Dean stepped out of the room, his gaze settling on the sofa in the center of the living room. Greg was lounging casually against the back of the couch, his eyes calm but sharp, holding a glass of red wine that he gently swirled. Melvin sat next to him, cradling a cup of coffee, his face wearing a faintly amused expression. On the other side of the room, Damon, Chen, and Shawn sat around the bar, sipping drinks and speaking in low tones to each other.Dean scanned the scene before walking toward Greg, his curiosity getting the better of him. "So, are you all done talking?" he asked.At the sound of his voice, Greg raised an eyebrow and deliberately answered in a loud tone, "Not yet. Some people are too petty, unwilling to wait." His words sparked a response from the group by the bar.Damon took a sip of whiskey, setting the glass down with a clink before retorting with equal sharpness, "You wait for me, I wait for you. That’s only fair."Chen jumped in, a teasing note in his voice, "Gu
On the other hand, Damon and Chen, seasoned leaders in the underworld, each employed powerful tactics to cut off the Shark Gang’s resource supply from the outside, causing their economic network to collapse rapidly.Greg, using his fearsome status as the heir apparent of the Golden Eagle Gang, began to mobilize his forces, secretly providing additional leverage for even more devastating blows. As the pressure mounted, Ben was gradually cornered, his authority crumbling under both internal and external attacks, inching toward total collapse.All of this unfolded silently, without drawing the attention of the police or the outside world. Shawn deliberately remained neutral, refusing to intervene in any Shark Gang matters or take any calls from them, focusing all his attention on protecting Dean instead.Although Dean sensed the tension beneath the surface, he couldn’t truly get involved. He tried to offer his help, but each time his suggestions were ruthlessly rejected. The mafia bosses
Dean gave a wry smile. “We’ve talked about it. They all said they were willing to be the third wheel. Turning perfectly normal people into third wheels—that’s just not right, is it?”Tara couldn’t help but chuckle. “I just asked them too, and they all said there’s no way they’d let you go. They’re crazy about you.”Dean rubbed his forehead helplessly. “So what do you think I should do? And don’t even think about pulling a Linda with that whole ‘no advice’ line.”Tara pondered for a moment. “If you want my reckless advice—choose them all. If you want the rational answer—pick one and resolve the conflict. But, Dean, nobody said feelings must always follow rationale or recklessness. Whether they should or not… that’s something only you can decide.”Dean fell into deep thought. He knew, in the end, the decision rested solely in his hands.After dinner, instead of dispersing, the group stayed to watch a movie together. Later, Dean took the two ladies and Leo on a shopping trip. The others,
Dean drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his pulse hammering in his ears. But just as he began to steady himself, Linda’s next message hit him like a bolt of lightning."Those thugs mentioned something unexpected: they suspect that Benjamin isn’t the real mastermind. There’s someone even higher pulling the strings."Dean’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. His fingers moved instinctively, dialing Linda’s number. The phone barely rang once before she answered."Linda," Dean said, his voice tense with urgency. "What do you mean? What else did they say?"There was a pause on the other end, followed by Linda’s cautious, weary voice. "They claimed that when they saw your parents’ bodies… there were two other people at the scene."Dean clenched the phone tighter. "Who?""One of them," Linda continued slowly, "was a tall, muscular man. The other… was a young woman. She looked surprisingly formal—dressed in a sharp, tailored outfit. They didn’t recognize her, but she s
Shawn lifted his eyes, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. Just as he was about to speak, a sudden commotion erupted from downstairs. The noise came from the main hall—a deep and chaotic rumble, like a stone breaking the calm surface of a lake.The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Shawn placed his glass on the table and rose to his feet. "Looks like the show’s about to begin."Damon and Chen stood as well, and together they moved toward the railing of the VIP lounge, gazing down at the scene below. Dean was caught in the middle of the group, flanked by the twins on either side, with Shawn standing close behind him. The space felt tight, but Dean’s focus quickly shifted to the unfolding drama below.In the center of the vast hall, two blindfolded figures were dragged in, their hands and feet bound. They staggered under the harsh lights, their movements clumsy and pitiful.Dean’s eyes locked onto them, watching intently. The captives were forced to their knees in the
Dean froze for a moment, then gave a small nod, though a deeper storm raged in his heart. He couldn’t deny it—Greg was terrifyingly formidable. His every movement exuded authority, and with just a few words, he could break a person’s will completely. Watching him, Dean couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This heir to the underworld was far from ordinary—he was a born predator.The tension in the hall thickened like smoke, suffocating and inescapable. Greg’s voice, calm yet commanding, cut through the heavy silence. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, he looked every bit like a judge presiding over a grim trial. His words carried an air of finality."That’s enough for now," he declared, eyes sweeping over the room. "Now, let’s move on… to the matter of my Aunty Jane."The moment he spoke her name, a chill ran through the room like an icy draft. Ben, still writhing on the floor, weakly lifted his head, his voice barely a croak. "W-What…?"Greg’s gaze dropped lazily to Ben, but his
