DYLAN

I look into her eyes as my hands gently wrap around her neck. I can see how scared she is, knowing that her mistake of letting her cover slip was significant. Chase had texted me earlier, revealing that Ruth lived in NYC, and by a stroke of luck, she resided in the same building as Joane. It only took an hour to gather the apartment details and discover that, although she lived alone, she shared the same key with Joane. Twenty minutes of further digging revealed hall camera footage showing her adjusting her wig as she entered her apartment. I also discovered in Ruth's job that she was working for a prostitute company and a small assailant at the local level in the underworld.

I looked at her intensely. Her lower lip shivered for a second. I was breathing heavily as I gripped it tighter, hearing a yelp escape her mouth, and her shaky breath said my name,''Dylan. Please..'' Tears in her eyes. I looked at her anger spitting out from my eyes.

''Please, Ruth!'' I growled and raised my voice as I gripped her neck tighter. ''You think you can fool me, huh? You thought your dress-up game could fool me and trick me?'' I pushed her off with a small jerk.

Her eyes stayed on me. tears stayed in her eyes, causing her to fall down. I hate that I hated her tears. She looked scared, and her legs were trembling. , '' You will pay for this, Ruth. If you think I'll let you go now, that's a good dream. You are dreaming, I won't let you breathe now.'' My lips curled into a smirk.

''Dylan, listen, let me go; I won't cause you any more trouble.'' Her breath was shaky, but she tried to keep it settled and gulped down the air that was stuck in her throat.

''Yeah, sure, I'll let you run along without harming you, but what about your debt, Ruth? What about Marcs, and you will tell me who the person is on your little mission.''

Her skin went pale, and her eyes widened with fear, her breathing growing faster and more erratic. I stepped closer, and she instinctively backed away, her movements quick and desperate. She kept retreating until her back was against the wall, her lips mere inches from mine. I reached out, wrapping my hands around her waist and pressing her firmly against the wall. My grip tightened as I held her there, my eyes wandering over her body, drinking in every detail before finally locking onto her gaze. The terror in her eyes was unmistakable, and her rapid breathing mirrored the frantic beat of her heart.

She looked like a cornered animal, trapped and terrified, her chest heaving with each quick breath. I could feel the tension in her body; every muscle was coiled and ready to spring. My face was close enough to feel her breath, shallow and fast against my skin. I lingered in that moment, caught between power and intimacy, the air thick with unspoken words and raw emotion.

"This feels familiar, doesn't it?" I murmured in a dark, menacing tone.

Then, in a swift, unexpected move, she shoved me with surprising force, breaking free from my grasp. My momentary shock gave her the advantage. She reached behind her, pulling a gun from the back pocket of her jeans. The cold, metallic click of the safety being released echoed in the confined space. She aimed the gun at me, her hands trembling slightly but her eyes filled with a newfound determination.

"Don't come any closer," she warned, her voice a mix of fear and defiance. The barrel of the gun was steady, pointing directly at my chest. The dynamic between us shifted in an instant, the balance of power flipping as quickly as she had drawn the weapon.

"What are you gonna do, Danan? You want to pull the trigger, and then what? Your intention isn't to kill me; you don't want a crisis in your life, am I right? I could easily disarm you, and there are cameras everywhere. You'll be ruined, along with that guy you work for. As for the third one, I'll know who it is in a few hours." I said, my voice dripping with seduction as my gaze travelled over her. Damn, she looks so hot, those jeans hugging her waist perfectly.

My smirk grew wider when I saw her startle for a minute. I chuckled, "I can call the guards to escort you out, but I will be generous and let you stay alive, and here I have something else planned for you, so you can drop the gun and sit down.'' I ordered her.

She kept looking at me, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration. Slowly, she lowered her gun, her hand running through her hair in a gesture that betrayed just how furious she was at her own slip-up. The change had happened so quickly, and now I found myself wondering what had driven her to such a reaction. Was her debt so overwhelming that it pushed her to this point?

Danan was no amateur; she handled assassins in the clubs with flawless precision. I had seen the footage this afternoon—she moved with the grace and lethality of a panther, each action calculated and deadly. Her skills were undeniable, yet here she was, shaken and vulnerable. Planning something against a billionaire like me, with deep connections in the underworld and a reputation as the King there, was proving to be a formidable challenge even for someone of her calibre.

