bChapter /bb116 /b

    ra’s bPOV /b

    “Andre?”

    There’s brow furrowed. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “If i recall correctly, he’s Danton’s son.

    “Faster son, Kimberly corrected, her tone sharp

    Thome nodded slowly. “Right, Lance had Danton adept him after the former king passed, Smart more, really Keep your enemies close, as they say ”

    ra, still trying to digest this revtion, shook her head. “But if Andre is really the King’s bson/b, why di

    i son, why didn’t Lance kill him? Why keep him alive at all”

    Kimberly shrugged, unconcerned, “Who knows? Maybe there are things about the old King Lance still doesn’t understand. Things that make Andre useful. You know Lance doesn’t share his ns with anyone. Not even with his closest allies, like why he keeps you all around. We’re all just guessing!

    bmcves /b

    ra’s lips tightened, her mind racing Kimberly was right. Lance never made sense, but he always had a reason for everything.

    Still, sachething about Andre didn’t sit right with her.

    “Do you have any ideas on how to bbreak /bhim?” Thome asked, his voice t but eager. “Is there anything that might make him crack? Weak spots, something we can use?”

    Kimberly sighed, rolling her eyes. “Andre’s a spoiled bratb, /blike you saw for yourself. Danton’s been good to him, gave him everything–money, women, booze, whatever. He’s not the type to be bought off, though. He’s loyal to Danton, and that’s not something you can buse /bagainst him.”

    ra’s mind spun, trying to make sense of this. She leaned forward, her voice tense. “Wait. You’re saying he’s really that close to Danton! Are you sure about that?”

    “Yeah, everyone knows it. Danton’s treated Andre like his own for years. They’ve got a bond.” Kimberly looked at ra blike /bshe was an idiot for even questioning it

    But ra wasn’t so sure. Something wasn’t adding up.

    “What’s on y

    ra’s

    on your mind?” Thorne asked, bhis /bbvoice /bdropping, sensing her hesitation.

    gare flickered between Kimberly and Thorne, trying to piece things together. “When they dragged Andre out of the nightclub earlier, his shirt was loose. I noticed something.

    b“/bSomething? What do you

    u mean?” Kimberly’s voice bwas /bcurious now.

    “There were scars,” ra said, her voice dropping to a bnear /bwhisper. “Old scars. And not just any bscars/b—burn marks. bWeals/b. It looked like someone had really hurt him.”

    Kimberlyughed it off, leaning back in her chair. “You’re overthinking it. After what you guys did to him, it makes sense he’d have some marks. bYou /b

    kicked his ass

    ra shook her head, not buying it. “No, Kimberly/These were old scars. Burn marks. Weals

    The room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone looked between each other, processing her words.

    “If Andre is really Danton’s son, why would there be evidence bof /babuse? And worse, who would darey a hand on him?” ra’s voice w whisper.

    Thorne leaned forward, his expression dark. “You’re sure about what you saw?”

    ra nodded, swallowing hard, bShe /bcould still picture the marks on Andie’s skin, vivid in her mind.

    ra paused, doubts creeping into her thoughts. “Maybe I misinterpreted

    Kimberly shrugged, unconvinced. “Maybe he bumped into something. Who knows? But Danton loves his son, and he would never let anyone hurt m

    ra bit her lip, not willing to back down. She was sure of what she saw, but doubts crept in now that rise questioned it

    “It’s nothing,” she muttered, waving it off. “I probably saw it wrong.”

    Thorne put a hand on her shoulder, offering a small squeeze. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s focus on how to approach Andre for now.”

    Kimberly yawned loudly, uninterested in the conversation. “Do you mind if i skip this one? You know, like you said, we hav

    Thorne gave her a curt nod, acknowledging her indifference. He turned to ra. “Ready to go

    ra nced over at Jory, who looked like he was being dragged into the conversation against his will. He made a half–hearted attempt to stand, only to flop back into his seat, as if something invisible was holding him down.

