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Chapter 116
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2025-01-20 10:45:12Matthew stirred, his face buried deep into the pillow, half-dreaming, half-drifting in that pleasant haze of sleep. Then came the incessant buzzing of a cellphone, shattering his peace. His eyelids twitched as he groaned softly, reluctant to wake. He opened one eye, squinting at the empty side of the bed.
The faint sound of running water came from the bathroom. Of course, Cassidy was already up. His phone, however, was still ringing, loud and demanding attention."Cassidy!” Matthew called out, his voice rough from sleep.The water stopped abruptly. A silence lingered before Cassidy’s deep, dangerous voice carried back. “Yeah?”“Your phone is ringing!”There was a pause, then the same commanding tone. “Pick it up!"Matthew frowned, stretching an arm toward the device. As he held it up, he muttered, “New phone,” before answering. “Yeah?”Nothing but silence on the other end. “Hello?”Again, there was nothin
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Gold & Sand Chapter 117
Matthew lay sprawled on the couch, half-watching the TV. The flickering light danced over his face, but his mind was elsewhere. The sound of the door opening caught his attention, and he turned to see Cassidy entering, shrugging off his coat with a calculated ease.Cassidy’s dark gaze fell on Matthew, lingering as if he was trying to read his every thought.“Matthew, I’ll be leaving for NewCastle Upon Tyne soon.”Matthew didn’t bother masking his sarcasm. “What’s the occasion? Vacation? Assassination?”Cassidy smirked, ignoring the barb. “Business. A capo meeting. Annual reports, territory matters, last year’s successes, next year’s plans. You know, the usual.”Matthew snorted. “How riveting. Must be nice to have a full calendar of crimes to discuss.”Cassidy’s smirk widened, and he walked toward the washroom without
Last Updated : 2025-01-20Gold & Sand Chapter 118
Arthur sat at his desk; his brow furrowed as he scribbled notes onto his notepad. Despite the calm atmosphere in the office, his thoughts were anything but. Every noise around him felt amplified… the faint hum of the overhead lights, the shuffle of papers, the clicking of Masahiro’s pen as he worked at his desk. Arthur stole a glance at his boss, Masahiro, who looked as composed and sharp as ever, completely immersed in his work.The sound of a knock at the door broke the rhythm.Masahiro, without looking up, called out, “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Masahiro’s secretary stepped inside. Her heels clicked softly against the tiled floor as she approached his desk.“Good morning, sir,” she said politely, holding out an envelope. “This just arrived from the Newcastle Police Station.”Masahiro looked up and took the envelope from her with a nod. “Oh, it ca
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Gold & Sand Chapter 119
The cab hummed steadily as it made its way through the bustling streets of Newcastle. Arthur sat in the backseat, trying to keep his composure. The city felt different from Middlesbrough… more alive, more vibrant, but also daunting in its own way. Beside him, Masahiro sat with his usual composed expression, his gaze directed out the window.“First time in Newcastle?” Masahiro's voice broke the silence, the sound of it calm yet commanding.Arthur nodded, his gaze a little distracted. “Yes, sir.”Masahiro’s eyes flicked toward him, a faint curiosity in his expression. “In your CV, it said you studied abroad. Arts, if I’m not mistaken. But then you decided to become a law enforcement officer. You mentioned you joined because of a personal matter… What was that?”Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding Masahiro’s gaze. His hands fidgeted slightly, and he felt the weight of the ques
Last Updated : 2025-01-21Gold & Sand Chapter 120
