LOGINShare
Chapter 99
Last Updated:
2025-01-12 10:45:30The quiet hum of the office was broken only by the steady clicks of Masahiro’s keyboard. His brow furrowed as he scrolled through a list of phone records on his screen. Beside him, Lewis leaned back, flipping through the financial reports they had pulled on David. The tension in the air was thick as realization began to take hold.
“Look at this,” Masahiro said, his voice sharp but low. He highlighted a series of calls. “Jones received multiple calls from an unregistered number right before Mr. K’s convoy. Ten calls in the hour leading up to the operation. And then—radio silence.”Lewis glanced at the screen, his lips pressing into a thin line. “That’s not just suspicious; that’s damning. Whoever called him, they knew exactly what was happening.”Masahiro nodded grimly. “And these calls? They weren’t logged in the official records. It’s like he wiped them clean. But this,” he pointed to a time stamp, “is a trace he couldn’t erase. The call connected to th
Related chapters
Gold & Sand Chapter 100
The clock struck 12:45 AM, the room bathed in shadows as the faint glow of the moon seeped through the curtains. Masahiro and Matthew lay entwined on the bed, their bodies pressed close. Matthew was on his back, one arm resting lazily on Masahiro's, whose arm was draped protectively around his waist. Masahiro’s face was nestled in the crook of Matthew’s neck, their breathing synchronized in a gentle rhythm.It was a rare moment of peace.The stillness was broken by a faint buzz. Masahiro stirred, his brow furrowing as he blinked against the dim light. The phone on the bedside table vibrated insistently, its screen glowing.Carefully, Masahiro reached over, trying not to disturb Matthew, though the motion caused the other to shift slightly. He unlocked the phone, his sharp gaze narrowing as he read the message:Lewis: Come now.Beneath the terse words was a location pin, marking a spot on the outskirts of th
Last Updated : 2025-01-12Gold & Sand Chapter 101
Yumi answered on the second ring, her voice calm and professional even at such a late hour.“Yumi, it’s Matthew. Masahiro—he’s been shot. Abdomen. I don’t think I should take him to a regular hospital. It’s… complicated.”Yumi’s voice tightened, concern seeping through her composed tone. “Bring him to St. Haven’s Medical. It’s a private facility… we cater to cases where discretion is key. Nobody will ask questions. I’ll meet you at the emergency entrance. Drive safely and keep pressure on the wound.”Matthew didn’t waste a second. He carefully lifted Masahiro into his car, securing him in the backseat with the towel still pressed to his abdomen. Masahiro’s breathing was shallow, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered.St. Haven’s Medical, located on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, was an unassuming building—a nondescript facade tha
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Gold & Sand Chapter 102
Two days later, the news channels were buzzing with an unexpected shift in the narrative. Masahiro Payne, once accused of murdering his partner Lewis Howard, was now being hailed as a hero. The media spun a new story, painting him as a man who had been working undercover to expose a massive network of corruption and organized crime, with Lewis Howard as his loyal partner who had died in the line of duty. They claimed that Masahiro had been framed by the very people he had been trying to take down… Mr. K and his criminal empire.Reports claimed Masahiro had barely escaped an assassination attempt orchestrated by his enemies, and that he had been on the verge of uncovering explosive information before being betrayed. The narrative was being cleaned up, and the man who was once accused of being a murderer was now a martyr.Yumi stood at Masahiro’s bedside, her hands checking the monitors as she carefully adjusted the IV drip. The lights in the hospital room w
Last Updated : 2025-01-13Gold & Sand Chapter 103
The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of machines and the occasional soft rustle of fabric. Masahiro's eyes fluttered open, the dim light filtering through the half-closed blinds pricking at his senses. His body felt heavy, a dull ache radiating from his side. It took him a moment to register the familiar figure by the window… Yumi, her slender frame silhouetted against the soft morning light, holding a steaming cup of tea.Her movements were unhurried, calm, as if she had all the time in the world. She didn’t notice him at first, her focus elsewhere. Then, as if sensing a shift in the air, she turned. Their eyes met, and a faint smile flickered across her face as she approached, setting the mug gently on the bedside table.“You’re awake,” she said softly, her voice tinged with relief. She reached for his wrist, checking his pulse as her eyes scanned the monitors beside him.Masahiro’s throat felt dry as sand
