Chapter 193
Inside his office.
Bernard slouched in his plush leather chair, puffing cigar smoke toward the ceiling like he owned the entire damn city-which, if you asked him, he practically did.
“Hey, Mr. Bernard,” Viper began, voice laut. “Any chance that scrawny Kid confessed yet p>
Bernard snorted, a cruel grin twisting his jowls.
“Confess, not confess-doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. That clueless little runt’ll talk soon enough. They all break under pressure in the end p>
Viper rubbed a hand over his mouth, “You sure? If I were you, I’d handle him quick. Things can get… unpredictable p>
Bernard slammed his meaty fist on the desk, the thud echoing off the walls.
“You telling me how to run my station? My station. My rules. I call the shots here, and don’t you dare forget it p>
Viper raised both palms in surrender.
“Easy, Mr. Bernard, easy. I know you’re the king around these parts. I just fear the Kid has someone big in his corner. Powerful folks poking their noses in your business can turn everything upside down p>
Bernard let out a barking laugh that did nothing to soften his glare.
“They can line up and kiss my boots, for all I care. I’ve seen plenty of folks claiming they’d take me down- haven’t seen a single hero yet. You ever see a hero, Viper p>
Before the Viper could respond, a squad leader burst through the door, nearly cracking the wood with his knuckles.
“What’s so urgent you gotta break my damn door?” Bernard growled, cigar clenched between yellowed teeth.
“Sir, the Lancaster family wants Sophia Lancaster’s bail set at two million,” the officer reported, swallowing hard.
Bernard made a noise somewhere between a bull snort and a laugh.
“Two million? Is that a joke? Raymond’s offering ten, and I’m not in the habit of trading gold bars for pocket change. Tell ’em to shove it unless they come back with something better p>
“Yes, sir.” The officer retreated, but moments later returned, face pale. He hovered at the threshold like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Bernard’s gaze darkened. “The hell do you want now p>
“Sir,” the man began carefully, “we just got a call from Ms. Jasmine Kingston. She says we nabbed the wrong guy. She demands Alex be released immediately p>
Bernard froze, mid-puff. His sneer vanished, replaced by a flicker of genuine alarm.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he turned his gaze to Viper, beads of sweat glistening on his brow.
“You incompetent buffoon. You left out the part about Jasmine Kingston being involved? She’s a certified nightmare. That woman’s a walking nuke-money, power, the works. Christ, you trying to blow me up p>
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Chapter 195
Viper threw his arms wide, eyes bulging in denial. “Don’t pin this on me! I had no clue she’d waltz into this. I swear p>
Bernard’s hand shook around his cigar, but he managed to regain some composure.
“We’ll deal with it. If she’s sniffing around, I’ll deny we ever booked the Kid. See if that hushes her up p>
He barked at the squad leader to deliver his lie-tell Jasmine they had no Alex in custody.
But the second the guy left, Bernard’s phone started shrieking.
He glanced at the caller ID. “Alfred Kingston,” he muttered voice tight with
unease.
“Goddammit. Looks like the entire Kingston clan’s coming for my throat tonight p>
He jammed the phone to his ear. “Mr. Alfred! Long time, no talk. You still out in L.A.? Everything good-
11
“Cut the formalities, Bernard,” Alfred hissed. “I’m only calling for one reason. Did you arrest a young man named Alex?
Bernard forced a laugh that came out strangled. “Alex? No, why would I- Are you sure my men even picked up the right person p>
“Don’t screw around, you bloated blowhard. Release him immediately, or I swear, I’ll cut you off for good. Your name will be trash in every circle that matters p>
Bernard’s free hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into his palm. But he forced his tone to stay breezy.
“Misunderstanding, that’s all! If some incompetent rookie happened to nab a random kid, I’ll sort it out, no problem p>
Alfred’s voice crackled with fury. “I’m warning you: if a single hair on his head is harmed, I’ll see to it you and your entire miserable bloodline end up rotting in some ditch p>
Then came the dial tone.
Bernard stared at his phone, heart slamming against his rib cage.
He slammed it down on the desk. “Dammit! I’ve got Jasmine and Alfred Kingston breathing down my neck, all for that stupid Kid. Didn’t you say he was a nobody, Viper? You worthless piece of trash p>
Viper cringed, sweat pooling at his temples. “There was no hint- I swear, no one mentioned anything about the Kingstons p>
Bernard let loose a string of curses. “I should wring your scrawny neck for this. Call Raymond, your boss. Now. If he wants me to keep this Kid on ice, he can pay me triple. Otherwise, I’ll throw him under the bus and wash my hands clean p>
Viper scrambled for his phone, face bone-white. After a tense minute, he nodded. “He’s in. Tripled the price p>
Bernard exhaled, tension momentarily lifting.
“Ha! Now that’s more like it. Money talks, especially that kind of money. I’ll make the Kid sing whatever Raymond wants, then I’ll let him slink away in one piece- assuming nobody meddles with me again p>
Viper opened a black duffel and showed off the thick stacks of cash.
Chapter 195
“This million’s yours, boss. The rest when the Kid coughs up the formula he is hiding p>
Beard’s eyes glittered with greed.
“Yeah… I’ll make sure the Kid squeals. Once we’ve squeezed out everything he’s
got, I can toss him back to the Kingstons-everyone will be happy p>
But fate, ever the sadistic puppeteer, decided Bernard’s celebration would be short-lived.
Ten minutes. That’s all he got.
One moment, he was grinning like a devil, thumbing through his blood money, basking in his petty victory. The next?
Agony.
A steel grip wrenched his faw open with bone-snapping force, shoving wads of crumpled bills past his teeth. The same money he’d sold his soul for was now choking him, stuffing his throat with greed’s rotten currency. Curses and muffled screams gurgled from his lips, drowned by the suffocating weight of his own betrayal. His eyes bulged, darting wildly, searching for salvation.
But salvation wasn’t coming.
Because in that moment-gasping, gagging, choking on his own dirty deal- Bernard finally understood.
He’d fucked with the wrong man.
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed p>