Before Yvonne could even get a word in, Chloe cut her off, adding, “Isn't this what you called a 'wife-stealing grudge'?"

Yvonne was speechless.

This whole mess was completely unexpected.

She never thought the chaos exploding at Dan's place would be because of Xander.

Under Xander's relentless, heavy-handed tactics, Dan's right-hand man, Carroll, was starting to crack. Approaching Dan respectfully, Carroll tried, “Sir, maybe we should..."

But before he could finish, Dan snapped, “Get out of my sight!”

Carroll froze.

Dan shot Xander a deadly glare, barking an order to his men: "Take them out."

Dan had lost it.

If Xander dared to come to New Haven, Dan would make sure he never walked out again.

Xander hadn't come alone. In a heartbeat, both sides were at each other's throats, fists and bullets flying.

Suddenly, one of Dan's men rushed up, panic in his voice. “Boss, bad news-Lacey's missing!"

Dan froze.

Carroll paled.

Gunfire still echoed around them, but for Dan, everything seemed to fall silent in an instant.

He stared the messenger down, demanding, “What did you say?”

He could barely hear his own voice.

Only one thought echoed in his mind: If Lacey's gone, every blade and bullet will be aimed at him.

Right then, Dan felt like he was standing at the eye of the storm, with all hell about to break loose around him. The man stammered, “She disappeared on the way to the council meeting this morning."

Dan went still.

The council.

He remembered—he'd known about this meeting for a week. Lacey was supposed to use it to finally put Derek Murray in his place.

For the past week, Derek and Lacey had been going at each other's throats.

No matter what Derek tried, he couldn't bring Lacey down.

Who could have guessed Derek still had a card up his sleeve, waiting for this moment?

Dan's eyes narrowed.

Carroll stepped forward again. "Sir, what should we—"

Dan raised a hand, silencing him.

Carroll glanced at him anxiously. “Now's not the time to get tangled up with Mr. Schultz.”

They had bigger problems. They needed to get their own house in order, fast.

Dan looked across the yard at Xander.

Especially when he caught Xander's

smug, cocky grin, rage burned

Dan Soest like wildfire Content, belongs to FindNovels

Finally, he swallowed it down, raising his hand. “Everyone, stand down!"

At his command, his men immediately stopped.

Xander's crew followed suit, eyeing Dan's side with simmering hostility.

Xander took a slow drag from his cigar, the other hand spinning his pistol.

"Well? Have you made up your mind?"

Dan shut his eyes, fighting to steady his breathing.

He scoffed coldly, "Go get her yourself."

With that, he strode off, not looking back.

With Lacey missing, his world spinning out of control-he

spare another thought for

spare another thought for Bet

Gontent belongs to FindNovels

After all, Xander was here to fetch her. She'd be safe.

As for himself... he just wasn't strong enough.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

Meanwhile, Yvonne was up on the balcony, arms crossed, watching Dan's retreat.

"Tch. What a fake bastard,” she muttered.

Chloe didn't say a word.

Honestly, seeing Dan like this, Chloe was more more convinced than ever he was never the tight guy for Yvonne. FindNovels

After all, years ago, he'd faked his own death without a second thought.