Hull nced at the photo in his hand, then looked back at Derek, his smile turning cold. "Well, if Mr. Murray says so, then I guess it must be true!"


    All that careful analysis, and now if he said ''no,'' he''d just look ridiculous.


    The moment Hull finished speaking, Derek''s face darkened instantly. His breath quickened. "So, what the hell are you guys looking for at ck Gate? What do you really want?"


    His jaw tightened with every word.


    Hull shrugged. "What if I said-we want the whole of ck Gate?"


    Derek was silent.


    The room fell quiet, tension thickening the air.


    Derek''s mood grew darker, and Hull''s eyes grew sharper, more dangerous.


    "So, Mr. Murray, are you going to give it to us?"


    He was blunt, cutting straight to the point.


    There was no secret-Hull wanted them to get what they came for and leave. After all, ck Gate was already in chaos because of them. If they dragged this out any longer, ck Gate would be torn apart for good.


    Derek was barely holding it together.


    But when Hull said he wanted the entire ck Gate, Derek looked like he''d been doused in ice water.


    "The whole of ck Gate?"<fn7f79> Get full chapters from Find~Novel</fn7f79>


    Hull locked eyes with him. "Are you going to hand it over?"


    The way Hull tossed out those words, so casual and light, made them hit even harder. ck Gate felt the weight of the storm behind them.


    Derek pressed his lips into a thin line. "You people aren''t just greedy, you''re shameless! All this just for Susanna-aren''t you worried you''ll leave yourselves wide open?"


    Hull just smirked. "Since when have we ever been scared?"


    Derek said nothing, just stared at him.


    Their eyes locked. Hull''s gaze was almost mocking, silently taunting Derek''s helplessness.


    Something about Hull''s eyes tugged at Derek''s memory, something. ed and forgotten... It fett''


    strangely familiar. Where had he seen that look before?  s


    He searched his mind, but nothing surfaced.


    Hull took a drag from his cigarette, smoke curlingzily between them. "Anything


    else, Mr. Murray? If not, I''ve got a date with a lovelydy."


    "The lovelydy" sounded oddly out


    of ceing from Hull, who was usually all business and ice-cold. Even Barnaby, always at his side couldn''t help but give him a sidelong nce. Was this


    this


    res their boss talking?


    s


    Derek felt the blood rush in his veins. "Who''s really behind all this?"


    Hull grinned. "Why don''t you take a guess?"


    Derek red at him. Hull just flicked ash from his cigarette.


    Hull''s tone sharpened. "That woman you let down, she was ready to let things lie


    —until you forced her hand."


    Woman? Derek''s mind shed to Lacey.


    "I never did, he protested. Sure, he''d sent people to find Lacey over the years, but it was just to get back what rightfully belonged to ck Gate She did bull a fast one on hing back then he''d never forgotten that.  s


    Hull''s eyes glinted. "But the people around you did."


    Derek frowned. "People around me...?"


    So, Lacey wasn''t just brought back by Dan-she had her own reasons for returning, and they were desperate.


    Derek''s brow furrowed. "You''re saying Lacey''s the mastermind behind this?"


    The name Lacey came out of Derek''s mouth like a curse. If it really was her, he was ready to settle this for good.


    Hull didn''t answer, just gave Derek a cold, taunting look.


    "Barnaby," Hull called.


    "Yes, boss?"


    "Show our guest out."


    It was clear—once Hull said he wanted the whole of ck Gate, there was nothing left to discuss.