LOGINCHAPTER 183The warehouse on the docks was completely silent, except for the cold wind rattling the metal roof overhead. It wasn't fancy or dramatic. It was just an empty, dimly lit industrial garage on a secluded property owned by one of Marcus’s father's logistics companies.In the middle of the bare concrete floor, Alex sat bound tightly to a folding metal chair. Heavy zip-ties bit into his wrists and ankles. Sweat was dripping off his forehead, his breath coming out fast and ragged in the cold air. A few feet behind him stood two quiet, heavily built men in dark coats. They didn't talk, didn't move, and didn't even bother looking at him—they just stood there with their hands in their pockets, like two guys waiting for a train.When the heavy side door unlatched and swung open, Alex’s head jerked up.Marcus walked in carrying a half-empty paper cup of convenience store coffee. He was wearing his oversized hoodie and worn-out sneakers, looking like he’d just taken a detour on his wa
CHAPTER 182The Thai food arrived twenty minutes later.By some miraculous twist of fate—or pure, unadulterated luck—the delivery driver had managed to slip past the dense blockade of reporters and news vans camped out at the main security gates, pulling right up to the side residential entrance. Aria had darted down the stairs in her mismatched sneakers to intercept the greasy paper bags, marching right back up to the apartment like a victorious general bringing home rations after a siege.Five minutes later, the heavy cloud of suffocating panic that had hung over the living room had temporarily receded.Plastic containers of pad thai, drunken noodles, spicy garlic chicken, and spring rolls were scattered across the sleek wooden surface of the coffee table. Liam and Raphael sat side-by-side on the floor with their backs resting heavily against the base of the sofa, their shoulders pressed firmly together in a quiet, unbreakable display of solidarity. Aria sat cross-legged on the rug
CHAPTER 181Raphael didn't hesitate for a single second. He pulled out his phone, swiped to the contact card, and slid his thumb across the screen.Marcus turned around to be Infront of him."Here," Raphael said, sliding the phone across the sleek surface of the coffee table toward Marcus.Marcus looked down at the bright screen where Alex’s private cell number stared back at him. A slow, quiet smirk touched the corner of his lips. "Thanks, man."Liam’s eyes snapped up from the couch. He caught the subtle change on Marcus’s face, and the lingering warmth from their earlier laugh instantly vanished. He lunged forward, grabbing Marcus’s wrist before he could pick up the phone."Marcus," Liam said, his voice dropping into a sharp, urgent whisper. "I know that look. What are you about to do?"Marcus chuckled lightly, holding his free hand up in mock surrender. "What? I'm not going to do anything... much.""Marcus, honestly, stop," Liam pleaded, his grip on Marcus's wrist tightening. "I am
CHAPTER 180The frantic banging stopped abruptly, replaced immediately by the sharp clack of the lock being thrown back. Marcus yanked the heavy front door open, stepping back just in time to avoid getting clipped as Aria practically burst inside like a rogue tropical storm."Are you guys okay?!" Aria demanded before her feet had even fully landed on the hardwood floor. She slammed the door shut behind her, breathless, wild-eyed, and vibrating with pure nervous energy. "I've been trying to call you guys forever!"Liam blinked, slowly pulling his phone out of his pocket and holding up the illuminated screen. "Oh... sorry. We put our phones on DND because the notifications wouldn't stop buzzing."Aria let out a sharp, frantic breath, rafing both hands through her wildly unkempt hair until it stood up in a few chaotic directions. "Well, duh! What the hell happened?! My notifications blew up, I saw the headlines flash across three different news apps before I even reached my car, and I co
CHAPTER 179A few minutes later, the low, steady rumble of an engine echoed down the ramp of the VIP loading bay.The headlights of Marcus’s SUV swept across the concrete pillars as he pulled right up beside them. The passenger door unlocked with a sharp click, and Marcus leaned across the center console, calling out, "Get in, get in before someone drops a drone down here!"Liam didn't waste a second. He slipped into the backseat, and Raphael slid right in beside him, pulling the heavy door shut behind them.As soon as Marcus shifted into drive and steered them out onto the street toward the residential complex, he reached over to the dashboard. With a quick tap of the touchscreen, the dead silence of the car was suddenly obliterated by a high-energy, pulsing beat—blasting "Run BTS" by BTS through the speakers.Liam blinked, staring blankly at the dash as the heavy electronic beat and fast rap lines vibrated through the leather seats. He slowly turned his head to look at the front sea
CHAPTER 178The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind them, cutting off the sharp, tense murmur of Coach and the PR manager inside.The silence of the hallway hit them like a wall.Marcus let out a long, theatrical breath, running both hands down his face. "Well... that went... fantastically well."Raphael let out a harsh, dry scoff, his jaw still tight as he glanced sideways at Marcus. It wasn't a real chuckle, just a dark release of leftover adrenaline.Marcus scrubbed the back of his neck, looking between the two of them. "So... where do we go now? Do we go into the locker room to address the guys, or what?"Liam stood frozen a few feet away, his arms wrapped tightly across his ribs as if he were trying to keep himself from shaking apart. The sharp edge in his voice from thirty seconds ago had completely evaporated, leaving him pale and visibly hollow."My adrenaline is wearing off," Liam said, his voice quiet, small, and thick with exhaustion. "I don't think I can face them right
The locker room smelled like sweat, icy gel, and adrenaline. Liam Lannister sat on the bench, lacing his skates with sharp, precise tugs, jaw tight as he listened to the distant roar of the crowd filtering through the tunnel.Frostbite Wolves versus Shadow Reapers. The biggest rivalry in the league
The bass thumped through the walls of The Icehouse, the team’s favorite upscale club downtown. Neon blue and white lights pulsed across the crowded dance floor, reflecting off glass tables and mirrored columns like shards of ice. The Wolves had reserved the entire VIP section — bottle service flowi
The arena lights hummed overhead as the team took the ice for morning practice. The cold air bit at Liam’s exposed skin, but he welcomed it. it sharpened his focus. He skated out first, stick tapping against the ice, calling out positions for the warm-up drills. Captain’s job. Always had been.Raph
Liam’s eyes snapped open at 4:07 AM, the same time his internal alarm had gone off for years. The room was still dark, the city outside the window quiet except for the occasional distant hum of traffic. He lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, before the weight of the new realit







