chapter979

He knew exactly what they wanted from him. His kidney. That was it. He figured they wouldn't actually dare to kill him. He was banking on it. And if this was where his story really ended, maybe that was just fate. The life he was living now already felt like a bonus. Even if he died here, he didn't think he'd regret it.

"You really think you can dodge me?" Dillan's voice practically shook the walls.

Luke's tone was icy. "As long as I'm still breathing, you're not taking her anywhere.

"Oh, so you really want to die? Fine by me, I'll help you out!" Dillan was beyond furious now. He raised his gun, chambered a round.

Another guy rushed over and grabbed his arm. "Dillan, don't lose your head!"

Dillan shoved him off. "He's asking for it!"

"Yeah, but not right now. He's a high-value target. We should report in first."

Dillan curled his lip in a nasty sneer and glared at Luke. Just wait. You're gonna wish you never crossed me."

With that, the two men slung their weapons and herded all the women out of the room.

As soon as they were gone, the tension snapped. The air felt lighter. Grant and Coco rushed to Luke's side, both worried sick. Coco's tears wouldn't stop. She was a wreck.

Luke, does it hurt? This is all my fault... I'm so sorry..."

Luke wiped the blood from his lips and gave her the smallest smile. "Don't worry. I'm okay."

Grant was just a kid, only eight, and he didn't really get what was happening. "Luke, where are they taking Coco? Why are they making all the girls leave?"

Something dark flickered in Luke's eyes. What kind of place let things like this happen? Why wasn't anyone stopping these people? Why did the world have to be this cruel?

Meanwhile, Lydia and Connor had tracked down a lead. They'd heard a new group of people was being held at a hidden transfer base. Lydia guessed Luke might be with them.

She didn't waste a second. She took her people and headed straight for the base Rotato and Sweet Potato brought backup too, coming all the way from Triangle to help out. When they heard Lydia was starting trouble in Southeast Asia, they couldn't wait to join in. They ruled the Triangle now, no one would mess with them, and honestly, they were bored out of their minds. They were itching for a fight.

"Lydia, you go find Luke. Potato and I will take care of the explosives. We'll blow this place sky high."

The terrain around the base was a nightmare. Mountains crisscrossed everywhere; the forest was thick and wild. Deep in those trees was the criminals' stronghold, a place where all kinds of kidnapped people were dumped before being sorted and sent off women got solato clubs or auctioned off underground. Men

were forced into hard labor, or

worse, had their organs sold.

Going by the timing of Luke's disappearance, he had to be here somewhere.

Lydia, Potato, and Sweet Potato had brought a team of six, every one of them top of their game.

"Everyone got the layout memorized?" Lydia asked.

Sweet Potato let out a dramatic sigh. "Lydia, come on. Don't you trust us? You didn't used to be so suspicious."

Lydia just shot him a look. "Stick to the plan."

"Got it."

It was late, but the base was

butth

crawling with armed guards. The main entrance was locked down tight, but there was a little gate near the mountainside, barely guarded at all just two lookouts standing around.

Let's do this, Sweet Potato whispered, adrenaline in his voice. He took the lead

and charged in first.