Debra''s lips tightened into a thin line. "Looks like I underestimated you. Turns out, you''re not as dumb as you act." "Thanks for thepliment."


    "That wasn''t apliment."


    Drake''s gaze flickered to where Marion held Debra''s hand, his smirk fading away. "I have to hand it to you, Marion. If Debra had followed Lara upstairs just now, she would have been my hostage. I thought your time away from overseas might''ve dulled your edge, but you''re just as annoyingly sharp as ever."


    "I''m ttered," Marion replied calmly. "After all these years, I still can''t outmatch your underhandedness."


    Drake chuckled and perched himself on the armrest of a nearby sofa. "Well, let''s skip the small talk. I don''t like traitors, and you know that. If you hadn''t shown up, I might''ve let this drag out a bit longer for fun. But since you''re here, you''re not leaving."


    Around the vi, his men were already in position, and Marion''s special team was being held at bay.


    Marion nced at his smug expression and said evenly, "You seem to forget something."


    Drake raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Enlighten me."


    Marion''s voice remained calm, almost bored. "This ce is technically my turf, not yours."


    Right on cue, the sound of car horns red outside the gates.


    As Drake listened, his unease grew. Kale also felt something was off. "Boss..."


    Marion continued, "On my turf, I can call in as many people as I want. And since I figured you might try something clever, I came prepared."


    Screams then echoed from outside the estate. Drake bolted upright, striding toward the window.


    He looked out and saw the sea of people flooding past his defenses.


    "You gotta be kidding me!" he barked, his face stormy.


    The sheer number of Marion''s reinforcements left Drake''s people trembling.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Debra


    a


    her arms,ing to


    Drake might be


    swno


    but he was not that smart. belongs to


    "Boss, let it go," Kale whispered.


    If this escted into an all-out fight, it wouldn''t just be a disaster.


    Drake clenched his jaw. "This is your


    turf, and l give you that. But think twice. Without my supply, Debra will suffer from the withdrawal


    SWction."


    But the mention of drugs only served to fuel Marion''s anger. He''d seen the toll they took on her firsthand. Even though he''d exacted revenge on Drake, it never felt like enough.


    Before he could react, Debra suddenlyughed.


    "Oh, don''t worry about me. I''m in excellent health, thanks to the small dose you gave me."


    "You''re fine?"


    "I quit."


    "You quit?"


    "Why the surprise?"


    Drake didn''t believe her for a second.


    Drugs were not alcohol. People couldn''t just quit them like they wanted.