"Ms. Voss, you know that as long as you give the word, we'll follow your orders without question." The speaker was a sharp-featured, middle-aged man—one of the top gang leaders controlling the northern part of Elysian Bay.
When Ellara first arrived in the city, he was the first to pledge his loyalty, swallowing up the smaller crews who refused to submit to her authority. Over time, his power had grown, and he'd learned to heed every word Ellara spoke.
"Exactly. Whatever Ms. Voss wants, we'll make it happen." Others chimed in as well.
They might resent the way Ellara had cut off their most profitable "businesses," but the influence and returns she brought were more than enough to keep them in line.
Ellara looked pleased with their response. She glanced at Mora, signaling her to take out the file—the very same one Ellara had studied on the plane. It contained information on Natalie Vale.
"Find this girl," Ellara said calmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Watch over her from the shadows. Make sure she's not harmed and that she never realizes you're protecting her.
Keep her safe until she returns to the Vale family."
"Natalie Vale? The Vale family heiress?" someone muttered. "What's she doing here in Elysian Bay instead of staying put in Bayport?"
Everyone knew of the Vale family's lofty status—politically, economically, they reigned at the very top. And it was no secret that Kieran Vale, her brother, was well-regarded by Andre Magnus himself. Under Kieran's leadership, the Vale empire had only flourished. Rumor had it that Natalie often stirred up trouble for the Bayport gangs—she wasn't exactly known for making life easy.
They flipped through the documents Mora distributed, and soon the room filled with a low buzz of speculation. Who was this girl, really? Why was Ms. Voss interested? The chattering continued until Ellara raised a hand, silencing them.
"Of course, if you ensure she leaves Elysian Bay swiftly and safely, and she never catches on, you'll be generously compensated," Ellara added in a measured tone.
She didn't care what the Vale family had been up to over the years. Their affairs were constantly splashed across every headline, but Ellara had no intention of getting involved with any of them—at least not now.
"Since this is what Ms. Voss wants, we'll make it happen," the gang leaders agreed after exchanging knowing glances. After all, keeping one teenage girl safe and ignorant of their presence was child's play for them.
"Good. And I mean it—no harm is to come to her." Ellara emphasized her point. Then, without further ado, she turned and headed out, Mora following close behind.
They had been running around all night. What Ellara needed now was rest, maybe even a decent dream before facing tomorrow. As the old iron doors of the fight club slammed shut behind them, the raucous noise of the underground arena picked up once more, swallowing their presence as if they'd never been there.
In a shadowy corner of the club, a girl in a gray hoodie and a black baseball cap looked up at the boy standing next to her. "That 'Queen of the Night' you mentioned… that was the woman who just left, right?"
The young man followed her gaze, admiration glowing in his eyes as he watched Ellara depart.
"That's right. She's the one who calls the shots around here—no one's stronger than her in this place."
The girl's expression remained calm. She swirled the whiskey in her hand, mulling something over. "You said every gang in Elysian Bay answers to her?"
"Yep!" the boy nodded enthusiastically, voice brimming with respect and awe.
A faint smile played at the girl's lips. "If I wanted to find someone, she could help me track them down quickly, couldn't she?"
"Absolutely," he said without hesitation.
Her smile widened. She pulled out a bank card and placed it on the table. "Then if you arrange a meeting between me and her, this card is yours."
The boy froze for a moment, eyes darting from the card back to the girl's steady, dangerous gaze. She radiated a pressure he couldn't ignore. He wasn't sure he could manage that request—Ellara Voss was notoriously elusive. Still, he swallowed and managed a nod. "I'll try my best."
Just as he reached for the card, the girl snatched it back.
"I meant after you've done it," she said lightly, taking a sip of her whiskey before standing up to leave.
This girl lived in a small townhouse tucked away in an obscure alley of Elysian Bay, a place she'd only recently rented.
The landlady was a chatty old woman, but thankfully they didn't share living space.
