Chapter 40: How Dare You Kidnap Me?

Outside New York City.

A secluded villa was hidden deep in the dense woods, surrounded by silence broken only by the rustling of wind through the leaves.

Henry was kicked and flying by a member of Shadow Squad and crashed heavily onto the cold floor.

He let out a muffled groan of pain, struggling to get up.

Before he could push himself up, two burly men in black tactical gear emerged from the shadows and pinned him down from both sides.

The lighting inside the villa was dimmed low.

Leo lounged lazily on an imported Italian leather sofa, one arm casually draped over the backrest.

He held a Cuban cigar, smoke slowly rising in the dim yellow light.

"...Leo! You dare kidnap me?"

Henry stared at the man before him in terror, shouting with false bravado, "Do you know who I am? I'm from the Vanderbilt family..."

"Of course, I know who you are."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, cutting him off. "Henry Vanderbilt, who sided with Jonathan from the Drake family."

"And now..."

Leo stood up and slowly walked over to Henry, looking down at him from above.

"You've become a useless pawn."

"You... what do you want?"

Henry trembled all over, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "I'm warning you! I've got the Drake family behind me! Jonathan will never let you get away with this!"

"Jonathan?"

Leo suddenly laughed, a laugh full of contempt and even mockery.

He released his grip on Henry's chin and turned back toward the sofa.

"You think Jonathan, who can barely save himself right now, has time to rescue a dog like you?"

With that, Leo pulled out a handgun from his waist, released the safety, and aimed the barrel at Henry's knee.

"I'm giving you two choices."

"First, answer my questions honestly."

Leo paused, lightly tapping Henry's knee with the gun barrel. "Second, I shoot you one bullet at a time. First the knees, then the elbows, then the shoulders... I'll let you clearly feel every bullet piercing through bone until you're willing to talk."

"Which one do you choose?"

Henry stared at the dark barrel, scared out of his wits.

He'd seen Leo's ruthlessness at family meetings and knew this man meant what he said.

"I... I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Henry quickly begged for mercy. "Please, don't kill me..."

"Good."

Leo lowered his gun. "First question: what did Jonathan offer you to plant you as his mole inside the Vanderbilt family?"

"He... he promised that after Sophia falls, he'd make me the head of the Vanderbilt family..."

Henry answered, trembling. "And... and fifty million dollars in cash..."

"Second question: what has Jonathan been secretly planning lately?"

"I... I don't know..."

"Don't know?"

A cold glint flashed in Leo's eyes as he raised his hand and fired a shot.

The bullet grazed Henry's ear and left a hole in the wall behind him.

"Ah!"

Henry screamed in terror, his pants now soaked.

"I'll give you one more chance." Leo's voice showed no emotion. "What has Jonathan been planning lately?"

"I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Henry broke down, crying and shouting, "Jonathan... Jonathan has been contacting mercenary organizations in Europe... He wants... he wants to get rid of Evan!"

"Good."

Leo nodded with satisfaction. "Third question: Does Jonathan have any other moles in the Vanderbilt family?"

"Yes..."

Henry bit his lip. "My brother Charles... he's actually Evan's man..."

"Charles appeared to side with Jonathan along with me, but in reality, he was bought by Evan long ago..."

Leo's eyebrows lifted slightly.

This was an unexpected gain.

Henry cried bitterly. "The two of us brothers, one is Jonathan's dog, one is Evan's dog... Ridiculous, isn't it..."

Leo was silent for a few seconds.

Then he stood up and walked over to Henry.

"Thanks for the intel."

"So... will you let me go?"

Henry looked at Leo with hopeful eyes. "I swear, I'll never have anything to do with the Drake family again..."

"I believe you."

Leo nodded. "So I'll make your death quick."

"...What?"

Henry's eyes widened, not yet comprehending.

A gunshot rang out.

The bullet precisely pierced through Henry's forehead.

His eyes wide open, body stiff, he slowly collapsed into a pool of blood.

Leo put away his gun and turned toward the door.

"Olivia."

"Yes!"

Olivia emerged from the shadows.

"Clean up the body. Remember, make it look like Evan's people did it."

"Understood!"

Leo walked out of the villa and got into the black Maybach waiting outside.

"Boss, where to next?" the driver asked respectfully.

"Back to the estate."

Leo lit a cigar, watching the villa gradually recede through the window, a cold smile playing at his lips.

"The show is just beginning."

The next morning.

The Drake Mansion.

A crystal ashtray smashed hard against the marble floor, shattering into dozens of pieces.

Jonathan roared furiously, "Evan! That bastard! He dared to kill my man!"

After Sophia took power, he had successfully planted Henry as his mole, aiming to have his own pawn inside the Vanderbilt family.

Now his pawn was gone!

Standing before him were several trusted subordinates, each with a grave expression.

"Young master, Henry's body was found at the suburban villa in the early hours this morning."

One subordinate reported in a low voice, "Based on the evidence at the scene, the weapons and methods used by the killer match those of Mr. Drake's people exactly..."

"I knew it!"

Jonathan gritted his teeth. "That sneaky Evan has always wanted to get rid of me! Now he's struck first, killing Henry to warn me!"

"Mr. Drake, what should we do?"

"What should we do?"

A ruthless gleam flashed in Jonathan's eyes. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

"He killed Henry, so I'll kill Charles!"

"But... Charles is also from the Vanderbilt family..." the subordinate hesitated.

"The Vanderbilt family?"

Jonathan sneered. "Carl is already useless, no value left. And Charles... he's publicly my man, but in reality, he was bought by Evan long ago!"

"You think I didn't know?"

Jonathan laughed coldly, his eyes full of murderous intent. "I've been waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to get rid of him!"

"Now, the opportunity has come!"

"Evan killed Henry, so I'll kill Charles! Let him know the consequences of fighting me!"

"Yes!"

The subordinates were left to carry out orders.

Jonathan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the overcast sky outside the estate.

"Evan... my dear brother..."

He murmured, his eyes full of madness.

"You think killing Henry will scare me?"

"How naive."

"In this war, only one person can walk out alive."

"And that person will definitely be me!"