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Gold & Sand Chapter 104
Masahiro moved toward them, his heart thudding against his ribs. As he reached the table, his voice came out strained, fighting against the panic rising in his throat. “Matthew,” he said, his tone sharp, demanding answers. “What the hell are you doing here? With him?”Matthew didn’t flinch. His eyes didn’t even widen in surprise. He just stared up at Masahiro with a coldness that felt like a slap in the face. No guilt. No warmth. Only an empty detachment that cut through him.Cassidy smirked, leaning back in the booth like he’d been waiting for this moment. “Well, well, look who’s come to join the party,” he drawled, his voice laced with mock amusement. “I didn’t think you’d be this predictable, detective.”Masahiro’s gaze stayed fixed on Matthew, searching for any sign of recognition, any trace of the man he once thought he knew. “Matthew,” his voice was tight,
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Gold & Sand Chapter 105
The morning light filtered through the blinds of Masahiro's apartment. The faint sounds of the city waking up were drowned out by the overwhelming weight of his thoughts. The gunshot, the betrayal, the loss… everything still felt surreal. Ten days had passed since the ambush, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with the aftermath. His body had healed, but his mind… his heart? That was another story.He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor, his hands loosely clasped together. The scars on his body were physical reminders of what had happened, but the ache inside ran deeper. He let out a slow breath, forcing himself to push the memories aside. Rising from the bed, he moved to the dresser, pulling out a crisp shirt.He slipped it on, smoothing the fabric as he turned to the mirror. The man staring back at him felt like a stranger… someone who had been through too much, someone with too many unanswered questions. Straightening his tie with
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Gold & Sand Chapter 106
Ten months laterThe rain tapped softly against the windowpane as Masahiro sat at his desk, fingers absently tapping on the keyboard of his PC. His office was meticulously organized, a testament to his efficient yet unyielding nature. Papers were stacked neatly, and his badge rested atop the desktop… a silent reminder of the responsibilities that came with his position as the head of the Narcotics Trafficking Department.It had been ten months since Matthew had walked out of his life, and nine months since Masahiro had taken up this new role in a different station. The distance between the past and present was palpable, yet the void left behind lingered, refusing to be ignored. His eyes stared blankly at the screen, the words before him blurred by a mind that wandered too often.The buzz of his mobile phone broke his trance. Masahiro glanced at the screen and saw the familiar name, Yumi. He picked up with a soft sigh, his tone warming.“Yumi,
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Gold & Sand Chapter 107
The soft hum of the office faded as the clock ticked toward the end of the day. Masahiro stood up from behind his desk, gathering his things in quiet precision, as always. The light outside had already begun to wane, casting a golden glow over the room. As he passed by the corner desk, his eyes flickered briefly toward Arthur, who was still focused on the stack of files in front of him. The young intern hadn’t left the office yet."Cooper, I’m leaving," Masahiro said, his voice smooth, though there was an undercurrent of weariness to it.Arthur looked up from his desk, the glow of his computer screen reflecting in his tired eyes. "Goodbye, sir," he replied, offering a polite nod.Masahiro gave a short nod of his own and walked out, the door clicking softly behind him.Arthur sighed, dropping his shoulders. The room felt oddly empty now, the hum of the fluorescent lights and the ticking of the clock the only sounds. He g
