Chapter 116: BECAUSE OF ME.

Asher

"I don't know." He cried out, his voice shaky and fast. He looked up and saw Nathaniel's hands frozen mid-air.

"I really don't know. I found the both of you suspicious so I decided to check out whatever you won. There had to be something wrong with it." He said, and I stepped forward.

"Weren't you tipped off about what's in the packet?" I asked and he shook his head negatively.

"We don't have any informants, where could we possibly get information from?" He asked and I scoffed, turning towards Nathaniel.

"I don't think you will get anything from him." I whispered to him but he shook his head.

Nathaniel stepped forward, and scanned his body before he speaking. "How did you get these goods?"

"Our men found it on the shore and with the growing controversy. We figured the packet must be worth a lot." He said and I nodded.

Nathaniel wanted to speak but he paused. He didn't seem ready to believe the man's words but his reasoning was really plausible.

"Take him with us." Nathaniel said, about to leave when a dart flew in my direction. I turned quickly but it was still going to hit me.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact but Nathaniel caught it quickly.

I opened my eyes and looked up, it was the same man from before. He really didn't have any good intentions.

I rushed out and followed him. He was quick to run but I still had a few weapons on me. I threw my rope forward and it actually managed to hook his leg. I dragged him with all my strength while he struggled to get away.

I finally managed to get him to my side but he also managed to get out of the ropes. I reached out, and pulled off the mask.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the face. It finally made sense why he had looked so familiar. He was from the Syndicate. The one I was sure to have killed before I went to find Nathaniel.

Nathaniel soon caught up to me, his eyes drifting between the man and me before he asked.

"Who is he?" He demanded, and I stammered.

In that split moment, he hurried away and for the first time, I heard him speak. "This isn't over." He ran off, Nathaniel wanted to chase after him but he paused, turning back to me. A crease formed between his brows.

"What's wrong?" He asked, tilting his head slightly. "Who is he?"

I lowered my head, clearing my throat before I answered him. "He's from the Syndicate. That's why he keeps making things hard for me."

Nathaniel raised a brow, he wanted to speak but he didn't, only patting my shoulder lightly.

"Doesn't matter. If I could take down his entire group. I can take him down too." Nathaniel assured.

I looked up to catch his gaze and a heavy knot formed in my stomach. "Okay. I'll help you." I said and he shook his head negatively.

"Just stay out of it. I can take him down faster since I already know much about them." He said I wanted to protest but I didn't. He had been studying them for years already, he should be the one to finish his revenge.

"Okay." I muttered.

We both returned to the residence, and I handed the goods to Dima.

"Great. We don't have to search for it anymore. Did you get to know who is behind the goods theft?" Dima asked, I shook my head negatively, remembering we couldn't get anything from the boss of that auction.

I paused, the face flashing before my eyes. "We did. It's someone from the Syndicate."

"The Syndicate?" Dima asked, his eyes widened and his head tilted slightly to the side. "How is that possible? I thought you'd handled all of the members?" He asked and I sighed.

"It's my fault, I didn't make sure everyone was dead." I said, my hands balling into tight fists.

A dull ache spread across my chest. They had made his life hell and I couldn't even help him take them down.

"It's not. That's an organization that has stood for years, it's not something a newbie can take down." Nathaniel said, walking towards us.

I raised my head to catch his gaze, he had a smile spread across his face but this one reached the corners of his eyes.

"Right." Dima reassured me. "He's right. We need to return to the family tomorrow. It might get more dangerous around here." Dima warned.

I raised my eyes to catch him. I wanted to nod, but then I remembered I wouldn't see him anymore. "Can we stay a little longer?"

"We need to get the goods back as soon as possible." Dima tried to reason with me, and I lowered my head but I soon raised it back, an idea striking me.

"How about using Jordan's channel to send it home?" I asked, my eyes glistening with hope but Dima shook his head negatively.

"The goods are only one of the reasons we need to return early. This isn't our territory after all, what if the Syndicate decides to attack?" He asked and I parted my lips, ready to argue but I felt Nathaniel's strong grip on my shoulder.

"Fine, let's leave tomorrow." I said slowly and he nodded.

"Okay. I'll come to you tomorrow." Dima said, and I nodded and he walked away.

Nathaniel came fully into my view after Dima left but he didn't say a word. "Why did you stop me?" I asked, and he smiled.

"You want to stay because of me, right?" He asked and I raised a brow, how did he know me so well? I folded my hands beneath my chest, clearing my throat.

"You think too highly of yourself." I said and a smirk grew on his lips. He stepped forward, grabbing me by my shoulder, forcing my face up to meet his eyes.

He leaned in closer and I could feel my heart skip a beat. "Really?”