Chapter 51 Only the Dead Can Guarantee Peace of Mind
For once, Adeline softened her demeaner, and her tone carried a hint of pleading, Meanwhile, Christopher said nothing and simply gared deeply at her.
Her eyes burned with intensity as she waited aloudy for his response.
“Adeline, 1. “Just as he began to speak, the sound of a phone intersuperd him.
“You should pest. I’m going to take a shower, he said, grabbing his phone and walking out.
Adeline watched his treating figice, feeling a pang of bitterness. Perhaps it was the vulnerability brought on by her then, but her heart incplicably mirred with jealousy She couldn’t help but wonder.. Was it a call from Farrier Residence? Was it about the woman lying comatose in that hospital bed?
was Christopher’sal to divorce her because that woman hadn’t woke up yet?
Il Winona vonually regained consciousness, would that matan Adeline would have to step aside and give up her place?
When Christopher returned to the bedroom after his shower, Adeline was already asleep. Het pas metered peacefully, her breathing was steady, and her fever had subsided
He led the thin blanket and lay down beside her, pulling her into his arm and pressing her close to his body. His aken carried a fair coolness from the shower, and Adeline Instinctively borrowed into his embrace, finding comfist in his parancs.
The wore a spaghetti–strap nightgown, and the loss strap was dipping all her pale shockle, revealing her delicate collarbone.
On her noted a small, light brown mole. Christopher kweed His head and planted a soft kiss on it.
In a warmer, he whipered, “Do’t overthink things stay by my side.”
Back at Lures Bestaurant, inside a dimly private room, a solid wood table held a single card with a distindie lage its colors were strikingly vibrant.
“Mr. Lanson, Theard you wanted to see me?”
A man sat in the shadows, concealed by the backlight. Dressed in a black hoodle and wearing a black baseball cag, the broad beim cured most of his face. Only the sharp line of his jaw was
His vake, however, was unmistakably young
This was Falcon Gabler, the third–ranking member of Living Chis. Even so, that wins only his alias as his real name was a mystery.
Hector
Í spent an enormous amount of money and reset
this meeting. He quickly offered a cigar, saying, “Mr. Gabler, may have the honor of mesting your leader? 1
monplaced the cigar in his mouth, and Hector quickly leaned forward to light it with a fanning demeanos,
Falconnock a long drag and exhaled. “So, it turns out you didn’t really plan to see me, Mr. Lomon.”
“No, no, Mr. Gabler, you’ve maunderstood!” Heer buckled romplain, fearing he might offend him, ‘T’ve begatired Living Chaos and just want to pay my respects on your leader.”
on’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Mr. Lawson, you should be aware of Living Chase’rules”
Hector’s heart sank Everyone knew Living only ted about money, not people. A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, startling him so much that he flinched.
This shoulder a few measured pats. “The fact that you’re meeting me is already an honor for you, Mr. Lawso
“, of course! Hector nodded repeatedly. As he turned slightly, he caught a glimpse of Taleon’s hand. His palm was covered in thick calluses, choly the unsul of years of wielding knives
The sight sent a chill de Hector’s spine. Even his distinctire mustache seemed to troop the arously fiddled with the worry stones he was holding his movement consciously quickening
Falcon withdrew his hand and blew a solering “Perhaps you don’t realize that, seat, non in Gallon City has been able to adferd the price no meet our leade
such great length just for that.”
“You‘ right,” Hector admired, hoe laced with caution. “There is indeed something I’d the Living Chaos to help with “
He placed a photo on the cable. Under the dim light, the face of a man came into view.
“This man, was he raken by your people!” Hector asked.
Falcon glanced at the phons and answered bluarly, “Yes”
Hearing his direct response. Hector pressed on, “And who was it who intrusted you to take him?”
Falcon’s darks studied Hector in silence before he extended a single Hig
“The milion dollars,” he said
Hector immediatly understood–it was five million dollar
Imagine you didn’t
asdelar for the answer. But en had already been captured for several days. Who knew what he might have said during that time?
He asked again, “What about buying him back?”
Falcon replied without hesitation, “Ten million”
Hector inhaled sharply, clutching the worry stones in his hands lighter as he rapidly in his mind sier at of silence, Falcon rubbed out the remaining cigar against the ashtray. “Mc Lamon, are memaking this deal or no?”
Hector looked at him, a sharp glimt dashing in his eyes and want him dead?
Falcon didn’t seem the least be surprised by the question Calmly, he held up the finger. “Mot much, jest 20 millian
Hector’s jawrighted brandly before he nodded. “The check and be delivered somorrow”
Falcon stood up, his tall frame causing a long, menacing shadow across the room. He pulled the black hood over his head, and as he reached the door, he stopped and burned back Pointing to the card on the table, he call, “My_Lavrion, falmost forgot to tell you—ponarone has already paid Living Chaos to take your life.”
Beneath the shadow of his cap, only hall his face was visible. Even so, the gold, chilling smile that curved his lips was unmistakable. “You’re a little more expensive than thatp–50 million. And you’ve put those days.”
The work stones in Hector’s banch slipped andelaired noisily accoste floor. His fare turned deathly pala, andanky chill corpup is spine.
The non marsing, Kevin, whose borly scored in blood, was dumped the doors of Luxtalisedy looked at it had been made by some savage beast as set.
Chapter 51 Only the Dead Can Guarantee Peace of Mind
kingle unscathed patch of skin was left.
Even his nose and ears had been bitten off. He seemed to be clinging to lite by a very thin thread.
The restaurant staff, who were arriving for their morning shifts, nearly had heart attacks at the sight. They were convinced they were witnessing the aftermath of a brutal murder,
They quickly reported the incident to Hector, who arranged for Kevin to be taken to the bospital.
Fury laced the voice on the other end of the phone. “What the hell is going on? Didn’t you define the check? How is he still alive?
Hector was nodding meekly even though the other party couldn’t see him. He explained in a panicked tone, “Yes, Mr. Manning 1 did exactly as you instructed. I delivered the check and told them to get rid of Kevin, but Living Chaos sald someone else outbid us and paid more to keep him alive!”
The man on the other end exploded, his woke seething with rage. “if Kevin is alive, we’re as good as dead! Christopher will dig into this, and when he does, we’re both finished!”
“Mr. Manning, they’re asking for 50 million for my life! Where am I supposed to come up with that kind of money? We’re in this together. You have to help me!”
“Help you?” The man on the other end scoffed cokly, “Where do you expect me to find 50 million dollars? The fact that Living Chaos has already contacted you means Kevin leaked the info. He can’t be allowed to live. You need to handle it.”
“Mr. Manning, are you asking me to him?”
The man swered. “Haven’t you killed enough people? It you don’t take care of this one, we’ll both be next.”
He sued his final warning “You choose–do you want to live, or do you want to die?
After a brief pause, Hector gritted his teeth and agreed, “Fine, Get me the go million, and I’ll deal with Kevin.”
“There’s more.” The man’s tone grew ominous. “Since Christopher has started digging into what happened six years ago, it’s only a matter of time before he traces it back to us.“.
Hector’s heart sank “Mr. Manning, you’re saying
“Only the dead can guarantee peace of mind.”
