Moss crept across the peeling walls of the abandoned factory. Shadows flickered behind the shattered windows.

Kyle Grant's knuckles whitened around the grip of his tranquilizer gun.

The barrel remained trained on the window, but his finger hesitated on the trigger.

A little girl sat bound to a chair, her eyes wide with terror.

Sophia Laurent's words echoed in his mind.

Had Nicole "Zhi" Evans not intervened years ago, Sophia wouldn't exist today.

Kyle lived by one principle: debts must be repaid.

He dialed Ethan Sullivan. "We need to draw them out. The child's at risk."

Five hundred meters away, Ethan's fingers tapped against the car window. "Are the smoke grenades ready?"

His assistant nodded. "Non-toxic, as requested."

"Send the team." Ethan turned to Sophia. "She won't be harmed."

Two bodyguards in work uniforms approached the factory, carrying burlap sacks.

"Stop!" A lookout snarled.

The guards replied in thick accents, "Factory inventory check."

"This place shut down years ago!"

In a flash, one guard tackled the lookout.

The other kicked open the doors, hurling a smoke grenade in a perfect arc.

Boom.

Thick gray clouds engulfed the space.

Three hulking men stumbled out, their tattoos and scars glaring under the sun.

Whoosh.

A tranquilizer dart found its mark.

The bald kidnapper roared, "Who the hell—"

His accomplices collapsed mid-sentence.

Guards rushed through smoke, cutting ropes and lifting the girl.

Lash marks crisscrossed her face. Her clothes hung in tatters.

"Animals!" A guard kicked an unconscious kidnapper.

Nicole staggered toward them outside, arms outstretched.

She sobbed as she clutched her daughter. "Mommy's here, baby..."

The child's vacant eyes suddenly overflowed. A wail tore through the air.

Sophia's chest tightened.

She knew exactly how long such wounds took to heal.

Ethan pulled her close. "She'll recover."

——

The kidnappers were dragged to a hotel room.

Cold water revived them.

Ethan kicked the bald man over. "Who hired you?"

Silence.

A teacup shattered against the man's face. Blood dripped.

"Cut out his tongue."

The blade touched flesh. The bald man cracked. "Kevin Stone! Raymond Stone's nephew!"

Ethan's gaze turned glacial.

Raymond Stone—Theodore Valentine's longtime rival.

"Get the car." He adjusted his cuffs. "We're paying Mr. Stone a visit."