"I won''t let the fire touch you," I promised, trying to ease the tension crackling between us like an unseen me.


    "It''s not myself I''m worried about, it''s you!" Harvey had his evidence for self- preservation, sure, but at this moment, his concern for Avery was genuine.


    Human nature, always aplex beast.


    "What''s there to fear? Over the years, I''ve faced horrors,mitted sins, and dwelled in the shadows," Avery said, his voice barely above a whisper. His pale, trembling eyelids lowered as he reached out with his slender, clean hands, grasping at the air as if chasing butterflies, yet catching nothing.


    After a moment, his arms fell to his sides, fists clenched yet powerless. "Now, all I wish for is to see Evadne again in this lifetime."


    *


    The hitman was caught, and Mrs. Jones was safely transferred to a hospital under the KS Group''s care.


    Upon returning, Elvis used his hacking skills to trace the owner of the phone number and the source of the messages in just a few hours—a taskpleted more efficiently than by the police tech team. After all, he was a professional.


    The vi was silent in the early hours. On the bedroom floor, a man''s trousers, shirt, and belt were entangled with a woman''s dress and stockings, the room filled with an intimate ambiance.


    In the bed, Evadney in Thaddeus''s embrace, her fair skin glowing against his sturdy chest. Their cheeks were flushed with post-coital bliss, and they slept soundly, exhausted from days of meticulous nning and strategizing. But no matter how tired, they couldn''t neglect their marital pleasures.


    Tonight, Thaddeus had insisted, and she had obliged, feeding his desires until she no longer had the energy to even shower, forgetting the moment she drifted off.


    Suddenly, the phone on the nightstand began to ring, one ring after another, unceasing.


    Thaddeus, whose light sleep was a remnant from his days on the battlefield, only ever found restful slumber with Evadne in his arms. He opened his eyes slowly, while the little woman beside him merely hmmed and turned over, continuing to sleep soundly.


    She was adorable, he thought, his heart melting at the sight of her.


    He could watch her forever and never grow tired.


    Fearing something urgent, yet not wanting to wake Evadne, Thaddeus reached over her to grab the phone, seeing it was Elvis calling. He tiptoed to the living room to answer:


    "Elvis, it''s me."


    "Thaddeus, did I wake you guys? Sorry," Elvis''s voice was raspy,den with raw emotion.


    "It''s fine, Evadne''s still asleep."


    Thaddeus sat on the couch, his silk robe falling open to reveal his chiseled abs. "Spill it, Elvis. What''s up?"


    "The buyer behind the hitman was traced through an international bank transfer. They used a fake name, but I cracked it."


    A shadow passed over Thaddeus''s face. "Who was it?"


    "That weasel secretary of Avery''s! And the calls came from The Velvet Haven!"


    "That''s Harvey''s smoking gun, it needs to go to the cops ASAP. With the hitman in our control, we can issue an arrest warrant for Harvey."


    Thaddeus leaned forward, veins throbbing with determination. "Catching Harvey means we cut off one of Avery''s arms, increasing our chances of bringing him to justice."


    "Let''s move tonight, I can''t wait any longer! If you don''t strike, I''ll go alone!"


    Elvis''s voice was hoarse with urgency, stirring Thaddeus''s resolve. "Tonight, I''ll rescue Elsie, no matter what."