I couldn't help but admire her resolve, though. She was a fighter, willing to take on the impossible, and that kind of determination was rare. My gaze lingered on her, taking in the way her chest heaved with each breath, her lips pressed into a thin line of anger and regret. She was stunning, her body a perfect blend of strength and allure, and those jeans hugged her waist in a way that was impossible to ignore.

But beyond the physical attraction, there was something deeper. I could see the wheels turning in her mind—the fierce intelligence that made her such a formidable opponent. She was caught between her fear and her fury, and it was clear she was already plotting her next move. Despite the danger, I found myself drawn to her even more, intrigued by the mystery and the challenge she presented.

"You underestimated me, Danan," I said softly, my tone a blend of seduction and menace. "But I can't blame you for trying. Just remember, I'm not an easy target. If you play this game, you better be ready for the consequences." My words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I gestured my hand towards a chair, my eyes locked onto hers.

She walked towards me, her movements deliberate and controlled, before sitting down on the chair with a defiant grace. "What do you want from me, Dylan?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil evident in her eyes. Just as she finished her sentence, my bodyguards entered the room, their presence a silent reminder of the power dynamics at play.

I studied her for a moment; the tension between us was thick in the air. "What I want," I began, my voice low and measured, "is for you to understand the stakes here. You're way over your head, Danan. This game you're playing is dangerous, and not just for you."

She shifted slightly in the chair, her jaw clenched. I could see the conflict in her eyes—the struggle between her fierce independence and the reality of her situation. "You have skills, Danan, impressive ones. But going against me, it's not just about skill. It's about understanding the landscape, the connections, the power structures, and, you know, old times sake."

My bodyguards stood at attention, a silent but imposing presence. I waved them off, signalling that this conversation was private, at least for now. They hesitated for a moment before stepping back, leaving us alone again, though I knew they wouldn't be far.

"You see, Ruth," I continued, leaning forward slightly. "I don't want to ruin you. I actually admire your courage and your tenacity. But you need to be smart about this. There's a way out of your situation, a way that doesn't involve a bullet or a prison cell."

She looked at me, her eyes narrowing as she tried to read my intentions. "And what way is that?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

I smiled—a slow, deliberate smile meant to reassure and unsettle her at the same time. "Work for me. Use your skills for something greater than just surviving, and I guess you don't have any other options because I can ring up Marc's right now and tell her his little doll's cover is blown away.''

She didn't respond immediately, her mind clearly racing as she weighed her options. The room seemed to grow quieter, the gravity of the moment sinking in. Whatever she decided now would set the course for everything that followed.

''Fine, I will do as you say. What do I have to do for you, Dylan?'' She looked into my eyes, feeling lost and frustrated.

'' First, tell me who is the third person involved in this play.'' I raised my eyebrows and asked her, straightening my shoulders.

She looked hesitant for a second, then spoke, Dustin Orgetsev...'' she spoke, digging her nails in her palm.

I judged Ruth's actions; she looked very tense. I wondered what kind of debt she had to pay to Marc. I only knew she had a debt to pay, but why? What did she owe him that made her so afraid to fail her mission?

Then, I saw her—the same 17-year-old girl she had been all those years ago. The same fear lingered in her eyes, haunting and profound—a ghost of her past that hadn't let her go. She tried to act tough, her exterior steely and determined, but I could see the tears embedded in her eyes, holding on with a fierce resolve, refusing to fall. It was a poignant reminder of the vulnerability she still carried, hidden beneath a mask of strength. My heart ached for her, wishing I could offer solace to the young girl who had never truly left her. 

but I have to focus on this image right now after all, she lied to me.

I hummed softly and told her that all she had to do now was play a double spy for me and for Dustin as well. She would provide them with fake and edited information and files while feeding me all their plans and whereabouts.

I also told her that she would get on the next flight to DC in an hour and that his guards would accompany her there; she had no other option but to agree. 

I also informed her that she would need to catch the next flight to DC within the hour, accompanied by his guards for added security. She had no other option but to agree; the gravity of the situation left no room for hesitation.

I called a guard in and told him to escort you to the airport as soon as possible, and if she tried to escape, he was allowed to use any force that was needed.

"And Ruth," I continued, my tone laced with a touch of cunning, "next time you come to me, shed the wig, ditch the contacts, wipe off that extra makeup, and leave those glasses behind too, understood?"

Ruth rose from her seat, her gaze meeting mine one last time before the guard firmly grasped her arm, leading her out of the room.