Masahiro’s footsteps slowed as he neared the balcony.Through the glass door, he spotted Matthew leaning against the railing, the city lights framing him like some ironic painting. A lit cigarette rested between his fingers, and smoke curled lazily into the cold Newcastle night air. His chest tightened, anger and longing warring within him. `Why do you always run? he thought bitterly. And why can’t I stop chasing you?´Masahiro stepped closer, his footsteps deliberately soft, his voice low and cutting through the air. “I didn’t know you frequented Newcastle.”Matthew’s cigarette paused mid-air as he froze, the corners of his lips twitching. Slowly, he glanced over his shoulder.“Well, well,” Matthew drawled, his voice dripping with mockery as he turned to face Masahiro. “Besides being clingy, guess you’ve graduated to full-on stalking, Detective.” He exhaled smoke dr
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Arthur adjusted the earpiece, scanning the VIP section with practiced focus. The dim lighting, soft hum of jazz, and clinking glasses provided the perfect cover for secrets exchanged in hushed tones. His eyes followed their primary target… a man suspected man of having connections to Ashford or being the Ashford himself, the one suspected of leading Newcastle drug trafficking ring.Then, from the corner of his eye, Arthur noticed someone descending the stairs. The figure wore a hat pulled low and a long coat that brushed against his legs as he moved. The man had his left hand to his ear, speaking on his phone. Something about his demeanor made Arthur pause.And then, he saw it.The rose tattoo.Arthur’s blood ran cold. His pulse quickened as memories flooded back… his sister Alexandra’s lifeless body, her blood staining the floor, and a hand with that same tattoo disappearing into the shadows.It wa
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Gold & Sand Chapter 122
Arthur adjusted his jacket as he approached Masahiro, his steps a little too quick, betraying his nerves. He found the senior detective standing by the railing of the mezzanine level, a perfect vantage point to observe the VIP section below. Masahiro’s posture was as sharp as his tailored suit… confident, calculated, and completely in control.“Cooper! You took long,” Masahiro said, not even turning his head as Arthur approached. His voice was low but carried the weight of authority, cutting through the ambient hum of conversation and soft jazz.Arthur hesitated for the briefest of moments, then forced an easy smile. “Sorry, sir. The restroom line was longer than expected.”Masahiro turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing just enough to make Arthur’s chest tighten. His piercing gaze lingered for a moment too long, and Arthur felt a bead of sweat forming at the back of his neck.“Hmm,” Masahiro murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he’d ju
Last Updated : 2025-01-24Gold & Sand Chapter 123
The Velvet Crown Casino bustled with its usual energy, the sounds of slot machines blending with the murmurs of high-stakes gamblers. For Arthur, the glitz was starting to wear off, replaced by a growing sense of purpose. Day two was critical. They had a plan, and every step counted.Masahiro was already on edge, his sharp eyes scanning the floor as they stepped inside. “Stay focused, Cooper,” he said without looking at Arthur.Arthur nodded, adjusting his tie nervously. He wasn’t sure if he was more worried about blowing his cover or disappointing Masahiro.“Knight said that the bartender named Max knows the layout and the players,” Masahiro had explained during the briefing. “If anyone can give us actionable intel, it’s him.”Arthur and Masahiro approached the bar, blending into the crowd. Masahiro leaned casually against the counter, but his tone was firm when he addressed Max.“Max, we need
Last Updated : 2025-01-24Gold & Sand Chapter 124
“Do you plan on leaving me outside all night?”Masahiro blinked, his shock giving way to something softer, warmer. He stepped aside, holding the door open wider.Matthew stepped inside, pulling off his cap and ruffling his hair. “Nice place,” he said casually, glancing around.The door clicked shut, and before Matthew could take another step, Masahiro was behind him, his arms wrapping tightly around his waist.Matthew froze, then tilted his head with mock annoyance. “Stop being clingy, Detective.”Masahiro didn’t respond. Instead, he turned Matthew around, pinning him gently against the door. His hands cupped Matthew’s face, holding him in place as he leaned in. The kiss was firm, desperate, full of everything Masahiro couldn’t put into words.At first, Matthew resisted, his hands pressing lightly against Masahiro’s chest. But then he relaxed, his
