<b>Chapter </b><b>195 </b>
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<b>97 </b>
Ethan slowly eased the door shut behind him, careful not to make a sound. The house’s hallway was dimly <b>lit </b><b>by </b><b>the </b><b>gray </b>dawn filtering through a dirty window at the end of the corridor.
He turned, ready to find some coffee, when he found himself face to face with Night, who was exiting the room directly across the hall.
For a second, they both froze. Night’s eyes flickered from Ethan to the door he’d just closed–Jade’s door. His expression darkened instantly, eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.
“You fucking piece of-” Night didn’t finish his sentence before lunging forward.
Ethan barely had time to block the first punch, which still caught the edge of his jaw. The narrow hallway of the motel left little room to maneuver, forcing both men into close–quartersbat. Night fought with explosive anger, each strike aimed to cause maximum damage. Ethan matched him blow for blow, his controlled movements revealing years of training.
A vicious knee caught Ethan in the ribs, but he countered with an elbow to Night’s sternum that made the man grunt. They crashed against the thin walls, the aged wood creaking dangerously under their weight.
“Gentleman, might I suggest-” Chris Jensen appeared in his doorway, leaning casually against the frame as he watched the two men grapple. His voice held mild amusement. “Perhaps taking this outside? I fear this establishment may not survive your enthusiasm.”
Neither man acknowledged him, too focused on their fight. Night drove Ethan back against the opposite wall, the impact sending a framed picture crashing to the floor. Ethan responded by grabbing Night’s shirt and mming him into the narrow hallway table, which copsed under theirbined weight.
Just as Night reared back for another strike, Jade’s door flew open. She stood in the doorway, her hair disheveled from sleep, eyes burning with cold irritation.
“Are you fucking done?” Her voice cut through the hallway like ice.
Ethan immediately went still. Nightnded one final punch to Ethan’s chest before Jade’s re froze him in ce
too.
Without another word, Jade mmed her door shut. The sound echoed through the now–silent hallway.
‘Well, Chris observed dryly, “you’ve done it now. Woke her up.”
<b>In </b>the Scorpio familypound, Marcus paced angrily, his face flushed with rage.
“Those American bitches burned down my auction house! Killed fifteen of my men!” He mmed his fist into <b>the </b>
8:21 <b>Thu</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
97
wall, then turned his fury toward Loki, who stood silently near the window. “And where were you? Hmm? Where the fuck were you when they were burning my property to the ground?”
Loki remained silent, his face an emotionless mask as Marcus continued his tirade.
“This is your fault,” Marcus spat. “Your security was shit. Your men were ipetent. You’re the reason we’re losing money and men!”
When Marcus finally exhausted himself, dropping heavily into a leather chair, Loki approached with a ss of water.
“You’re right,” Loki said softly. “I ept full responsibility.”
As Marcus reached for the ss, Loki’s other hand moved in a blur. The knife slid between Marcus’s ribs with surgical precision, directly into his heart. Marcus’s eyes widened in shock as Loki twisted the de, then yanked it out with brutal force. Blood fountained from the wound, spattering across Loki’s face.
Loki calmly wiped the blood from his cheek, lifting it to his nose for a curious sniff. “Your blood smells as foul as
your mouth.”
Marcus slumped forward, his life fading rapidly. Loki crouched beside him, a smile ying on his lips.
“Everyone will believe it was that American girl who killed you.” He thrust the knife into Marcus’s mouth, silencing
him forever. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Scorpio avenges you.”
The mood at breakfast was suffocating. Night red at Ethan across the small table, while Chris sipped his coffee with exaggerated interest in the chipped mug. Jade sat silently, dark circles under her eyes.
“I apologize for the disturbance,” Ethan said, addressing Jade directly while ignoring Night’s burning stare.
Chris slid a te of toast toward Jade. “Eat something. It’ll help with the mood.”
“Where did you sleepst night?” Chris asked Ethan, clearly trying to defuse the tension.
‘In a chair by the window,” Ethan replied, his voice neutral,
Night’s jaw tightened, his eyes never leaving Ethan’s face.
Without a word, Jade stood and walked out, leaving her breakfast untouched. Night immediately followed, casting one final venomous look at Ethan.
Ethan watched them go, then turned to find Chris studying him with amused interest.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Chris said, his voicenguid. “I have no romantic interest in Jade. You don’t need to worry about me.”
8:21 Thu, <b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
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Later that morning, Connor arrived at the motel, taking in the dpidated building with poorly disguised horror.
“You spent the night here, sir?” he asked quietly, eyeing a stain on the wall that might have been blood.
Ethan remained, thick–skinned and determined to wait for Jade. After half an hour, she and Night returned. The transformation in Jade was notable – her earlier irritation had dissipated, reced by focused determination. Night walked close beside her, one arm draped possessively around her shoulders, calling her “baby” with each sentence. The years of friendship between them were evident,pletely unaffected by Ethan’s presence.
They had barely settled when a ck SUV pulled up outside. A man with a blue scorpion tattoo on his wrist approached them cautiously.
‘Loki sends his regards,” the man said, his ent thick. “He wishes to speak with you all. He says he knows who you’re looking for.”
Loki’spound was opulentpared to the rest of Crimson Valley. He greeted them with expansive hospitality, all smiles and gracious gestures.
“I must speak with Miss Morgan alone,” Loki insisted, earning immediate protests from both Night and Ethan.
Loki leaned closer to Jade. “The King of Hearts was here, in Crimson Valley. He visited the territory of the drug lord next door. What he did there, I cannot say.”
“You weren’t so forting before,” Jade noted coldly.
Loki smiled. “I didn’t recall then. But I speak truth now. The Ace of Spades you seek – he likely resides there.”
“That’s all you had to say? This useless shit?” Night sneered.
Loki bowed slightly. “I apologize I couldn’t be of more help. If there’s anything else I can do-
“We burned down your auction house<b>, </b>killed your men, and you’re offering help? Scorpio’s corporate culture is fascinating. Night cut him off with a derisiveugh.
“As they say, conflicts can lead to understanding,” Loki offered smoothly.
Night’s expression darkened, “I prefer honest enemies to fake friends. While I’m in Crimson Valley, Scorpio better stay out of my sight. Cross me, and I’ll blow your entire family to hell, not just this branch.” He wrapped his arm around Jade’s shoulders. “Baby, let’s go.”
As they left, Ethan noticed the way Loki’s eyes followed Jade – calcting, assessing, with something that looked unsettlingly like anticipation.