Brendan pushed the woman he was holding away from him, his lips curling into a malicious smile. “Miss Spencer, are you seriously going to point a gun at me just to protect someone close to Katelyn?” In Brendan’s eyes, anyone associated with Katelyn was also connected to Vincent. He didn’t care about killing all of them.

But now, Brendan wondered who Sophia was really trying to protect. He found himself captivated by this thought.

Still, Sophia stood firm, unfazed. She placed the cold barrel of the gun against Brendan’s forehead once more, her presence icy and deadly, like a demon ready to drag him into the depths of darkness.

“You can try. Let’s see if you can survive my bullet.”

In that instant, Brendan was convinced she would pull the trigger. The woman beside him was trembling, too scared to utter a sound, afraid that she might be the one to catch a bullet in her head.

Sophia then holstered her gun and walked away.

Brendan watched her leave, then angrily snatched a wine glass from the table and threw it to the floor.

The glass shattered, sending fragments flying in all directions. One of the pieces shot up and grazed the woman’s calf, cutting deep into her skin. Blood slowly began to trickle out from the wound. But she remained silent, too frightened to even groan.

Brendan’s face twisted in anger. “Damn it! One day, I’ll make that bitch regret it. I’ll drag her into bed and teach her a lesson. She acts all high and mighty. Does she really think I’m afraid of her?” If Vincent weren’t such a challenge to deal with, Brendan wouldn’t have to bother keeping their delicate alliance intact or tolerating Sophia’s defiance. Not for a second!

In the next instant, Brendan kicked at the woman’s wounded leg. “What are you still doing here? Scram!”

The woman stumbled and fell to the floor. Her hand slammed into the shattered glass, cutting a deep gash into her palm. The pain was unbearable, but she forced herself to keep quiet, suppressing the screams that threatened to escape. She was all too familiar with Brendan’s ruthlessness and cruelty. A mere misstep could provoke him to end her life in an instant.

Brendan’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous energy radiating from him.

That bitch, Sophia, said he couldn’t drag anyone innocent into this. Did that mean he now had to think twice before acting against anyone other than Katelyn and Vincent?

Before this alliance, he followed his own impulses without question. Now, was he really supposed to obey her orders?

сαρ g﹒

Damn it! The more Brendan thought about it, the angrier he became.

He frowned, his thoughts replaying the day’s events. Today, the only ones other than Katelyn and Vincent at the restaurant were Jaxen and a young woman. If Sophia was protecting someone, it had to be one of them.

A realization suddenly dawned on Brendan. His lips twisted into a scornful grin. “No way! Does she have a thing for Jaxen?”

To go to such lengths for a man? Maybe Sophia wasn’t as tough as she seemed. Once a woman gave her heart to a man, she revealed a vulnerability.

Brendan recognized a chance to use this to his advantage against Sophia. Facing off against Vincent might be a losing battle, but Jaxen, with his inferior skills, would be an easy target for Brendan.

Thinking about it, Brendan’s grin grew wider. He didn’t spare another glance at the woman still on the floor as he left. Since some were now untouchable, he would steer clear of Jaxen for the time being. Regarding the rest… He was certainly ready to take action!

Just at that moment, Sophia was leaving Brendan’s place when her phone started to ring. Upon seeing the caller ID, her face subtly shifted before she picked up.

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