Richard sat in his dimly lit office, the faint glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across his face. A smirk played on his lips as he watched the grainy security footage of Evelyn escaping from the cell. His eyes followed her every movement, watching as she sprinted with the help of that traitorous bodyguard."She thinks she's smart," Richard muttered to himself, a low chuckle escaping his throat.The scene replayed in his mind: Evelyn, frantic but determined, running through the dimly lit halls, her eyes darting around as if she expected to be caught at any moment. But she hadn’t been. Richard had let her go, knowing full well what she was planning. It was all part of the game, and now the pieces were moving just as he wanted them to.A knock on the door broke his thoughts."Boss," one of his men said as he stepped inside, his voice cautious. He approached the desk and set down a plain white envelope. "A message came for you."Richard’s eyes flicked to the envelope, his smirk fading
The three men sat in their dimly lit office, the air thick with tension. The first man leaned back in his chair, a wide grin stretching across his face. He loved this part of the game. The power, the control—it was everything he lived for. The thrill of watching Richard squirm when he saw their message on video had been exhilarating. It was moments like these that made everything worth it."This is getting boring, you know!" he said loudly, his voice echoing through the room. He had a penchant for theatrics, always speaking with a certain dramatic flair that his companions found either amusing or irritating, depending on the day.The second man, sitting across from him, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His focus was on the leader, who sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. The leader had always been the calm one, the strategist. He never acted without thinking three steps ahead, and it was this calculated approach that had kept them ahead of everyone else for so l
Ace sat at his desk, staring at the dim light filtering through the curtains. His thoughts were far from the work scattered before him. Instead, his mind was on Lisa—his wife—and their unborn baby. The image of her asleep, peacefully unaware of the dangers lurking outside their new home, played on a loop in his head. He couldn’t shake the guilt that gnawed at him. He had moved them away to keep them safe, but was it enough? Was anything ever enough in his world?He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his usually sharp eyes dull with exhaustion. His chest tightened at the thought of what could have happened back at the mansion. If Ann hadn’t been there during the attack, if the guards hadn’t been vigilant... He shook his head, trying to push the dark thoughts away. It was unbearable to think of his life without Lisa, without their child. The idea of losing them haunted him like a specter that refused to leave.The tension in his body had built to the point of discomfort. He stood
Lisa sat by the window, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn’t shake. For days, she had considered calling Ace, just to hear his voice, to assure herself that everything was fine. But every time she reached for the phone, something stopped her. A part of her still didn’t forgive him for taking her away without her consent, drugging her so she wouldn’t resist. Even though she knew deep down that it was for her protection, it didn’t make it any easier to accept. He was her husband, and yet, he had kept her in the dark, treating her like some fragile object that couldn’t handle the truth.Her fingers itched to dial his number, but she didn't. Instead, she let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. The silence in the house was suffocating, and Ann’s presence didn’t help. They hadn’t spoken much since the day Ann revealed her secret, that she had been working with Evelyn. How could she trust someone who had betrayed her family, her husband? The very thought of it m
Richard sat in the back of the sleek black car, his eyes narrowed as the scenery blurred past the window. The tension in his jaw hadn’t relaxed since he received word of his wife’s escape from the cell. His men assured him they knew where Evelyn was hiding, but there was something about the entire situation that felt off. The way his bodyguards were too quiet, the stiff posture of the driver—it all gnawed at his gut, warning him that something was wrong.But he had to push forward. He had to find Evelyn and put an end to her little game once and for all. She thought she was smart, always one step ahead, but Richard wasn’t a fool. He knew the game they were playing—he had been playing it long before she entered his life. And now, it was time to finish it.The car turned onto a narrow, secluded road, the trees on either side closing in like silent sentinels. Richard’s grip on the armrest tightened, his eyes scanning the road ahead. He knew this was supposed to lead to one of his safe
Ace sat at the head of the long wooden table, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders.The room was dimly lit, the glow from a single overhead light casting deep shadows across his face. Across from him sat Grey, his most trusted lieutenant and one of the few men Ace considered a friend. They’d been through countless battles together, forged in the fires of both friendship and bloodshed.But today, the tension between them was palpable.Ace leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as he stared at the blueprints spread before them. His mind was a swirl of conflicting emotions—protecting his family, staying ahead of Richard’s next move, and keeping his organization from crumbling under the weight of all these external threats. Grey cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “We need to move soon, Ace. Richard’s playing his hand, and Evelyn’s working with him, whether we like it or not. We can’t afford to wait much longer. You saw what