    Kimberly leaned in, cing a hand on his shoulder with a mocking smile. “No, Jory. You stay. We’ve got it covered.”

    Jory, clearly ufortable, swallowed hard and nodded. His bce /bflushed red under Kimberly’s teasing

    “You sure?” ra asked again, her voice gentle. bShe /bdidn’t want him feeling pressured into something he didn’t want to do.

    Jory licked his dry lips, his eyes flicking nervously between ra and Kimberly. He gave a small nod.

    Kimberly’sughter was light, almost teasing “Attaboy.” She packed his check, bleaving /bhim blushing even more fiercely.

    rs smiled, then motioned to Thome. Together, they left the room, leaving Jory behind in his awkward difort.

    The nightclub was alive with chaos. The music pumped through the walls, bthe /bcrowd pushing and shoving on the dance floor as the night deepened. ra could feel eyes on them, the whispers of recognition trailing them. They chose the back doorb, /bavoiding the throngs of people who had noticed them earlier.

    Once outside, ra looked up at Thome. “How should we approach Andre? It’s gonna be hard aher… you know, tonight.”

    Thorne’s voice turned cold, devoid of remorse. “If I had to do it agajh, I’d kick bhis /bbass /ball over again. He deserves it. But honestly, making friends with Andre was never going to happen. Not with Danton in the picture.”

    ra sighed. She knew Thorne was right. Andre wasn’t the problem–it was bDanton/b. But the whole situation left a bitter taste in her mouth.

    answers we need.”

    “Don’t worry,” Thorne said, his voice softening. “I’ll figure it out, if necessary, just take Andre somewhere bfar /bbaway /band get the answ

    ra gave him a bhalf/b–smile. She appreciated bhis /bdetermination, but violence wasn’t the answer–not byet/b, anyway. She didn’t want to go down that read bunless /bit was absolutely necessary.

    They reached the employee exit, and Thorne pushed open the door. But as soon as he stepped outside, he froze, signaling for ra to stay quiet

    She obeyed, peeking over his shoulder as he hold a finger to his lips.

    In the alleyway, there were a few people standing around a trash bin. It was Andre, nked by a few guards,

    ra’s brow furrowed. “Why isn’t he in a hospital already? What’s he doing here?”

    Then, she heard his voice, it was shaky, strained with pain.

    “How much longer?” Andre asked, his wordsced with frustration.

    bOne /bof the guards nced at his watch, then said, “Soon, Master Andre“,

    Andre cursed, wincing as he shifted on his feet. “You should take me to the damn hospitall My leg is broken! I shouldn’t be waiting hirets

    The guard repeated himself, his tone respectful but distant. “Very soon, Master Andre

    ra exchanged a nced with Thome. This wasn’t right. Andre was clearly in pain, but why was he forced to wait? And by whom?

    A car engine banned in the distance. The ck car appeared in the alley, its ties crunching against the gravel as it came to a stop in front of Andre

    The passenger door swung open.

    A man stepped out.

    It was General Danton

    Andre’s body stiffened. Cold sweat dotted his forehead. He looked up at Danton, his voice barely above a whisper. “Father?”

    Danton’s lips curled into a small sneer as he pulled something from his pocket.

    A whip.

    With a sharp crack, Danton bshed /bout, the whip biting into Andro’s faceb. /b

    SPLASH.

    The sickening sound of flesh tearing echoed through the alley as blood spilled from the wound.

    ra’s breath hitched. Her mouth fell open in shock. She almost gasped, but Thorne mped a hand over her mouth, silencing her in time.

    “Kneel,” Dantonmanded, his voice cold as ice.

    With a cruel twist, he pressed his foot onto Andre’s broken leg, grinding it down until Andre’s body jerked bin /bagony

    “Fucking kneel for me, you worthless piece of shit,” Danton sneered,ughing as Andre writhed beneath him.

    ra felt ba /bchill run through her body as she watched. This wasn’t just punishment–it was something far darker.

    e this?

    Her heart pounded in her chest. What kind of man could treat his own son like

    ?