Greg’s eyes narrowed as he shifted his gaze toward the man, his expression colder than ice. His voice was calm but laced with lethal intent. “Go on. Keep talking.”The man’s lips quivered before he finally broke down and spoke. “It was me… I waited until she fell asleep, then lit the charcoal to make it look like a suicide…”A heavy silence fell over the hall, suffocating and absolute. For a brief moment, it seemed the truth had finally surfaced—until the man suddenly raised a trembling hand and pointed in another direction. “But it wasn’t my idea! He made me do it! He’s the mastermind!”All eyes followed his finger and landed on Benjamin Winston.Ben, clutching his ribs in pain, still forced himself to stand tall, his voice rising defiantly. “Nonsense! You can’t just spout accusations like that! You can twist the story all you want, but don’t think I’ll sit here and take it!”Greg sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Oh, you’re one to talk. Since when have you ever told the tr
Greg’s uncle caught a glimpse of the simmering intent to kill in Greg’s eyes and finally broke down. His voice trembled uncontrollably, each word drenched in panic. "Young master! It was him! He told me to do it! Please, young master, just grant me a swift end!"Greg turned his head slightly, throwing a glance at his uncle. A cold, humorless chuckle escaped his lips. "Alright. Since you are being so sincere, I’ll deal with him first."He raised his hand, pointing the gun directly at Ben’s most vulnerable spot. The barrel loomed close—too close. Ben stared at it in wide-eyed terror, the last threads of his composure snapping. He collapsed into desperate sobs. "No! Please, no! Young master!""Fair is fair. He’s already been dealt with down there. Now, it’s your turn."Ben broke completely, his voice cracking with raw fear and anguish. "I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! I’m not the mastermind! Neither is your uncle! We’re just pawns! He takes orders from me, and I… I follow the orders
He hadn’t taken it seriously at the time, but now, he never would have imagined that there would come a day when he would need such a place.The lobby manager was already waiting. As soon as he saw Dean, he immediately approached him with respectful professionalism. "Mr. Harrison, we've prepared a room for you on the top floor. You can check in at any time."Dean furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his expression. "How did you know I was coming?"The manager offered a polished smile. "Your friend, Leo, made the arrangements in advance. He said you might need a quiet place."Dean froze for a moment, an unexpected wave of emotion sweeping through him.Leo...That seemingly carefree, always acting nonchalant guy had taken the time to set up an escape plan for him?He had even gone so far as to ask the young lady to help and secure the quietest room on the top floor?Dean pressed his lips together, a mixture of emotions welling up inside him.He wasn’t without friends, after all.At
Among the four people he trusted the most, Shawn’s betrayal was the one he could never accept.Shawn had built his empire with his fists, carving a path through blood and corpses. And yet, he had always believed that, at the very least, Shawn was a man of honor.He was wrong.He couldn’t have been more wrong.The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Shark Gang’s headquarters. The gang members stationed at the entrance stepped aside the moment they saw him. No one tried to stop him—Ted had already given the order."Mr. Harrison." Someone greeted him with respectful deference.Dean didn’t respond immediately. He kept walking, his pace unwavering and his demeanor cold. The lobby was filled with whispers, the members of the Shark Gang pausing in their work to glance his way. No one dared to stop him, knowing that Ted had already made arrangements.As Dean strode through the building, his eyes briefly flickered over the gathered faces, cold and indifferent. It wasn’t long before Ted
Damon’s eyes instantly filled with panic.Unable to stand still any longer, he rushed toward Dean, and no matter how much Dean struggled, he held onto him tightly. "Dean! Please, listen to me—please, let me explain!""I don’t want to hear it!" Dean fought with every ounce of strength, his voice raw. "I don’t want to hear it! I’m nothing but a disposable pawn in your grand Dragon Gang plan!"Damon’s heart clenched violently. He had never felt so frantic in his life. "Dean, please! Calm down! Just listen to me—"Seizing the moment of Damon’s panic, Dean wrenched himself free from his grip and bolted toward the door of the office.He threw all his strength into yanking the door open, and there, just outside the elevator, he saw Leo standing, looking at him in confusion."Dean?"Dean’s gaze fell on the elevator as the doors slowly slid open. He turned back one last time to look at Damon, his eyes hollow with utter despair.He looked at Leo, his voice trembling. "Leo… If you consider me yo
