Chapter 83: Submission

However—

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out.

But the bullet didn't hit Rhys, because a split second before she pulled the trigger, Leo kicked her wrist.

Her wrist bone shattered with a sharp crack.

The compact pistol flew out of Elena's hand and spun several times on the ground.

"Ahhh!"

Elena clutched her broken wrist, screaming in pain.

Before she could react—

"Smack!"

Leo backhanded her across the face, hard.

The massive force sent her flying through the air. She tumbled twice before crashing into an abandoned machine.

Elena coughed up blood violently and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up again.

"Bitch..."

Rhys looked at Elena on the ground, his eyes full of disgust.

He turned to Leo and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Mr. Ashford."

Leo said nothing, just patted his shoulder.

Meanwhile.

Stinger, who had been dragged outside the warehouse, was tied to an abandoned steel post.

Olivia crouched in front of him, holding a syringe.

A pale green liquid filled the syringe.

"This is the CIA's newest drug," Olivia said expressionlessly.

"Once it's in your system, you won't be able to lie at all."

"And..."

She paused, a flash of coldness in her eyes.

"If you try to hide anything or lie, your heart will be hit with excruciating pain—for ten whole minutes."

Stinger's face went pale. "You... you can't do this..."

"Inject him."

Leo walked out of the warehouse, his tone flat.

"Yes."

Olivia did not hesitate to stick the needle into Stinger's carotid artery.

The pale green liquid slowly flowed into his bloodstream.

Thirty seconds later, Stinger's pupils began to dilate, his eyes turning vacant.

"Speak."

Leo stood before him, looking down from above.

"Nightfall's funding chain in North America."

"In the Cayman Islands, there are three offshore accounts..."

"The account numbers are..."

He recited three complex account numbers without missing a single digit.

Olivia immediately recorded them.

"Continue," Leo said flatly.

"There are also... in Switzerland... two secret accounts..." Stinger went on. "These accounts... are all used for money laundering..."

"Every month, money from South American drugs and weapons is moved through these accounts..."

"Where's the South American base?"

Leo's eyes flashed with interest.

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

Stinger shook his head, his eyes still vacant.

"I'm only in charge of the North American region. Only Mourner knows the location of the South American base..."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Where is he now?"

"Mourner... has already set his sights on you..." Stinger droned. "He said... he wants to... kill you himself..."

"Good."

A cold smile curved Leo's lips. "I'm waiting for him."

He turned to Olivia.

"Freeze all the accounts he mentioned."

"Then cripple him and turn him over to the FBI."

"Yes."

Olivia nodded.

Leo walked back into the warehouse.

Elena was still sprawled on the ground, covered in blood.

"Take her away."

Leo did not even glance at her. "Turn her over to the FBI, too."

Two Shadow team members immediately stepped forward, grabbed Elena, and dragged her outside.

"No... don't..."

Elena struggled desperately, but it was useless.

Rhys stood off to the side, watching coldly.

There was no trace of his former innocence left in his eyes.

Instead, there was a deep coldness and maturity.

Ten minutes later, outside the warehouse,

"Rumble..."

The sound of engines approached from a distance.

More than a dozen black armored Mercedes and Rolls-Royces roared up.

The car doors opened.

Sophia stepped out in her stilettos, walking quickly.

Behind her followed more than twenty fully armed bodyguards.

"Rhys!"

Sophia saw Rhys standing at the warehouse entrance, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

She lifted her skirt slightly and ran toward Rhys in her heels.

"Sophia..."

Rhys opened his arms.

Sophia threw her arms around him, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

"Don't cry."

Rhys gently patted Sophia's back. "I'm fine."

Sophia released Rhys and wiped her tears.

She turned and looked at Leo.

Her azure eyes were full of gratitude and burning intensity.

"Leo... thank you."

"It was nothing," Leo said flatly.

At this moment, Rhys also walked over.

He stood before Leo and bowed deeply. "Mr. Ashford."

"I was blind before. I didn't recognize your power."

"Now I understand."

"From today on, I, Rhys Vanderbilt, swear eternal loyalty to Mr. Ashford."

"I will follow your lead in everything!"

"Get up."

Leo reached out and helped Rhys to his feet.

"From now on, learn well from your sister."

"Yes!"

Rhys nodded vigorously.

Sophia walked to Leo's side and said softly, "Rhys, you go back to the estate with the bodyguards first. I need to talk to Mr. Ashford."

"Yes."

Rhys tactfully turned and left.

After Rhys had gone.

Sophia looked at Leo, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"Leo... sit with me for a while."

She pointed to the Rolls-Royce Phantom not far away.

"Alright."

Leo nodded.

The two walked side by side toward the armored car.

The car door closed, the soundproof glass rose, and the entire back seat instantly became an absolutely private, confined space.

The cabin filled with the faint scent of Sophia's expensive rose perfume.

Without outsiders present, Sophia finally dropped all pretense of being a strong businesswoman.

She turned around, looking at Leo with slightly reddened eyes.

In the faint moonlight coming through the car window, Leo could see the thick desire in her eyes.

"Thank you, Leo..."

Sophia's voice trembled, carrying a bone-melting seductiveness.

The next second.

Without any hesitation, she straddled Leo's solid thighs.

Her slender arms wrapped tightly around Leo's neck, and her full, tempting red lips, with ultimate tenderness and wildness, pressed hard against Leo's lips.

This was a kiss without any reservation.

Sophia was like a kitten craving security, yet also like a burning flame.

She pressed her perfect, voluptuous body tightly against Leo's chest, offering her softness and passion without holding back.

Leo's eyes darkened, his large hands naturally grasping her slender waist, taking control and deepening the kiss.

Sophia let out a blood-stirring moan, her body instantly going soft, only able to collapse weakly in Leo's arms, letting this man plunder the sweetness of her mouth.

The temperature in the cabin shot up, the air growing thick with intimacy.

Leo's rough hands traced along her perfect curves, making Sophia tremble wherever they passed.

"Leo..."

Finally catching her breath, Sophia panted against Leo's ear.

In her hazy blue eyes, there was now only absolute submission to Leo and devoted surrender.

"You saved my brother, which means you saved the entire Vanderbilt family."

Sophia straightened up slightly, actively unbuttoning Leo's shirt, her voice seductively soft. "From now on... I'm yours."

"The entire Vanderbilt family... will be your strongest support."

"Whatever you want, I'll give. However you want to play, I'll go along..."

Leo looked at the New York queen who had completely fallen for him, a wicked, arrogant smile curving his lips.

"Is that so?"

He suddenly flipped them over, pressing Sophia onto the wide, soft leather seat of the Rolls-Royce.

"Then tonight, I'll collect some 'interest' first."

The night was deep, the Rolls-Royce sitting quietly on the deserted street.

And inside the armored cabin, a blood-pumping "repayment" was only just beginning.