chapter434

Up close, the twin-headed serpent on his skin looked almost alive, like it might slip free from his body at any second. Both heads were raised high, fangs gleaming, eyes full of malice and cunning. The serpent's body curled around him, every single scale so intricately inked that under the shifting light, it seemed to tremble with life. This wasn't just a tattoo. It was the mark of something dark and powerful inside him, a warning that sent chills down your spine.

He was Viper, the leader of the Viper gang.

"Even Rex got taken out by her!"

The guy reporting the news was kneeling on the floor, too scared to even look up. He was terrified that Viper might just pull a gun and end him on the spot.

"Did you fix that encrypted voice message yet?"

One of Rex's men had managed to send a message right before he died, but someone had messed it up. Now they were trying to recover it.

"N-no, not yet."

Viper's eyes burned red with rage. He slammed his fist into a porcelain vase on the table. It shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere, blood streaming down his hand. He'd thought everything was foolproof this time. He never imagined L could be so ruthless, so sly.

The underling dropped flat on the ground, barely daring to breathe.

"Find her. Keep searching until you do."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Lydia and Connor had already kicked off their whirlwind Paris tour Eiffel Tower, Seine River, Champs- lys es, Pont Alexandre II, Palace of Versailles... every stop was more stunning than the last. Connor's phone was overflowing with photos each one a

tos each one a snapshot of

laughter and sweet moments together.

Next up on their list was the lavender fields. Every summer, the countryside turned into a purple

dream, endless rows of lavenderet

stretching as as you could

Even though dusk was falling Connor had booked the whole place just for them. He'd even planned a surprise for Lydia among the lavender.

What he didn't expect was that someone was following them on the way there.

A deep, heavy rumble started up in the distance, growing louder by the second. A fleet of all-terrain vehicles came barreling down the road, looking like battle-scarred beasts. Their windows were tinted so dark you couldn't see the faces inside, and that only made them feel more dangerous.

At the very back, a few riders on off-road motorcycles darted through traffic with practiced ease. They

were the backup, ready to hand/enet?

anything from behind. The sharp whine of their engines cut through the air daring anyone to get in the way. They moved like ghostly soldiers from the underworld, bringing with them an air of violence and a hunger for victory.

Their next battleground was right up ahead.

Connor narrowed his eyes, something unreadable flashing through them. He reached for his phone, but Lydia stopped him.

"They're here for me, she said quietly. I can handle it."

Connor looked at her in surprise. "Do you know them?"

Lydia gave a half-smile, a little exasperated. "I don't know them at all."

"Then why are they after you?"

She thought for a second before answering. "Three years ago, I exposed the crimes of a syndicate from Southeast Asia. After that, the Azure Alliance kept trying to recruit me. I said no, and ever since, they've been on my tail. They're obsessed. It's honestly ridiculous."