Last Updated : 2025-01-24
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The couch wasn’t new to this.It creaked like it recognized the weight—Clark’s spine pressed to the cushions, Adam’s knee between his legs, files forgotten beneath them like collateral damage.Clark didn’t gasp.He groaned.“Tch—Adam.” Half-warned, half-melted. “I just organized those.”Adam didn’t give a damn.“Then you should’ve organized your schedule better, counselor.”He said it at Clark’s throat, teeth barely grazing the skin just beneath his jaw. The kind of contact that wasn’t meant to hurt—but to remind.Clark exhaled through his nose. Calm. Infuriating.“You are dangerously obsessed with making me moan over prosecutorial misconduct.”“That’s ‘cause you sound better screamin’ than lecturin’.”Clark chuckled darkly—head thudding back into the cushion. He pushed his glasses up with two fingers, then slid them off entirely and dropped them onto the table.“You’re so fucking predictable.”Adam smirked. “And you’re so fuckin’
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The crowd around the grave began to thin.Some officers lingered. Others drifted toward their cars in small clusters, the quiet murmur of uniforms brushing against one another, badges catching the sun one last time before vanishing into the afternoon.Masahiro and Matthew stepped forward.The woman stood at the edge of the burial, veil now lifted, her eyes rimmed red but dry. She looked like someone who had cried enough before the funeral ever started.Masahiro approached her first.“Mrs. Doyle,” he said gently, dipping his head. “I’m… I’m sorry for your loss.”Her expression didn’t shift much. But her voice was calm. “Thank you.”There was a steadiness in her grief—one born from surviving years beside a man who chased death for a living.Masahiro gave a small nod, then turned toward the young man standing just beside her.Doyle’s son.Closer now, Masahiro could see the resemblance. The jawline. The way his eyes watched everything. Guarded, te
Gold & Sand Chapter 292
It had been five days since Allan Doyle’s body was found behind Barrow Lane.Five days since the call. Since the silence that followed it. Since Masahiro had driven into the night with blood in his chest and Matthew’s voice at his back.Now, the sun was too bright for a funeral, but they buried him anyway.The car rolled to a stop at the edge of the cemetery.Beyond the windshield, the canary was crowded—rows of law enforcement officers in black, lined up in silent formation. Uniforms everywhere: pressed blues, starched grays, polished medals that caught the morning light. Detectives in tailored coats stood among beat cops and field agents. The air was stiff with order and unsaid things.Canopies had been set up above the grave site, a futile attempt to shield the mourners from the pale spring sun. The wind tugged at coat hems and tugged hair loose from buns and slicked styles. But no one moved. No one left.Masahiro turned off the engine.They sat for a
Gold & Sand Chapter 291
It was midnight.Matthew’s face was buried against Masahiro’s chest, his breath warm and steady, rising and falling like waves breaking against stone. The bedroom was cloaked in dim gold—just the faintest light slipping through the cracked door, catching on the curve of Masahiro’s bare shoulder.Masahiro lay still, one hand in Matthew’s curls, the other resting against his side. He hadn’t slept.Not really.The weight of six weeks hadn’t left his chest since he’d closed his eyes.Then the phone rang.A sharp vibration on the nightstand. No ringtone—Masahiro never let it ring. Just the buzzing thrum of urgency in the dark.He reached without waking Matthew, answering in one fluid motion.“Payne.”The voice on the other end was clipped. Low. Shaken.“Sir… it’s Doyle. Allan Doyle. He’s dead.”Masahiro didn’t breathe.His hand froze mid-motion. The ceiling above him went quiet.The voice continued. “They found his body in the alley behind Barrow Lane. Gunshot. Close range. No witnesses.”