He frowned, a sense of unease creeping up on him. It all felt a little too coincidental, like something was off, but he couldn't quite place it.Still, no matter what, he was always used to being alone. Shrugging off the nagging feeling, he let it go for now. Breakfast first.After breakfast, Dean went as usual to sort through the boxes that had been moved from Joe's villa. There were forty boxes in total, and he had already gone through most of them. The remaining ones seemed to hold little importance. Yet, he continued his meticulous search, knowing that even in these seemingly insignificant items, there might be a clue that could shed light on either Sally or Joe.However, today’s search felt different.When his eyes landed on a box in the corner of the room, he furrowed his brow.He had no memory of this box.It appeared older than the others, its surface covered in a thin layer of dust, as though it hadn't been touched in years. Stranger still, when he tried to move it, he found
Damon’s hand was the first to rest gently on his, his voice tender but tinged with worry. "Are you okay?"Chen gently supported his shoulder, carefully studying his face. "Do you feel any discomfort?"Shawn furrowed his brow, his gaze never leaving him. "Do you need me to call a doctor?"Greg’s expression was more somber than the others, a hint of restlessness in his voice as he sighed. "Why aren't you speaking? Does something hurt again?"Dean blinked, fully realizing that he had indeed returned.The words of the messenger from the afterlife echoed in his mind—he hadn’t been taken advantage of by Joe. Yet, even so, he still needed to hear it from these four, to hear the truth from them before he could truly find peace.He cleared his throat slowly, his voice hoarse. "I... was I... slept with?"The four of them froze almost simultaneously, their expressions varying, yet all betraying a mix of anger and concern.Damon tightened his grip on his hand, looking at him with unwavering deter
Dean held his breath, barely daring to hear the words that were about to follow.Joe slowly curved his lips into a smile, and with a soft exhale, he uttered two words that sent a chill through the air."Sleep with you."As his words hung in the air, Joe didn’t hesitate for a moment. He leaned down, capturing Dean’s lips with an intensity that left no room for escape.Joe’s kiss was ruthless and commanding, carrying the unmistakable weight of someone who expected complete control, without the slightest trace of tenderness. Dean tried to pull away, but he couldn’t even summon the strength to turn his head. The pressure from Joe’s presence was overwhelming. He fought desperately, but the lingering numbness from the shock earlier still gripped his body, leaving his limbs unresponsive. Every attempt at resistance only felt more futile than the last.Joe clearly showed no concern for Dean’s resistance; if anything, he seemed to take pleasure in the desperation of his prey. With one hand, he
Dean’s face drained of color in an instant, his pupils narrowing slightly. “What?” he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.Sally shrugged casually as if discussing something insignificant. “It was me who told everyone you were an easy target, which is why they liked bullying you.”It was as though the very foundation of Dean’s world crumbled at that moment.He stared at Sally, his eyes wide with shock, anger, and disbelief. He never could have imagined that the painful memories from his childhood and adolescence, the ones that haunted him, had all come from the very sister he had trusted most.He opened his mouth, but the words were trapped in his throat as if his very vocal cords had been scorched by fire. “Why…?”Sally’s laugh was sharp, dripping with sarcasm. “Why do you look so shocked? Fine, let me tell you,” she said with a lazy smile.She narrowed her eyes slightly, a malicious curve to her lips. “I did it all to make you angry, to push you into cutting ties with me.”Dean’s f
Joe strolled toward him at a leisurely pace, a knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips. With eerie ease, he scooped Dean off the ground as though lifting a helpless kitten, the motion so smooth it sent a chill down Dean’s spine."Be good," Joe murmured, his voice soft and almost playful as he gently placed Dean back on the bed.Then, standing before Sally, Joe lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek, a smug look spreading across his face. "See, I told you, your plan isn’t going to work."Sally didn’t say a word. She just coldly watched Dean on the bed, her gaze unreadable, emotions flickering behind her eyes like a storm waiting to break.Joe bent down, his fingers curling around Dean's chin, forcing him to look up and meet his eyes.There was something possessive in his gaze—mocking, assessing, even tinged with a dark, almost malicious amusement."Your little brother, huh? He's a lot sharper than you think," Joe remarked, his voice lazy, a playful hint of admiration
The air in the room grew thick with emotion, the weight of years apart pressing down on them in silence.For a long while, neither of them spoke.Finally, Dean broke the quiet, his voice carrying a tangle of emotions.“Sis… your face…”Sally loosened her hold on him and gave a small smile. “I had an accident. It left me scarred, so… I no longer look the same.”Dean fell silent.A flicker of pain crossed his gaze.Memories crashed over him—the fights, the reckless words, the way they parted on bitter terms… the way they had cut ties completely.For years, he had convinced himself she wanted nothing to do with him, that she had disappeared from his life for good.But now—she was here.Alive.The realization came with a wave of overwhelming guilt.He lowered his head, his throat tightening. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke.“Sis, I’m sorry.”Sally’s eyes widened slightly. Then, with a soft chuckle, she reached out and ruffled his hair, just like she used to when they were kids.