?Chapter 1364:


    The explosive atmosphere shattered as the study door burst open again. White Tiger rushed inside, his face a canvas of urgency mixed with barely contained excitement. “Sir, we’ve located your daughter.”


    Emerson’s death grip on Afara froze mid-squeeze before releasing entirely, his attention snapping to White Tiger. “Where is she?” Murderous rage transformed instantly into desperate hope as finding Sadie became his singr focus.


    The half-dead traitor bleeding on the floor ceased to exist in his world. Nothing else mattered beyond reaching his daughter; everything else could burn for all he cared.


    Afara dragged himself upright, blood trickling from his split lip as a sardonic grin spread across his battered face. “So what if you’ve found her?”


    His voice came out raw and mocking, each word dripping with cruel certainty.


    “Emerson, I advise you not to waste your efforts. Unless she willingly surrenders what they’re after, not even the full might of the Wolfpack will be enough to bring her back alive.”


    Emerson’s foot had barely lifted when he stopped dead in his tracks.


    He whirled around and fixed Afara with a stare that could cut steel. Those taunting words rekindled the volcanic rage simmering beneath his surface.


    Forward he lunged, seizing Afara’s cor again and hauling him clean off the floor.


    His clenched fist trembled with barely restrained violence, wind whistling around his knuckles.


    “Sir!” White Tiger’s voice cut through the moment like a whip crack. “He’s still useful for us.”


    ncing at Afara, who showed no fear even while dangling in Emerson’s iron grip, White Tiger dropped his voice to a whisper. “We can use him to trade for your daughter’s return.”


    Exchanging a high-ranking organization member for Sadie made perfect sense from every angle worth considering.


    White Tiger’s reminder gave Emerson pause.


    Trading Afara’s worthless life for Sadie’s freedom appeared to be the only viable path forward.


    Storming their ce with brute force had crossed Emerson’s mind more than once. Yet he knew firsthand just how merciless the people pulling Afara’s strings could be.


    Lατ??τ ?нαρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?l??.??om


    Ruthless didn’t begin to describe them—they were calcting predators who’d sacrifice anyone to reach their objectives.


    Push them into a corner, and Sadie would pay the ultimate price for his recklessness.


    “Gee…” Afara caught that flicker of uncertainty in Emerson’s eyes and let out a dark chuckle. “Trade?”


    The word rolled off his tongue like he’d just heard the world’s most pathetic joke.


    “Emerson, you’re more foolish than I thought. What makes you think they’d lift a finger to save my skin? I’m nothing but a disposable piece on their chessboard, receable within the hour. When ites to their grand design, my life holds less value than dirt.”


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