“Even though I hate Pierre, I hope he''s okay." Nina rested her head on Percy''s chest, feeling the


    warmth of his body and the strong thumping of his heart.


    Nina was no saint. The reason why she hoped Pierre was fine was because she did not want the days


    ahead to be difficult for Percy.


    Especially when both Karen and Old Master Mallory were concerned about his life.


    If they failed to save Pierre this time and if something happened to him, Old Master Mallory and Karen


    would definitely me Percy. Their days ahead would get harder and harder.


    Therefore, even though Nina held a grudge against Pierre, she still prayed that nothing bad would


    happen to him.


    Percy cupped her face and nted a hot, wet kiss on her forehead.


    He was destined to not get any sleep tonight.


    After all, what happened to Pierre was different from anything they had experienced before.


    Previously, he could personally participate in it while knowing the scores. However, Pierre was being


    held captive in X City at the moment while he had to stay in A City.


    The Ind of Despair had a base in A City. They might be watching them from somewhere outside.


    If Percy left A City, the members in X City would be informed and Pierre could be moved to another


    ce any time. This would nullify the efforts made by Gordan earlier.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Hence, Percy had no choice but to wait in A City and call the shots behind the scene. He could not


    make any real moves to rescue Pierre.


    Neither could Luke nor Jim.


    That was why Percy felt so uneasy. He could not participate in this mission. He could only wait for the


    results.


    This made him more anxious than those who were waiting to take action.


    Percy could not sleep, but Nina had to.


    He urged her to rest, "It''s gettingte. Go to sleep."


    Nina hesitated for a moment but eventually shook her head. She could tell that Percy had no intention


    of resting.


    How could she rest?


    Maybe Percy was worried about the mission, or he was worried about Pierre. Still, Nina was worried


    about Percy and the mission.


    Nina held a deep grudge against Pierre. Arge part of her previous misery and despair in her life


    came from him.


    She wanted him dead.


    However, what if he really died? Nina dared not think about how the Mallory family would pressure


    Percy.


    Percy knew it well. When faced with the possibility of either Pierre dying or being rescued and him


    continuing topete with him, Percy would rather choose thetter option.


    "Hey, listen, I''ll let you know if anything happens." Percy knew that Nina was worried about him and the


    mission, which was why she refused to sleep.


    "I can''t sleep." Nina buried her head in his chest and replied with a muffled voice.


    She thought Percy had won against Pierre, and everything would be fine after that. Who would have


    known what would happen next?


    Nina felt sorry for him.


    "Do you still have the sleeping pills the doctor prescribed for you?" asked Percy. Despite Nina''s


    improved psychological state, she still asionally suffered from insomnia. Hence, the doctor


    continued to prescribe sleeping pills for her and advised her to only take them when she could not


    sleep.


    "Yes." Nina took a deep breath and sighed. "Sigh."


    "I''ll go to sleep, but you have to stay by my side until I fall asleep. Then you may deal with Pierre''s


    matter." Nina reckoned that the operation would not start that early.


    Otherwise, Percy would already be sitting in the study room instead of convincing her to sleep.


    "Okay." Percy''s voice was gentle. He followed Nina upstairs to the bedroom.


    Nina took a sleeping pill andy down on the bed.


    Percy leaned against the headboard, keeping herpany.


    They held each other''s hands tightly. Nina was like a child, holding onto his hand and snuggling her


    face up against it. She closed her eyes obediently.


    Half an hourter, Percy gently withdrew his hands when Nina''s breathing became even and she was


    truly asleep.


    As Percy watched her peaceful sleeping face, he got up quietly, picked up his phone, put on his shoes,


    and went to the study.


    It was only two o''clock in the morning.


    He sat in his office chair, opened the drawer, and took out a cigarette. Then, he lit it and watched the


    time slowly tick by as he waited in silence.


    What happened next would depend on how well Gordan performed tonight.


    Percy did not tell Old Master Mallory about the operation this time.


    The old master was getting old, and he tended to be conservative when it came to things like this. He


    would not agree to such a risky approach.


    After all, he was worried that he would outlive the younger generation. That was why he was not willing


    to do it no matter how it turned out.


    However, if the kidnappers were really allowed to lead them around like a puppet on a string, more


    people would challenge the authority of the Mallory family in the future.


    The Mallory family had been able to stand tall in A City for years because of the ruthlessness of the


    Mallory family members.


    The idea that one could achieve high status without offending anyone was not true.


    Even Pierre, who had previously worked for the Mallory family, had offended many people in both the


    criminal underworld and thewful world.


    Therefore, what Percy did was to protect the future of the Mallory family and to protect Nina.


    Otherwise, those people in the underworld would try every means to kidnap the people of the Mallory


    family and his beloved woman, Nina, upon learning this. How could they allow that?


    Besides, while others might like bringing a few bodyguards along with them, Percy knew Nina well


    enough. She would not like being followed around by bodyguards all the time.


    Hence, no matter what, he had to make sure Gordan rescue Pierre by force this time.


    It was 4:40 in the morning.


    X City.


    Gordan yawned and peered through his telescope, looking at the building across from him. "What''s the


    situation?" asked Gordan.


    "They''re all resting," replied Leroy, who stood by his side.


    Gordan knew that five o''clock in the morning was the time they were most rxed and unguarded. One


    of them was a night person.


    He never slept before 3 a.m.


    Those who slept after 3 a.m. would enter deep sleep by 5 a.m.


    Their consciousness was the weakest now. It was the perfect time for them to take action.


    Gordan yawned again. "If that bastard could just fall asleep earlier, we wouldn''t have to stay up this


    late."


    Leroy could not help but tease him, "Didn''t you juste back from Russia? Isn''t it only 11 p.m. there?


    You''re already tired at this time? Mr. Norton, I can see you have a healthy daily routine."


    Gordan saw through Leroy''s jest.


    Then, he replied, "I''ve been in A City for a long time now, and my jetg is already reversed. Staying up


    all night is tough. I need to smoke a cigarette, or I''ll be too tired to take actionter."


    After that, Gordan put down his telescope and pulled out his cigarette.


    "Can I have one?" asked Leroy. He had already finished smoking his cigarettes.


    "My cigarettes taste stronger than others. Try one," replied Gordan. He shared his preferred brand of


    cigarette generously with him.


    Leroy took it from him. Then, he lit it and took a puff.


    The intense menthol vor overwhelmed his senses.


    "Cough, cough." Leroy did not expect the cigarette to be icy cold. He could not help but choke. "How


    can you handle such a strong cigarette?"