Last Updated : 2025-01-16
Latest chapter
Gold & Sand Chapter 243
Clark stepped out of the bathroom, hair still damp, glasses fogging slightly as he adjusted them with one hand. A loose t-shirt clung to his frame, baggy pajama pants hanging low on his hips, flip flops slapping lightly against the hardwood as he moved.The scent hit him before he reached the living room—rosemary, garlic, a hint of something sweet. His stomach, traitorous as ever, growled on cue.Adam was at the stove, shirtless, a tea towel slung over his shoulder. The muscles in his back shifted with each movement, smooth and effortless as he stirred something in a pan.Clark hovered at the edge of the room. “You cook like that and still act surprised people want to fuck you.”Adam didn’t turn. “You flirt like that and still wonder why you end up bruised.”Clark smirked, stepping further in. “Touché.”Adam plated without a word, setting two dishes on the table like it was routine. Like they weren’t still bruised from each other in all the wrong ways.Clark raised an eyebrow. “Settin
Gold & Sand Chapter 242
The low hum of the television filled the living room. Adam sat sprawled on the couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest, remote balanced loosely in his hand. Some news anchor droned on about the latest scandal, but Adam barely glanced at the screen. The sunlight filtering through the windows cast a warm glow over the space, though the tension clinging to the room remained as cold as ever.Clark stood near the kitchen counter, arms crossed, his fingers drumming impatiently against his elbow. He was still in yesterday’s clothes—the wrinkled shirt barely buttoned, the trousers creased from hours spent tangled in bed. He’d rolled up the sleeves at some point, exposing pale forearms that still bore faint impressions of Adam’s grip. Every mark, every ache, gnawed at him."I need to go home," Clark said flatly.Adam didn’t even flinch. His eyes remained on the screen, the glow of the TV reflecting faintly against his dark skin. "No."Clark's jaw clenched. "I wasn’t as
Gold & Sand Chapter 241
The clock crawled past noon.Clark slouched on the leather couch, whiskey in hand. The ice had melted. He didn’t care. His shirt stuck to his skin, wrinkled and loose from the night before. He hadn’t changed. Hadn’t showered. The bruises on his neck were impossible to ignore. Dark splotches, some shaped like teeth. Others like fingers. A goddamn masterpiece, signed in pain.Adam, though? He looked like he’d just stepped out of a cologne advertising.Shirtless. Loose sweatpants slung low. Muscles on full display, carved deep beneath dark skin. The light caught every scar, every ripple. And those hands — Clark’s gaze kept catching on them. Rough, wide-knuckled, capable of wrecking anything. He knew that better than anyone now.The worst part? Adam wasn’t even trying.He moved through the kitchen like he owned the air. Coffee in one hand, the other lazily resting on the counter. Like nothing happened. Like Clark’s body wasn’t still a battlefield."You act like n
Gold & Sand Chapter 240
The air between them was suffocating.Clark’s eyes flashed, his bare chest still heaving as he jerked the sheets higher, though there was little point. The bruises were already visible—dark purple splotches along his neck, across his chest, down his sides. Some shaped like teeth. Others like fingers. He felt every mark. Every ache. And the soreness that ran deeper than his skin."You—" Clark’s voice cracked, still rough from sleep, from the night before. He swallowed. "You took advantage of me."Adam stood at the edge of the bed, already tugging his sweatpants back on. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t argue. Just pulled the waistband up with that same brute force that lingered in Clark’s bones."I'm just as horrified as you are," Adam muttered, his voice low, stripped of anything that resembled guilt. "I’m making breakfast.""Breakfast?" Clark's laugh was sharp. "You think I care about breakfast? You think eggs and coffee are going to make me forget that you—" His hand flew to the side of his
Gold & Sand Chapter 239
