he barked. He turned on his own men. “What part of bringing the car did you fools not understand? Why would you let this thing drive inside?”

His voice carried across the entire courtyard. People at the balcony and around the pool stopped what they were doing and stared. Whispers swept through the crowd.

Damian pointed straight at Ethan. “You. You are stubborn, right? What do you want here?”

Ethan ignored all the noise. He answered without emotion. “I want to see your father.”

Damian scoffed, almost laughing. “A lowlife like you dares challenge me? You think you have the right to meet my father? Leave now while I am still calm.”

Ethan stared at him, and for a moment Damian flinched at the silent rage burning behind those eyes.

“I will not repeat myself,” Ethan said.

Something snapped in Damian. He stepped closer, grabbed a bottle of wine from a passing waiter’s tray, and smashed it on Ethan’s head. The wine poured down Ethan’s clothes, soaking him like a man caught under a sudden rain.

Gasps broke out everywhere.

“Is he mad?”

“Black Wolf will kill him.”

“Some people are born stupid.”

The crowd buzzed with fear and gossip.

Ethan did not fall. He did not even touch his head. His rage was so clear that even Damian felt a chill under his skin, though he tried to hide it behind pride and the belief that his men could protect him.

Ethan stepped forward slowly, each step controlled.

“I am only sparing you because of your father,” he said. His voice was low and deadly.

He pointed at Damian’s left hand. The ring on his finger gleamed under the lights.

“That ring belongs to Liam. You have twenty-four hours to return it. If you do not, I will come for it. And I will take the finger with it.”

Damian let out a loud laugh. “I will wait. I want to see what a loser like you can—”

He stopped when he realized Ethan was already walking away.

The crowd opened a path for him, some out of respect, most out of fear.

As soon as Ethan left the gate, someone hurried toward Damian. One of Damian’s closest friends, who had recognized Ethan the moment he stepped out of the car.

“What did that guy want from you?” he asked.

“Forget him,” Damian said, waving it off. “Let’s go back to the party.”

He tried to walk away as if he had not just caused a public disaster, but his friend grabbed his arm firmly.

“No. I cannot be calm until you tell me what that young man wanted.”

And the pressure settled on Damian’s shoulders at once.

“Fine,” Damian finally said, rolling his eyes. “If you insist. He is looking for his brother.”

“His brother?” Michael asked, eyebrows raised.

“Yes, Michael,” Damian snapped. “What is it to you? That guy is a nobody. Why is your face suddenly tense?”

Michael let out a slow amused smile. “I wish he was a nobody.”

Damian frowned. “So are you the one holding his brother?”

“Hell no,” Damian said quickly. “I only took his brother’s ring. The boy was being stubborn and it looked like the ring meant something to him. He listened to me as long as I had it. Now he is missing, and his big fool of a brother is threatening to cut off my finger in twenty-four hours if I don’t return the ring.”

Michael sighed deeply. “Will you return it?”

“No,” Damian said with full confidence. “I want to see what that mechanic boy can do.”

Michael did not argue. He could not break their code. Telling Damian who Ethan really was would only bring more trouble.

“Fine,” Michael said. “I will buy the ring from you.”

Damian laughed. “You want to buy this? Really?”

“Yes,” Michael replied calmly.

“Hundred thousand dollars,” Damian said, expecting him to back off.

“Fine.”

Damian blinked. Michael had not even flinched. Suddenly the ring felt strange in his hand. Was it valuable? Was there something he did not know?

Michael’s voice broke his thoughts. “Can I have the ring now?”

Damian hesitated before forcing a sneaky smile. “Hope you will wire the money.”

“My accountant will process it right away,” Michael replied.

Damian handed the ring over.

---

Ethan stepped out of the mansion gate and was about to call a cab when his phone buzzed. He picked it up.

“Hi Ethan,” a rushed voice whispered.

“Who is this?”

“It’s Mara.”

Ethan sighed. “Alright. Are you ready to trust me now?”

“I am in some kind of big problem,” she whispered even softer.

“What problem now?” Ethan asked, his patience thinning.

“On my way home, I saw one of the men I photographed with your brother,” she said. “I followed him. He went into a warehouse. So I sneaked in to check what was happening here. And Ethan… these people are not small criminals. They sell weapons and drugs. The whole place belongs to them. They run Kingscity. Police won’t help.”

“And you are still there,” Ethan replied, already annoyed.

“Yes,” she almost cried. “The warehouse is locked now. And they all have guns. If they see me, I am done. I wanted to call the police but that is useless here. So just in case I don’t make it out, go to my office. My laptop password is—”

“Hold on,” Ethan cut in sharply. “Enough.”

She froze.

“What is the location of the warehouse?” Ethan asked.

“Huh? What are you planning? You are not Batman or Green Arrow,” she whispered in panic.

“Tell me the address or I drop the call,” Ethan said.

“Fine! It is at Dockside Yard, Block 17, Old Harbor Road.”

“Stay put. I am coming,” Ethan said and cut the call.

Mara stared at her phone, confused. “What is he going to do against all these men?” she whispered to herself.

Just then her phone rang again. Loud. Too loud.

The sound echoed across the warehouse.

Voices rose. Movements shuffled. Several men turned her way.

Her heart dropped.

She switched the phone off instantly, but footsteps were already rushing toward her hiding spot. Shadows stretched on the floor as guns lifted and pointed straight into the darkness where she was crouched.

She held her breath as the men closed in on her.