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The car rolled to a stop in front of Arthur’s building. The street was dim, washed in the orange flicker of old lamps. Arthur hesitated for a second before unbuckling. “Thanks for the ride,” he said quietly, eyes a little too wide, hands still trembling from the night. Masahiro nodded once. “Goodnight, Cooper.” Matthew gave him a small wave from the passenger seat. “Text Masa if anything weird happens, yeah?” Arthur nodded and got out, closing the door softly. He walked up to the building, pulled his keys from his pocket, and glanced back just once. They waited. Arthur opened the gate, disappeared inside, and only when the door shut behind him with a faint click, did Masahiro start the engine again. Silence. It stretched for blocks. Then Matthew let out a sigh, dragging a hand through his hair. “This whole thing’s a mess.” Masahiro didn’t respond immediately. He kept his eyes on the road, jaw tight. Matthew kept going. “Six people. And somehow we’re all tangled up
Gold & Sand Chapter 289
The lock hissed. The panic room door creaked open.What greeted them wasn’t relief. It was aftermath.A wash of chemical air hit first—smoke and industrial sanitizer, sharp and sterile. Lights flickered overhead, the hallway still recovering from whatever scramble had unfolded outside.Armed officers lined the corridor, weapons lowered but eyes tracking every movement. No one moved until Masahiro stepped out first, calm as a blade.Cassidy followed, still cuffed, but upright. Arthur stayed tucked at his side, blinking against the hallway light like he’d forgotten what outside air tasted like.Behind them, Clark adjusted his tie. Adam stepped beside him, hand loose on Clark’s back without thinking. Matthew emerged next, yawning. He still looked smug.At the far end, a prosecutor and a city official waited. Legal cleanup."We’ll need statements," the official said.Masahiro didn’t even pause. "Not now."The man sputtered, but Masahiro was already wa
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The panic room had gone quiet.The gas had settled. The lock was still sealed. But for the first time in an hour, no one was yelling, bleeding, or threatening to kill someone over sarcasm.Clark sat near the far wall, his head resting on Adam’s shoulder, tie loosened, wrist still trembling.Adam didn’t say anything.Just held a water bottle in one hand, and Clark in the other.He glanced down. “Drink.”Clark sighed, voice hoarse. “You’ve said that three times.”Adam pressed the bottle into his hand. “And I’ll say it a fourth.”Clark took it. “You’re very annoying.”Adam’s smirk was faint. “You like annoying.”Clark: “I like expensive wine and emotional distance.”Adam: “And still end up in my bed. Funny how that works.”Across the room, Cassidy had planted himself against the wall, legs stretched out, one arm wrapped around Arthur, who was tucked against his chest. Arthur hadn’t spoken in ten minutes.Cassidy ran a hand through Art
Gold & Sand Chapter 287
The courtroom was colder than usual.Not from temperature. From tension.Cassidy sat at the defense table, cuffed but unmoved. Clean suit. Straight spine. His eyes drifted, slow and knowing, over the faces present—not the jury, not the prosecution. The others.Arthur was in the gallery, near the back, shoulders squared but not at ease. He hadn’t looked at Cassidy since entering. But he hadn’t looked away, either.Clark stood at the defense bench, immaculate in gray. Composed. Watching. Reading the room like a surgeon reads skin.Adam leaned against the wall at the rear of the courtroom, arms crossed, one boot tapped into the tile like a metronome of violence barely restrained. He clocked everything. Every whisper. Every eye shift.Matthew sat beside him, chewing gum he wasn't supposed to have, scrolling his phone without looking. But his free hand rested near Adam’s, just enough to ground him.Masahiro sat two rows ahead of Arthur. Silent. Controlled. The
Gold & Sand Chapter 286
Arthur returned to the precinct in silence.His boots clicked over tile, shoulders tighter than when he’d left. He hesitated at the office door.Masahiro was stiil inside. Alone. Leaning against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, unreadable.Arthur opened the door anyway.He didn’t speak. Just shut it behind him.Masahiro watched him for a moment.“You left without a word.”“I know.”Masahiro’s tone didn’t rise. “During work hours.”Arthur nodded.Masahiro tilted his head. “Wanna tell me where you went?”Arthur didn’t flinch. “To see Cassidy.”A pause. Not surprise—just confirmation.Masahiro’s voice was calm. “What did you go there to do?”Arthur swallowed once. “I asked him not to retaliate.”Masahiro blinked slowly. “That’s what you think your job is now?”“I asked him to wait,” Arthur said. “To give us a chance to fix this through the system. I told him I’d do everything I could… by the law.”Masahiro looked at him for a long beat. Then pushed off the desk and walked toward the
