Chapter 456
Chapter 456:
It covered a significant portion of the man’s chest: a wolf, rendered in striking, almost aggressive detail, fangs bared and muscles coiled, so lifelike it seemed on the verge of movement.
“That is the Coldarren gray wolf,” Colton said. “The mark of an organization called WOLF. Now tell me — do you honestly believe Elyse has the reach to contract someone from a group like that p>
“What is WOLF?” Kristine asked. The name meant nothing to her.
“A Coldarren-based syndicate, bound by blood loyalty. They run illegal operations in parallel with legitimate businesses — using corporate banking structures to launder revenue and expand their criminal network simultaneously. Law enforcement and international agencies have mounted serious crackdowns more than once. The organization survives every time. Their counter-surveillance capability is sophisticated enough that dismantling them has proven effectively impossible p>
A cold, creeping dread moved through her slowly.
𝖱e𝗮𝖽 𝘰𝘯 𝗮𝗻у 𝗱𝘦𝘷𝗂𝖼𝘦 о𝗻
She could not recall ever doing anything that would bring a group like this to her door.
Colton noticed her face go pale and felt something uneasy settle in his chest. “Don’t spiral. Their operations follow certain rules — territorial limits. If you had been in Rymonst, today’s attack would never have happened p>
“They don’t need guns,” Kristine replied, her voice distant and even. “There are other ways to hurt someone. I almost drowned at that pier. Or have you forgotten p>
A weight dropped into Colton’s chest.
On the flight to Evira, he had reviewed the cruise ship security footage. He had watched Kristine surrounded, cut off, with nowhere to go. The image of it had stayed with him in a way he couldn’t quite set aside.
“Kristine,” he began.
She cut him off, her tone brisk and final. “Thank you for the help today, and for explaining who’s behind this. We can go our separate ways from here.” She turned and started walking.
His hand shot out and closed around her arm. “You’re not going anywhere p>
She turned back and looked at him with open impatience, her expression somewhere between contempt and exhaustion. “On what grounds p>
“You were being chased that night, and I’m not denying that,” Colton said. “But you did abduct Elyse. I’m not going to involve the police. All I’m asking is that you apologize to her p>
Kristine let out a short, sharp laugh. “Apologize to Elyse? I would genuinely rather go to prison p>
Colton looked at her with frustrated disbelief. “It’s a few words. Why does everything have to be a battle with you p>
She held his gaze and enunciated each word deliberately. “I am never going to apologize to that woman p>
His brow furrowed. “That attitude is exactly why you’re coming back with me right now,” he said, tightening his grip on her wrist.
Kristine felt a spike of alarm. Quickly, she looked past him and called out, “Asher! What are you doing here p>
Colton didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His eyes stayed locked on her face without wavering.
She suppressed her irritation. “Why didn’t you look? Don’t you think he might actually be there p>
He squeezed her wrist harder. “You’re a terrible liar. And Asher is nowhere near this place p>