NovelStart
Back in the bedroom, Josiah’s expression soured.
Amiee quirked an eyebrow, “What’s wrong? Did you run out of steam, see things, and get your hopes up for
nothing?”
Josiah was scrutinizing his phone, his brow furrowed. He showed it to Amiee, “It’s a mission straight from the boss,
take a look!”
Amiee glanced at the screen, her face tensing. She tossed the phone aside and turned to rummage for her clothes,
“We need to find her!”
Josiah leapt from the bed, dressed in a flash, and grabbed the car keys.
The early winter night was chilly as Josiah sped through the streets of J City, his car slicing through the cold like
lightning.
Upon reaching Sunset Ridge, Amiee called Estelle.
Estelle’s calm voice came through the phone, “Come on up!”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAt the top floor, Estelle was waiting for them outside the elevator. Instead of ushering them straight inside, she led
Amiee to the apartment opposite and tapped on a black screen mounted on the door, “Quit playing possum, get
out here!”
Dragon emerged with a feigned yawn, “You rang, Estelle?”
“I’ve got someone for you to meet!” Estelle chuckled, turning to Amiee, “This little gadget’s wired to Jonathan’s
place, keeps an eye on my pad. You’re gonna wipe its memory of seeing you guys come over and put it to sleep for
the night!”
Amiee’s gaze sharpened as she looked at Dragon.
Dragon protested loudly, “No way, no way!”
Estelle frowned, “Make it quick!”
Amiee was already in action, pulling out her phone, and a four-dimensional keyboard popped up on the screen. She
began the delicate task of hacking into Dragon’s system, erasing its last five minutes of memory, and commanding
it to hibernate.
Before Dragon could signal Jonathan, its eyes closed and it collapsed with a “thump,” snoring in feigned deep sleep.
Amiee pocketed her phone with a nonchalant, “Done and dusted!”
Josiah, watching from behind, said gravely, “You plan on keeping this from Jonah?”
They followed Estelle into her place, “We’ll talk inside.”
Once seated in the living room, Estelle handed them water and began, her voice even, “I took the mission on my
own. If I need help, I’ll let you know.”
Josiah’s forehead creased, “You had to take this one? The Citadel, you never take jobs from there, forbade us to
even think about it. And now you’re marching in?”
The Citadel was Tripe’s most feared and chaotic domain, a heaven and hell for mortals. No ordinary soul could
enter and leave unscathed.
Estelle nodded, “Yes, it’s a must.”
Amiee studied her, “Boss, you have other reasons, don’t you?”
Estelle’s dark eyes shimmered, “My brother has been missing for four months. I got a lead that he was spotted in
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthe Citadel. I was planning to search for him anyway, and then this mission popped up. I’ve negotiated using this
assignment as leverage to secure his retreat from the shadows, with the condition that I extend my contract with
them by another year.”
Josiah’s shock was palpable, his voice heavy, “If that’s the case, I’m coming with you!”
Estelle shook her head, “It’s complicated there. I’ll scout it out first. Like I said, I’ll reach out if necessary.”
Josiah’s voice was cold, “You going alone is a death wish!”
“I have contacts there,” Estelle reassured, sipping her water. “This stays between us three. Without my say-so, you
two don’t make a move. Don’t screw this up for me.”
Josiah’s face was taut, his chest tight with suppressed emotion.
Amiee asked, “You really won’t tell Jonah?”
Estelle replied, “It’s a level-S secret mission. I’m not allowed to tell anyone. Besides, I never planned to. He finally
got out of the organization, now he’s the heir to the Lamont family. I can’t pull him back in!”
Josiah’s voice held a hint of defiance, “If you don’t tell him and something happens to you, Jonah will lose it!”
Estelle’s eyes lowered, her voice steady, “Which is why, for his sake, I’ll take good care of myself.”
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
