Without any leads on them, tracking them down after tonight would be next to impossible.

"If we don't let them go, Marcia's as good as dead."

Aloys stood his ground, cold as ice, eyes narrowed with a sly glint. "If she really is a genetic mutant, she'll have to come back to the Isle of Veil for the cure. And besides..."

His gaze darkened a shade, lips curving into a wicked smile. “She's not the only mutant out there."

Rena froze, then pieced it together in an instant.

Of course.

There was another one. Someone who had already reached out to the genetic research institute. That one would be way easier to control than this brat.

No cure meant she'd die eventually anyway.

Thinking about it, Rena felt a lot better.

As for Mr. X...

Rena glanced up at the monitor, eyes locked on Anthony, lips pressed tight.

They would definitely meet again.

Next time, he wouldn't get so lucky.

With Aloys and Rena watching, the group left the casino.

The bodyguards stayed tense, on edge, but nobody dared to make a move. They

just watched as the car pulled away from The Gilded Wheel.

"This is embarrassing," one of the bodyguards muttered under his breath.

"Aloys and Rena were so confident this was in the bag. Who could've seen this coming..."

"Five hundred against five, and we still lost."

"No one gets away with making the Hawk family look like fools twice. Except for Mr. X, apparently."

They traded glances, looking back at the casino entrance. The place had just been fixed, only to get trashed all over again.

No one had any words left.

***

Once they'd shaken Aloys's men, the sports car sped toward the airport.

Inside, Hans was driving, Adonis in the passenger seat. Both kept sneaking glances

in the mirror, checking out the two in the back.

Charlotte looked like she was about to explode.

"Lottie..."

Anthony leaned back, turning toward her, a hint of a smile in his dark eyes. "Weren't you supposed to be in Novaria? When did you get to the Isle of Veil?"

"You lied to me."

Charlotte grabbed his tie and yanked it down, hard. "Anthony, you've got some nerve!"

"Yeah, I messed up."

Anthony caught her hand, quick to admit it. He nudged his nose against hers, voice

rough. "I found the bracelet. Happy now?"

"You'd risk your life for a bracelet?”

Charlotte's mind went fuzzy hearing

that.

the bracelet in. look

of hinted. Anthon

atitagam will you?"

Look at what?

Anthony took her hand and stared for a few seconds. The smile slowly faded from

his face.

"The bracelet..."

His voice was low, rough, and a little cold. “This isn't yours?"

"It looks a lot like mine."

Except hers had a broken clasp, and the color was a little darker. They looked almost the same at a glance, but they weren't.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, leaning in close, her voice soft. "Were you trying to surprise me or something?"

Seeing the storm brewing in

Anthony's eyes, Charlotte just

smiled casual and ed

mean, I am surprised almost became a widow tonight!"

So he'd nearly gotten himself killed over a fake bracelet?

Anthony's face clouded over even more.