---
"I did, boss. My boys followed every one of her actions," Boss Scorpion said, his voice laced with tension. "She only met up with one friend—Daisy Woods, a local. They had a conversation at a café, but we couldn't hear what they talked about. Getting too close would've made her suspicious and drawn unwanted attention. Then, later in the day, she went to Wellington's Hotel. I suspect she met someone important there, possibly an elite, because we weren't able to gather any details on who that person was."
Boss Scorpion's tone was calm, but inwardly, he was uneasy. Whoever Sophie had met was clearly a powerful figure, someone who had the means to keep their identity well-hidden. Worse, there was the chance that the person had already detected something suspicious about his men's presence at the hotel. If that turned out to be true, it could spell major trouble for him.
"Hmm," came the cold response from the man on the other end of the call. He stood alone in a dimly lit room, his silhouette casting an eerie shadow as blood dripped from his injured hand. His grip on the glass he had been holding had tightened so hard in his rage that it shattered, embedding shards into his skin, though the pain seemed irrelevant to him now.
"Boss, do you think we should release the girl?" Boss Scorpion asked carefully, treading lightly on the delicate subject. "Once she pays the money, if we keep her here, it'll turn into a full-blown kidnapping case. She could easily get the police involved, and that would cause a big mess for us," he added, his own nerves beginning to fray. The last thing he needed was a police investigation. He had too much at stake.
"Release her once the money is in your account tomorrow," the man ordered curtly, without hesitation. The call ended abruptly, and the sound of a phone smashing against the wall echoed through the room as the man hurled it in a fit of anger. His breath came in harsh, heavy bursts, and his eyes narrowed in fury.
"Sophie, my love," he muttered under his breath, his voice dark and low. "Who did you run to for help this time? You should've come to me. You might think you've escaped, but this isn't over. I will catch you again, my love."
---
"Where's Devon?" Stacy asked, looking around the empty warehouse as Boss Scorpion led her inside.
"It seems you've grown quite close with my men, haven't you, brat? I'll have to teach him a lesson," Boss Scorpion replied, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down at the small girl. The urge to strike her was strong, but he held back, knowing he couldn't afford a charge for child abuse on top of his existing criminal record. 'Thank God I didn't hit her anywhere visible the last time,' he thought grimly.
"Stacy!" Sophie's voice rang out, breathless and desperate, as she rushed toward her sister. Stacy's wide eyes lit up at the sight of her.
"Sophieee!" Stacy cried, her voice filled with joy and relief as she broke free of Boss Scorpion's grasp and ran into Sophie's waiting arms. The two sisters clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces as they shared a moment of overwhelming emotion.
"I knew you'd come. Devon was right—he said you'd come soon," Stacy whispered, her small arms wrapped tightly around Sophie's neck as she held on for dear life.
"I've transferred the money to the account you gave me," Sophie snapped, glaring at Boss Scorpion. Her eyes burned with fury as she confronted him, her body rigid with anger. He simply gave her a nod in response and turned to walk away, his expression unreadable.
"Let's go home," Sophie said, her voice softening as she focused on her sister.
"Wait!" Stacy cried out, her eyes darting around the empty warehouse. "We can't leave yet, Sophie. My friend has to come with us. It's not safe for him to stay here."
Sophie glanced around, confused. "Stacy, I don't see anyone here," she said gently. "Let's go now, and maybe he'll join us later. I've got somewhere important to be, Stace," she added, looking at her sister, whose eyes were still scanning the room, filled with hesitation and uncertainty.
---
As Sophie walked away, Stacy's gaze followed her, tears welling up in her eyes. She fought to hold them back, but the sadness was overwhelming. She couldn't help but feel abandoned. Sophie had left her with Daisy, and while she liked Daisy, who was always kind, nothing could replace the love and comfort of her sister's presence.
"Her sister said she has important work, so she'll stay with Daisy for now," Stacy thought, trying to console herself. But the ache in her chest was hard to ignore.
"I promised her I'd be strong, so I won't cry," she whispered, wiping the tears that threatened to fall.
Daisy, standing nearby, watched as Sophie walked away, feeling a deep sense of sorrow for both sisters. She knew Sophie had no choice—she had sacrificed everything to protect Stacy. Now, Sophie was caught in a dangerous web, one that she couldn't escape easily.
"Come on, Stacy," Daisy said softly, trying to cheer her up. "You promised your sister you wouldn't cry, remember? How about we go get some ice cream? That always makes me feel better," she added with a gentle smile, hoping to lift the little girl's spirits.
Stacy's eyes lingered on the spot where Sophie had disappeared, but after a long moment, she nodded, her small hand reaching for Daisy's.
---
"Stacy, dear, I promise nothing will happen. Go inside, and I'll join you very soon," Daisy called out, her soothing voice breaking through Stacy's troubled thoughts. Stacy's blue eyes, now glossy with tears and fear, slowly shifted from Daisy to the man standing nearby, her heart heavy with dread.