Anxiety gnawed at Cyrus as time ticked away. His colleagues had yet to extract any useful information from the leader of the assassins they were interrogating.


    Firstly, the assassins weren''t locals, exining their audacity in attacking the policemissioner. Secondly, the transaction with their client was recorded offshore, making investigation impossible. Even torture wouldn''t make them talk.


    The station chief arrived at Sna City Police Bureau over an hourter and made a stern request for Cyrus to release Nichs.


    While Cyrus wrestled with the immense pressure, Alyssa was at the hospital, personally tending to a minor scratch on Jasper''s knuckles. Her heart ached at the sight.


    "Didn''t you promise to take care of yourself?" she chided gently.


    "Five years younger, and that wouldn''t have been a scratch," Jasper replied with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He wrapped his left arm around her and pulled her close. He held her hand with his bandaged right hand. "Seems like age is catching up to me."


    Alyssa''s heart skipped a beat when she felt him squeezing her bottom. "Who says you''re old? You''re full of life," she mumbled.


    "Is that so?" Jasper''s eyes narrowed yfully. Though his right hand was limited, his left hand was free. Maintaining hisposure, he gave her bottom another squeeze. "Only you darling, would know for sure my true vigor."


    A blush crept up Alyssa''s cheeks. "Hey! Can''t you be serious for once?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Despite their long rtionship, his flirtatiousness still flustered her. Snuggling closer, she voiced her concerns, "Saving Nichs doesn''t solve everything. Cyrus hasn''t updated us, likely because they''re at a standstill.


    "This could drag on until dawn. If


    they can''t get information, have to release him, and that


    mean bigger problems for hel


    Jasper held her tightly, his gaze darkening. "He''s a tough one. Earlier, he wanted to kill the leader. It looks like he''s determined to stay on his dark path."


    "He''s in too deep with Jameson now to turn back," Alyssa agreed, frowning. "Our only option is to get him convicted."


    But that was easier said than done.


    Just then, Alyssa''s phone rang, breaking the tension.


    "It''s Axel," she said, surprised, and nced at Jasper before answering.


    Without a preamble, Axel''s voice


    with urgency. "Lyse, I


    cracmportant video to your enta belongs to  Colet


    You


    need to see it now!"


    Axel''s agitation was unusual. Alyssa immediately opened her email, Jasper leaning in to watch with her.


    The video was short, less than a minute long.


    Yet, by the end of it, both Alyssa and Jasper were left in utter shock, their blood boiling with a fury they hadn''t felt before.


    "Where did you get this, Axel?" Alyssa''s voice trembled with emotion.


    "Amber... It was from Amber!" Axel choked out, his breathing heavy.