Inside, a massive blackboard covered an entire wall of the living room. It was plastered with photos, sticky notes, and a complex web of lines connecting different names and faces. It mapped out the entire power structure of Elysian Bay—every gang, every government link, every major corporation. All of them were crossed out in red.
In one corner of the board, a single name stood out: Clara Vale. Only one arrow pointed to that name—Ellara Voss.
Standing there quietly, the girl studied the name, eyes clouded with emotion. Clara Vale, an adopted daughter of the Vale family, her older sister, missing for years. Officially, everyone said she was dead, but the Vale family never gave up hope. They refused to believe it.
The girl bit her lip, dropped a file on the table, and massaged her temples. At seventeen, most kids would be carefree, but she'd grown accustomed to throwing herself into complex mazes of politics and crime.
Opening the fridge, she took a swig of water before heading into the bathroom.
Morning light seeped through the thick curtains, but she needed sleep. She popped some melatonin and made a mental note: no more all-nighters—she was still growing and needed to take care of herself.
Ellara stepped through the front door of her villa, exhaustion weighing her down. The place wasn't opulent, but it was peaceful—exactly why she chose it. She wanted somewhere far from the Perez family's reach. Miguel Perez might have repeatedly asked her to move "home," but she responded with nothing but scorn.
A call from Seraphina came through before Ellara could fully settle in. Half-asleep, she dragged herself out of bed and pulled open the curtains. Outside, it was a beautiful morning—blue skies, green hills, crystal water. She tapped the console, and Seraphina's image appeared on the screen: dark, flowing hair, exquisite features, her face as serene as a fallen angel at a polished desk.
"Morning," Seraphina greeted, flipping through a stack of documents.
Ellara stretched. "Those old codgers didn't drag you into a meeting today?"
Seraphina ignored the jab. "There's an auction next month on the Western Continent."
"An auction?" Ellara echoed, raising a brow, sounding less than thrilled. "You know I hate long trips. It's too far."
"You won't have to go," Seraphina replied, still focused on her papers. "I'll handle it myself."
Ellara's mood shifted, her tone turning serious. "You? In person? Why?"
Seraphina finally looked up, meeting Ellara's gaze. In her eyes, Ellara saw unwavering resolve.
"Because we're the same, you and I."
Ellara let out a resigned laugh. "Fine. When I'm done dealing with the Perez family, I'll come pick you up."
Ellara remembered the first time she met Seraphina. Back then, Seraphina was nothing special—small, scrawny, the kind of girl anyone could push around without a second thought. But that day, when some lowlife pinned her down in the snow, ready to violate her, she grabbed a rock from the ground and smashed it into his head, splitting it open.
Ellara watched the whole thing, every brutal second of it. That frail little girl moved like a lone wolf—fast, fierce, and unrelenting. When the moment came, she didn't hesitate. She struck to kill.
In that sense, they were exactly alike.
From that moment on, they had each other's backs. Two survivors, bound by a shared understanding, a mutual respect born in blood.
Ellara knew Seraphina was out for revenge too. The truth was, they weren't just alike. They were the same.
"By the way," Seraphina continued, "Samuel Orme left the Federation and bailed on that Velmont City meeting. The old man from the Federation called me this morning, wanting an explanation."
"Oh?" Ellara didn't particularly care about the official fallout. She was just an operative. Still, if Seraphina wanted to talk, Ellara would listen. "And what about the rest of the Shawn family? They're hardly innocent."
"Kieran Vale stepped in," Seraphina said. "He's handling their interrogation."
Ellara's expression remained impassive. She simply nodded.
"I've heard Kieran Vale is still searching for his childhood friend," Seraphina teased, voice laced with curiosity.
A knock at the door cut their conversation short.
"Until next time?" Ellara asked.
"Sounds good," Seraphina said, and the call ended.
Ellara crossed the room and opened the door. Mora stood there, offering a cup of coffee and a file. "We've got news on Natalie Vale," she said.