Chapter 146

Inside his private quarters aboard the Erebus, the massive Cruise ship cloaked in stealth above city orbit, Jaden sat cross-legged, bathed in soft amber lighting. The room was minimalistic, calm — a sharp contrast to the storm brewing outside its steel walls.

His eyes were closed in meditation, but his mind was fully alert.

A sleek black earpod blinked faintly in his right ear.

"Sector 12's perimeter sweep completed. No irregularities," came a crisp female voice — Hope, stationed at the eastern quadrant of the ship.

“Sector 4 is clear too," another voice chimed in, rougher, lazier, but unmistakably alert. Drax, somewhere deep in the lower deck... munching loudly.

“Drax, are you eating during a security report?" Hope snapped, annoyance sharp in her tone.

"Hey, chicken don't eat itself," Drax replied between bites. "Besides, the moment anything explodes, I'll drop it. Scouts honor."

Jaden opened one eye, the corner of his lip twitching with a subtle smirk. "Just don't get grease on the console again."

Before Drax could respond-

Click.

The quiet hiss of the sliding door snapped through the silence.

Jaden didn't flinch.

He felt the presence before she even stepped inside.

Hannah.

She stood at the doorway in a figure-hugging silk gown, slit high on one leg, the fabric shimmering like liquid wine under the dim lights. Her perfume carried with it a mixture of allure and desperation.

“Busy?” she asked, her voice soft, honeyed. Her eyes wandered around the room, pretending to admire it — but she was watching him.

Jaden didn't move. "You came in without knocking. Say what you want and leave." "Ouch. So cold," she said with a coy smile, stepping further in. "Why are you always so tough, Jaden? You carry the weight of the world like it owes you something."

He opened both eyes now. Calm. Unblinking. "What are you trying to do, Hannah?" She approached slowly, hips swaying, her tone dropping to a whisper. "You ever think about relaxing? Letting go for once?" She leaned down beside him. “You've done enough. You've earned rest... pleasure... something softer."

Jaden stared at her, the silence stretching into steel.

"Who sent you?” he asked flatly.

Her smile faltered - just for a second. Then she sighed, standing upright.

"...Victor Rivers," she admitted, almost guiltily. "He said... if you're still angry about what Alex did, you might retaliate. He wanted me to 'calm your mind'... make sure you don't take out your wrath on their entire bloodline."

A bitter chuckle left Jaden's lips.

"So now they're offering you up as a peace offering?” he said, shaking his head. "Guess they've run out of bribes and bodyguards."

Hannah's face twisted with something between shame and offense.

"I volunteered, Jaden." Her voice wavered. "I wasn't ordered to do this. I... I wanted

to. Because somewhere along the way, I started... liking you."

He tilted his head. "You mean crushing on me."

She nodded.

A long silence followed. Her eyes searched his face, hoping for softness... for curiosity... for desire.

But all she saw in Jaden's gaze was steel.

She forced a laugh. “So... are you going to take the bait?”

In a flash, Jaden stood, towering over her. Calm. Unshaken. And then-

He

Yet firmly - by the ear liet g down, grabbed her

an

t child, and dragged b

toward the door content

"Hey ! Ow! What are you-Jaden!"

With a flick, he shoved the door open and tossed her out with a single motion that

landed her on her feet - barely.

She turned, flustered, gown rustling.

He pointed at her.

"Go back to Victor. Tell him this: I

hold no grudge against the Rivers family. I don't waste energy on Cor corpses." Conte .net>

The door hissed shut before she could speak again.

"That bastard!" she cursed.

Down in the ship's monitoring corridor, Drax had just reached for another piece of drumstick when

His senses flared.

The easy grin dropped from his face.

A sudden ripple - subtle, invisible to most

of the ship. A dark, razor-sharp

ean through the energy ge

on flickered across his mind

Murderous intent.

His eyes sharpened like blades. The chicken dropped from his hand.

He was already moving before it hit the floor.

"Hope," he growled into the comms, "lock down Deck Seven and reroute all feeds to

me."

"Why? What is it?"

He didn't answer. His eyes narrowed, homing in.

Someone had breached their domain.

Someone with death in their heart.

Drax's lips curled into a savage grin as his body shimmered, armor plating forming

around him in seconds.

He cracked his neck.

"Don't think you can escape, bastard..." he muttered.

Then he vanished down the corridor like predator, chasing the assassin.