Evelyn sat in her lavish study, her lips curling into a satisfied smile as she watched the video feed of Richard, her husband, locked up in the small, cold room she had arranged for him.He was pacing, cursing, and occasionally pounding the walls in frustration. It was a sight that brought her more joy than she had anticipated. Richard, the man who thought he could outsmart her, now reduced to nothing more than a prisoner in a game she was about to win.The thought was delicious.She took a slow sip from her glass of wine, letting the taste linger on her tongue. The pieces were all falling into place now. With Richard out of the way, her plans could proceed without any interference. He had always been an obstacle, a thorn in her side, but now he was neutralized. And Ace… well, he would be next. She knew her brother better than anyone else. He thought he was so clever, always one step ahead, but Evelyn had been playing the long game. She had her moves mapped out well in advance.Still
The phone rang once, twice, and then a voice on the other end answered.“Anton.”The man’s voice was cold, emotionless, and exactly what Evelyn needed.“I have a job for you,” she said, her voice smooth but filled with an underlying urgency. “And I’m willing to pay double.”There was a pause, followed by a low chuckle from Anton. “Double, huh? Must be a serious job.”Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her eyes flicking over to the video feed of Richard pacing in the room she had locked him in. “It is. There’s someone who thinks they can threaten me. Someone who thinks they’re smarter than they are.”“And what exactly do you want done?” Anton’s voice was casual, but she knew he was already calculating the cost and planning his next steps. That’s what made him so effective—he was always two steps ahead.“I want them neutralized. Silenced. I don’t care how you do it, just make sure they don’t come back to haunt me.”“Got it,” Anton said, his tone flat. “Who’s the target?”“Ace.”There was
A year had passed since the chaos, and now, the air in their new home was filled with a sense of peace that neither Ace nor Lisa had ever known. They were far away from the world they used to know, the one that had been filled with danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. It was a small, quiet life now, one where the past didn’t matter, only the future they were building together.Lisa cradled their baby girl in her arms, smiling down at the tiny face that had completely changed her world. Their daughter, with her soft dark hair and delicate features, was the perfect blend of both of them. A reminder of the love and strength that had carried them through everything.Walking down the hallway of their cozy little house, Lisa could hear the faint sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore in the distance. It was serene, soothing in a way that felt like a lullaby to her soul. She made her way to the room where Ace was sitting, his back facing the door as he gazed out the large windo
Ace leaned against the doorframe of the small bedroom where Lisa lay resting. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her peaceful face, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just hours ago. He couldn’t stop thinking about Richard’s lifeless body and how close his wife had come to harm. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, and the only thing keeping him grounded was the sight of Lisa, safe and sound in their bed."Stay here," he whispered softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Lisa stirred but didn’t wake, her exhaustion finally catching up with her after everything that had happened. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then turned to leave the room, closing the door quietly behind him.Ace’s expression hardened as he walked down the hallway toward the warehouse's lower levels, where Evelyn was being held. His men had taken care of Richard’s body, as per his orders, disposing of it far away from their hideout. Now, there was one
Grey stood outside the cell where Evelyn was being held, watching her through the small window. The bruises and cuts on her face were evidence of the fight she had put up, but there was no sympathy in his eyes. She had brought this on herself, and Grey had no more business here. His part was done—he had helped Ace capture her, and now it was time for him to leave.He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the cold air of the cell greeting him as the heavy metal door closed behind him. Evelyn was slumped in the corner, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hair hanging loosely over her face. She didn't look up as Grey entered, but he could sense that she was fully aware of his presence.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he sat down in the lone chair facing her. "Oh, poor Evelyn," he said mockingly, his voice filled with dark amusement. "I must say, it's been quite a ride, hasn't it?"Evelyn remained silent, her head tilted slightly, but she didn’t look at him. Grey didn’t
