Her Dark Obsession のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 91 - チャプター 100

Anna sat in the back of the car as Thomas drove toward The Golden Rose. She pulled out her phone and dialed James's number. It rang four times before he answered."This is not a good time," James said without preamble. His voice was tense, distracted."Make time. We need to talk.""About what? I am in the middle of something important.""About Marcus. About you kidnapping and torturing one of my people. About you framing him as a criminal to the police." Anna's voice was ice cold. "Does that sound important enough for you?"There was a pause on the other end. James was calculating, trying to figure out how much Anna knew."I have no idea what you are talking about," he said finally. "I have not seen Marcus since that phone call weeks ago.""Do not lie to me. I know you took him. I know you beat him and tried to kill him. I know you sent your people after him when he escaped." Anna leaned back in her seat. "So stop pretending and meet me at the casino. Thirty minutes. We are going to d

James's mind worked quickly. Denying it would make him look suspicious, would make Anna dig deeper. Better to give her a plausible explanation that she could accept."Actually, you are right. That was me," James said, keeping his tone casual. "I was in the area on police business. There was an attempted homicide nearby and I responded to the call."Anna's expression did not change. "A homicide attempt? Near the casino?""About two blocks away. A dispute between two men that escalated into violence. One of them pulled a knife." James was making it up as he went, but he kept his voice confident. "Luckily I was in the area and able to intervene before anyone was killed. Arrested both of them and called it in to my precinct.""That must have been quite the coincidence. You being right there when it happened.""Not really. I patrol this area sometimes. Lots of crime in the industrial district, especially at night." James shrugged. "Just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

James stood in the parking area watching Anna's car disappear into the night. Something about the entire conversation felt wrong. The way she had kept him talking for so long. The way she had seemed so relaxed despite supposedly being concerned about Marcus. The hesitation before answering about the debt.Anna was playing him. Had been playing him the entire time.James pulled out his phone and immediately called his team leader. The man who was supposed to be coordinating the search for Marcus. The one who should have captured or killed him by now.The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times.No answer.James felt ice spreading through his veins. His team leader always answered. Always. The man kept his phone on him constantly, knew that James might need updates at any moment.He tried again. Same result. The call went to voicemail.James dialed another number. One of the other men on the search team. A backup who should be with the team leader.No answer.A third number. Another member

Anna arrived back at the mansion just after two in the morning. The extraction had gone perfectly. Marcus was safe at the medical facility being treated for his injuries. James's team had been eliminated. And James himself had been kept distracted long enough for it all to happen.A successful night by any measure.Anna walked through the front entrance, expecting the house to be quiet. Expecting Bianca to be asleep in her room like she had been told.But as Anna climbed the stairs, she heard something. Soft sounds coming from her office. The secret one where she kept all her files.Anna's hand moved instinctively to her weapon as she approached. The door was slightly open, light spilling into the hallway.She pushed it open fully and stopped.Bianca was sitting at the desk, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking with sobs. Files were scattered across the desk surface. The cabinet where Anna kept her most sensitive documents was open."Bianca?" Anna's voice was soft but conce

The silence between Anna and Bianca was broken by Anna's phone ringing. She glanced at the screen and saw Kane's name.Anna answered, keeping her voice neutral. "Kane.""Anna. I wanted to give you advance notice about the business transaction we discussed. The one with those three buyers who are offering premium prices." Kane's voice was professional, businesslike. "It is happening tomorrow evening. Seven o'clock at the warehouse on Pier Seventeen.""Tomorrow? That is earlier than expected.""The buyers are eager. They want to move quickly." Kane paused. "I told you I would have some of your men present to observe. Make sure everything goes smoothly. How many are you sending?"Anna thought quickly. This was the transaction she had been suspicious about from the beginning. The one where buyers were offering double the normal price. The one that had all the hallmarks of a trap or setup."I am not sending my men," Anna said."What? You insisted on having people there. You said you did no