At four in the morning, by the docks of Wavery, a man stood alone in the wind. The atmosphere around him was so intense that it was nearly impossible to approach him. The only sound was the rhythmic lapping of the sea against the shore, creating an eerie silence that was almost unbearable.
Calvin had raced over in his car. Upon witnessing the scene, he was momentarily taken aback before quickly stepping forward. “If it comes to it, I’ll bring a few teams and confront him directly. We have to fight, no matter what.”
Dexter stared out at the distant sea, where Arnold’s ship had long since departed. His voice was restrained and deep as he said, “See for yourself.”
Calvin paused, taking the phone from Dexter’s hand. A video was playing on the screen. In it, Josie was bound in water, half of her body submerged. She was cursing Arnold, calling him a monster, her voice filled with agony.
Her anguished cries were like knives, piercing deeply into Dexter’s heart.
Calvin was immediately at a loss for words. Arnold has a hostage in his hands. A firefight is out of the question. Dexter has too many considerations to take into account.
The attendant of the Russell family gritted his teeth and said, “If it really comes to it, we’ll just return the money. Trading it for a life will be worth it no matter what.”
“No way!” A voice echoed from behind, unmistakably Caleb’s. He had rushed over in haste, leading his team. “Compromising with Arnold at this point is akin to digging our own graves. Do you think he’s after money? What he wants is Dexter’s endless submission!”
Dexter remained silent. His heart palpitations never truly subsided. However, at that moment, he had no choice but to muster all his strength to stay calm.
Arnold sent the video ten minutes ago, ending it with a statement. “Dexter, I want to see how far you’re willing to go for her.”
Aboard the ship, Arnold never laid a hand on Josie. Even he thought he wasn’t so heartless and cruel. He believed that Josie could escape danger through her own abilities. As long as they left the country, he would be able to save her.
However, Arnold discovered the warehouse theft ahead of time.
Upon seeing that video, Dexter immediately knocked over the cup of coffee in front of him. He was consumed by immense anger and regret.
“Dexter, this is the moment where your determination is put to the test. As long as you don’t give in, Arnold’s scheme will be foiled.”
Finally, Dexter couldn’t hold back any longer. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. “And what about her? She could die!”
Caleb was stunned by Dexter’s roar. Caleb’s anxiety was also becoming palpable. “You’ve forgotten. We have spies by Wayne’s side. One of them is on the ship today. I’ll find a way to rescue her.”
Dexter didn’t believe in such promises. He snatched the phone back. “Arnold is after me. He won’t back down so easily if I don’t make my stance clear.”
As he spoke, he dialed a number on his phone. “Make the call. I want to meet with Wayne.”
“Dexter!” Caleb stormed forward, his voice filled with fury. “Do you have any idea how much time we’ve spent setting up this operation? How many of our comrades are out there on the front lines? If you run off to find Wayne, what about the transport of the goods? What about the cash here? How am I supposed to trust you if you’re dropping the ball at the most critical moment?”
Dexter raised his voice as well and enunciated, “Mr. Zabinski! How can I keep calm if Arnold is holding her hostage?”
The wind was fierce by the sea. Tension hung in the air as the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
Calvin was the first to step forward to diffuse the tension. “Mr. Zabinski, let me accompany him. I believe Dexter will find a solution. After all, a person’s life is at stake right now.”
“I know that. I mentioned there was an undercover. Since Josie willingly took part in this operation, that proved she’s far from being someone who disregarded the bigger picture-”
Before he could finish his sentence, Dexter had already taken the lead, striding past a crowd of people and leaving. His retreating figure radiated suppressed rage and a murderous aura, emotions he hadn’t openly displayed in many years.