Lisa lay peacefully in bed, the soft warmth of the blankets cocooning her, her body relaxed as sleep slowly pulled her under. She was vaguely aware of the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall and the quiet hum of the house, sounds that had become comforting in this strange new place Ace had brought her to.But then, something shifted. A sound, almost imperceptible, but enough to make her stir.Her brow furrowed, still caught in the remnants of a dream, as she called out, "Ace?"There was no reply.She blinked her eyes open, pushing herself up on the bed. Her hand reached out, instinctively seeking Ace’s familiar warmth beside her, but her fingers touched only cool, empty sheets. Her frown deepened as she sat up fully, glancing around the dark room. Where was he?"Ace?" she called again, louder this time.Still nothing.A chill crept up her spine as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, slipping her feet into her slippers. Something didn’t feel right. Her heart began to bea
Ace sat in his office, fingers drumming against the wooden desk as he stared at the stack of papers in front of him. His mind wasn’t on the documents, though. No matter how much he tried to distract himself with work, his thoughts always drifted back to Lisa and the baby. He hadn’t been home much lately, caught up in his dealings, and a part of him knew he was avoiding her.His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, seeing Grey’s name flash across the screen.He answered immediately. “Grey?”“We have her,” Grey’s voice came through, cool and composed. “Evelyn’s in our custody. She’s in the cells now, and we rounded up a few of her men, but Richard wasn’t with them.”Ace’s heartbeat quickened. They had Evelyn. Finally, they had her. But the news about Richard not being there left a bitter taste in his mouth. That man was like a ghost, always slipping through their fingers.“I’m coming soon,” Ace said, his voice firm. He stood up, grabbing his coat, a
Ann sat in the dimly lit room, her hands trembling slightly as she held the burner phone.Grey and his team had just briefed her on the plan—she was to call Evelyn, pretend to be sorry, and offer her some fabricated information about Ace and Lisa. It was a risky plan, but one they hoped would finally lead them to capturing Evelyn. Her mind was racing, trying to process the weight of what she was about to do. She had betrayed Lisa once by working with Evelyn, and though she had switched sides, the guilt still gnawed at her. Now, they were asking her to go back into the lion’s den, to trick the very person who had manipulated her before. Grey stood across from her, his expression calm but serious. “Are you ready?”Ann swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah… I’ll do it.”One of Grey’s men handed her the phone, the screen lit up with Evelyn’s number. Ann’s thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this call would either lead to Evelyn’s capture o
Grey stood in the dimly lit room, his phone in hand as he looked at the group of men before him. They were a small but elite team, hardened by years of working in the shadows, each of them bound by loyalty to one another.Ace had been one of them once, and now that Lisa was back, Grey felt a sense of relief. They were all in this together again.“I just spoke to Ace,” Grey began, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “Lisa is back. She’s safe. But things are still tense between them.”The men exchanged glances, some nodding in acknowledgment, others frowning at the thought of the ongoing tension between Ace and Lisa. It had been a long road for the couple, and though Lisa’s return was a relief, it was clear that the war between them and their enemies was far from over.One of the men, a tall, muscular figure with a sharp jawline and a serious expression, stepped forward. He was known as Briggs, and he was the leader of their small group, a strategist who rarely spoke unless he h
Evelyn leaned back in her plush chair, the dim light of the room casting shadows across her sharp features. A slow, satisfied smirk spread across her lips as she watched the live feed of Richard locked up in the isolated house. He was pacing, his usual calm and controlled demeanor slipping as he realized the gravity of his situation. It brought Evelyn a sense of twisted satisfaction to see her husband, always so proud and calculating, reduced to a caged animal."How the tables have turned, dear Richard," she whispered to herself, her fingers drumming on the armrest. The power shift between them was intoxicating. He had been trying to control her for too long, always thinking he could outsmart her, manipulate her into submission. But Evelyn had always been one step ahead, playing the long game, and now, with Richard out of the way, her plans could finally proceed uninterrupted. Or so she thought.A knock on the door interrupted her moment of victory. One of her men entered, his face
Ace stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed as he watched Lisa enter. His expression was cold, eyes narrowed, the tension in the room palpable. Lisa could feel the weight of his stare, the anger simmering beneath the surface. It wasn’t like him to be so distant, so guarded. But she understood why—everything had been spiraling out of control, and her sudden return had likely only added to the chaos.“Why are you here, Lisa?” Ace’s voice was low, almost a growl. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers, searching for answers.Lisa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding. “I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. I came because I needed to tell you something important.”Ace’s jaw clenched as he shook his head. “You should’ve stayed where you were. I put you there for a reason. It was to keep you safe.”“Safe?” Lisa scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “How can I be safe when everything is falling apart around us? Evelyn has her claws