Chapter 40

The locker room door was kicked open with a bang, slamming into the wall.

Leading the group was a greasy-looking middle-aged man who had to be over two hundred pounds,flanked by a bunch of thugs, all looking ready to throw down.

But the second he spotted the man sitting casually on the bench, that fierce look on his face disappeared like magic, replaced by a fawning grin.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Reid?" he sneered at Daniel lying on the floor. "No idea what this loserdid to tick you off."

Tristan calmly pulled a wet wipe from his pocket and wiped his fingers one by one, slow and methodical.

After a moment, done withhis little cleanup ritual, he got to his feet. "Daniel's coming with me."

Victor Hayes bared his stained teeth in a forced grin. "You know I'm running this whole underground ring on that guy,right? Without him, business is gonna tank."

Tristan gave a sudden smile-cold and sharp. "No one bargains with me.Ever."

Victor's eyes darted around as he smirked slyly. "But imagine this-word gets out that the famous Tristan died in my ring. Don't you think 'Victor Hayes' would be the name on everyone's lips?" He let out a cocky laugh-until he didn't.

"Keep dreaming," Megan snapped, whipping a little device out of her pocket and tossing it toward the guy.

Nova Tech arched through the air, tail glowing. A series of thin steel needles shot out mid-flight, piercing straight into Victor's open mouth.

His laughter died in an instant. Clutching at his throat, mouth gushing blood, he collapsed backward.

Nova Tech landed neatly and scurried back, pawing at Megan's pants leg. "Nova's scared! That ugly dude almost made me barf! Hug hug!" Megan knelt and scooped the littlebot up, then casually hurled it back toward the thugs behind Victor.

The thugs shrank back, shielding their faces, but nothing came at them. Nova Tech simply dropped two shiny little metal pellets during its landing and zipped back to Megan's side for comfort.

Seeing no danger, the goons let down their guard.

Bad move.

The pellets exploded into spinning rings of razor-thin blades that zipped around their ankles.

Screams erupted as the tough guys dropped like dominoes, clutching their legs and howling in pain.

Tristan grabbed Nova Tech."Nice job."

Two tiny red hearts lit up in its eyes. "Master is the best, the most handsome!"

Megan rolled her eyes and stuffed it back in her pocket.

That's when one of the thugs pulled a gun and aimed it at them.

In a flash, Tristan stepped in front of Megan and fired.

Right then, the side window shattered-followed by that unmistakable splat of bullet hitting flesh.

Headshot.Twice.One to the temple, one between the eyes.

The guy dropped instantly.

Seconds later, a squad of armed operatives in full tactical gear stormed in, guns raised, securing the room and surrounding the fallen men.

Megan grabbed Tristan, checking him over. Her nose stung, heart thumping as she threw herself into hi arms. "You idiot, why'd you take the bullet for me?"

He gently pulled her close, fingertips brushing through her hair. "It's my job to keep you safe."

Megan shook her head furiously. "No. I want to protect you too." She looked up at him, her voice soft but steady. "You could've just walked in and taken him out, couldn't you?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't think it'd get this bad," she muttered with a frown. "They actually had guns."

Tristan's gaze was warm, indulgent. "Well, you wanted to see how we do things, right? It'd be no fun just handing the guy over to you. You needed a little taste of the real thing."

Megan pouted. "Great. Guess I really am the drama."Tristan noticed Megan's eyes were getting red, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "Of course not. You're everything to me."

Soon,everyone, including Daniel, was taken out of the locker room.

Megan asked with curiosity, "Who was that sniper? That shot was solid!"

Tristan gave a sly grin, eyeing a leg stepping into the room, and quipped, "Cameron, Ice Cam!"

The leg instantly retracted.

Cameron wiped his face, feeling seriously attacked. Dang, that hurt.

Not only did she roast him with a nickname, she practically joked about the boss's life. If his hand had slipped just a little today, one of those thugs could've shot Tristan to pieces.

At Prestige Club.

Daniel had been relocated to an underground room. Max treated and bandaged his gunshot wound.

Once done,Daniel reached out to the number he was instructed to call.

"I want to hear my daughter's voice."

A voice altered by a modulator came through. "And what if you do? Follow instructions and you might see her again."

Daniel snapped, "How do I know you haven't hurt her?" The voice responded, "Fine,hear for yourself."

"Daddy... Daddy... help me..." Little Myra's crying voice cracked through the line, and Daniel's eyes turned red.

"Don't hurt her. I'll do whatever you want."

"Mess up, and you can bury her yourself."

The call ended.

Tristan and Megan sat across from Kevin. Tristan asked, "Any news?"

Dracopower was a key telecom partner, with access to sensitive data-including SkyEye surveillance.

Kevin nodded, "An abandoned steel plant on the west side of the capital."

Tristan turned to Cameron. "Get the girl out safely. And bring back whoever made that call."

"Got it!" Cameron responded right away.

"I'm going with you," Kevin added before heading out with him.

Then Tristan stood and gently pulled Megan to her feet, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Let's go."

Megan nodded in agreement.

As they reached the exit, Tristan looked back at Daniel and said, "We'll bring your daughter here so you can see her first. She'll be taken to the hospital after that. And keep in mind- the guy who called might not be the one pulling the strings. So when you're locked up with him, don't go overboard."

Basically, beat him up if you must, but don't kill him.

Daniel gave a short nod. "Understood."

Tristan and Megan entered another basement room. A skinny man sat in the corner fast asleep, hugging a laptop bag.

As footsteps approached, he jerked awake and scanned the two with panic in his eyes.

"You.you're Tristan?"

Despair flooded his face. "Why me? Why'd I have to piss off the nightmare boss himself?"

Tristan and Megan flopped onto the sofa. He leaned back lazily with one leg casually crossed over the other,tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"He was just about to hop a flight to Thailand when my guys caught him."

Megan rubbed her chin, blinking with interest. "Trying to flee. or maybe go full ladyboy?"

Tristan smirked, "Don't tempt me. That's actually an idea- snip him, send him back."

The man shook his head like mad. "No, no,please! Have mercy!"

"Talk on your own, or we'll make you."