Between Silence and storm

pte

for r

king her recoil in disgust. She strugg

you don't, I

or help-but she had unknowingly run into a secluded

I can give you a good life. I make fifty to sixty thousand dollars a m

her face as he leaned in, hi

ed in her sto

nails raking across h

jerking back in pain, hi

o

on, Ariana broke

her usher's outfit tonight, and the tight s

it a few steps befor

by the arm. "You dare scratch me? Even nightclubs wouldn

swung back, r

his grip was like iron. Her eyes b

no

the palm was

shot out, gripping th

rned, ready to curse, but t

nap echoed th

s throat as his wrist

his body slammed

tiful-like a pig being dragged to slaughter. He

laced with murderous inten

into a cold, disdainful smi

breath

wly loo

l and unshaken, his exp

led, giving ou

wayne..." her

her gaze, avoiding

flat, yet unquesti

ettle th

r word, he strode to

ambling to his feet,

s fist drove

is beer belly rippling from the im

he couldn

e a turtle flipped onto i

n of his shirt, rolling up his

acked. Fear seeped i

ven know who I am? Lay another finger on me,

merely

his expression almost bo

lliant Company!" the man spat, puffi

ayne's expressi

y steppe

right hand-the same one he had ra

d howl rang thr

was calm, but

n care

is Dwayne

left his lips, John's

e many important figures

s only one n

of Gale

ake people disappea

ire body w

rovoked

, he wa

nie

bulence before finally rising to unparalleled heights under Gale Rickshaw. His leadership had tran

son, Dwayne-the heir to the Rickshaw

f stepping into his father's empire

e had enrolled in

y joined the special forces, s

scended to become the youngest Majo

ing l

didn't kn

shen, his greasy forehea

d Dwayne Rickshaw-a man fe

s could appease him, he would

blind-utterly blind!" the man groveled, his voice trembl

e him a glance. Un

Ariana's hand and spok

t's

it carried an authority that se

and silently followed

ed into the open, Dwa

ened, releasi

stern voic

short o

pulse q

o.

y leaped out of her chest. The intensity of h

k at

left no room fo

er nerves and slow

s handsome face-sharp as a

ling financially, the

edge, as if he found the

find it

anted to earn a bit more mone

"Didn't I tell you-if you

ed, "I'm not used to... aski

oward the end, as faint

", a flicker of darkness pa

him turned ch

r peo

was danger

up together. Our bond

re into her

and saw you like this, s

throat

d of emotion, yet e

uardian. But for your mother's s

s eyes

ell of emotion, his next wor

o your apartment in

pped up, eyes wid

oice calm but firm. "If I catch you stepping out of line

na:

some kind

shock. "Uncle... yo

t her. Expressionless.

spond, a carefree voic

are! I've been lookin

n strode over, his easy

as M

r!" Morgan clapped a hand on D

past Dwayne and

med...

ows furrowe

as the girl standing

irk crept on

ur move?" He chuckled, nudging

wa

is sentence, Dwayne's fi

ed over, cho

h, co

g his abdomen, his f

, man?" h

spoke in a low,

s my

s eyes

.Ni

back to what he

roke out on

hing utterly inappropriat

ll ran down

ervous laugh, try

should've told m

mply star

ng. Unf

an g

e was s

riends for years, yet I've never seen her before," Mor

aughter-Ariana." Even he hadn't expected An Claire's

one. "Ariana, nice to meet you. I'm Morgan, your uncle's close friend.

t smile. "Nice to mee

roze. ".

he wasn't exactly wrong. With a resigned sigh, he let it slide. "Alright, let's go. It's

efore Dwayne decisively added, "Let's go. You

t, Ariana had no choice

restaurant. As Morgan pushed the door open, the lively cha

organ, Dwayne, what took you guys so long? We've been waiting

ging on the leather sofas-three men, three

duced in his usual brief manner before g

e caught her sneaking into a press conference as a cou

round introducing th

t. However, everyone here had such striking features that it was impossible not to take note

reetings, the door to the pr

de in. The moment her gaze landed on Ariana, a flicker of displeasure

is

n answered coolly, glanc

stility, Ariana instinctively

d slightly. "Nice to m

you," Ariana r

Dwayne. Her voice turned soft and sweet. "Dwayne, w

e was curt, his tone frigid. "Do I n

on was blun

on, I was just worried about you. Anyway, let's not just sit here-let's celebrate

hifted. Drinks were poured, laughter resum

ned in her corner, qui

nreadable expression in her eyes.

es

y, "I met Claire before. Such a shame she passed so young... Women should

in

ss hitting the t

ine glass, his eyes dark as midnight.

iberately trying to te

nder the soft glow of chandeliers, his pierci

d her right hand

changed wary glances, se

ough of that. Come on, let's drink." He smoothly redirected Dwayne b

ore on, her eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and

nt left her lips before