Adam woke to the sound of his phone vibrating.The dull hum buzzed somewhere on the nightstand, insistent and unforgiving. He ignored it at first, the weight of exhaustion still heavy. His body ached. Not the usual ache—not from fights or workouts or even a bad mattress. This was different. Deep. Lingering. And the sheets tangled around his legs, damp with sweat and something else —something worse. Then it hit him.Clark.Barely covered. Skin marred with darkened bruises and red marks that Adam’s hands—his hands—had left behind. The bite marks at the base of Clark’s neck. The faint outline of teeth against pale skin. The way his chest rose and fell, lips parted, a mess of tangled blond hair sprawled over the pillow. He looked ruined.Adam swallowed hard.`What the fuck did I do?’The memories clawed back like a slow burn. The rough kisses. The bruising grip. Clark’s gasping, stuttering pleas. The bed creaking beneath the relentle
Gold & Sand Chapter 238
The second bottle was already half empty.Clark’s glass dangled loosely between his fingers, half-forgotten. The amber burn had long since softened to something gentler. Warmer. It dulled the edges, smoothed out the cracks. But the fire inside him? That wasn’t from the scotch.It was from Adam.Barefoot, loose sweatpants slung low... he sprawled across the couch, the muscles in his chest and arms carved deep beneath dark skin. The light brown of his eyes gleamed under the dim lamplight, their sharpness dulled only slightly by the alcohol. Every now and then, Adam’s hand curled lazily around his glass, swirling the drink, his fingers broad and rough. Unbothered. Unapologetically masculine.And Clark? Clark was eating him alive.He wasn’t hiding it anymore.Why should he? The flush on his cheeks wasn’t just from the alcohol. The way his eyes lingered a second too long, traced the line of Adam’s collarbone, the slope of his shoulders—none of it was subtle. And A
Gold & Sand Chapter 237
Clark’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, vibrating against the glass. He glanced at the screen, Masahiro flashing in bold letters.He sighed, snatching it up. “Masahiro.”“Clark.” Masahiro’s voice was clipped, but not tense. “Good. You’re alive.”“Is that disappointment I hear?” Clark’s tone was effortlessly dry. “Or were you hoping I’d leave you with one less headache?”“We went to your place. It was empty.”“Yes, I’m aware. That’s generally the goal when one isn’t home.”“We heard about the gunfire.” Masahiro ignored the jab. “You alright?”Clark adjusted his glasses with precise, deliberate finesse. “Charmed, as always.”“And where are you?”Clark hesitated. He could practically hear the judgment loading.“Adam’s.”A pause. Just long enough to register the surprise without voicing it.“Of course you are.” Masahiro’s voice was too level. “And this decision was made with the full clarity of your legal genius?”“Obviously. Nothing
Gold & Sand Chapter 236
Smoke still clung to Clark’s jacket like a ghost he couldn’t shake. He’d barely had time to process the ambush—just flashes of gunfire, Adam shoving him down, the brutal jolt of the car door slamming shut. Now they were speeding down a back road, the city lights thinning behind them.Clark stared out the window, heart still jackhammering under his ribs. Asphalt blurred under the tires. The direction felt wrong.“This isn’t the hotel district,” he said, adjusting his glasses with clipped precision. “Where are we going?”Adam didn’t look at him. His grip on the wheel was tight, jaw clenched. “My place.”Clark blinked. “Your what?”“My place,” Adam repeated. “We’re layin’ low.”Clark snapped his head toward him. “Since when is your house suddenly the panic room? Take me to a hotel.”Adam exhaled, sharp and irritated. “A hotel ain’t safe.”“And your place is?”“Yeah.”Clark scoffed. “That a joke? What’s next, you gonna tuck me in with a loaded Glo
Gold & Sand Chapter 235
The door clicked shut behind them, soft but final.Clark was the first to move, striding across the room and dropping his file folder onto the table like it had offended him. He didn’t take off his coat. Didn’t loosen his tie. Just leaned forward, both palms on the table, head low.The air felt like it hadn’t been breathed in properly for hours.Masahiro stood near the wall, arms folded, expression unreadable as always. His coat was still buttoned, not a hair out of place, voice low and clipped.“You did well,” he said.Clark didn’t lift his head. “They were the ones who did well.”“Don’t be modest. You controlled the tempo from the moment you stood up,” Masahiro added, voice firm. “Even she couldn’t shake the narrative.”Clark finally straightened. Adjusted his glasses. “She’ll try harder on monday.”“And you’ll handle it,” Masahiro replied simply. “You’re still one of the best in Middlesbrough, whether you’re spiraling or not.”From the corner,
