Chapter 569

Hannah made a point of introducing Aanya to Kayce,who was bent over the counter arranging ingredients. "Kayce, meet Aanya-she's the one who helped me out just now."

Kayce lifted his head, his gaze pausing on Aanya for a beat before he gave a short nod. Without another word, he turned back to his task.

When Aanya was gone, the brightness on Hannah's face dimmed. She drifted closer to Kayce, taking up a plate and making a move to rinse it while she whispered, her voice hushed, "Brixton made it public that I was his woman, putting me in a hard position."

Kayce kept his voice quiet, his hands still moving."You should've seen it coming. A man like him keeps what he wants within reach. That only paints a bigger target on your back.""I know." Hannah's eyes flashed with determination."That's why we need to move faster. While cooking Brixton's meals and lending a hand in the casino,l can quietly figure out the weakest point-when the guards swap shifts on the second deck. I'll also look for a way to grab a spare key or find any blind spots in the surveillance cameras."

She hesitated, lowering her voice to a whisper."Alfredo has to be ready the moment we get an opening. As soon as the timing's right, we make a run for it."

Kayce stayed silent for several beats before finally asking, his tone low and wary, "Why the focus on the second deck? How does that connect to the escape?"

Hannah answered honestly, her voice steady, "I want to free those women being held on the second deck."

Kayce shot back, eyes wide, "Areyou out of your mind? You won't be able to get out."

Hannah didn't flinch. "I've already made contact withmy people. With their help, we have a real shot."

Kayce's knife froze mid-chop, and then he looked up sharply, suspicion flashing in his eyes. "When did you manage that? How exactly did you reach them? Can you even trust them?"

"Earned my total trust." Hannah met his gaze, her expression fierce. "His people are already on this ship."

Kayce's pupils narrowed, tension flickering across his face as he shot out a question. "They're already on this ship? How many of them, and what are they doing on board?"

His gaze darted instinctively toward the kitchen door,checking that no one was lurking nearby to eavesdrop.

"His people don't stay here full-time." Hannah clarified, her voice low but steady. "My contact was the same man from last time-the one who claimed he wanted to buy me. That was him."Recognition lit Kayce's eyes, quickly followed by a jolt of shock. "So it was him. But how did you manage to reach him?"

"When he staged that little charade of taking me away, we had just enough time to talk." Hannah's words tumbled out. "He told me that from that day forward, he'd send a different person every day-posing as gamblers-to slip aboard the ship and keep a one-way line of contact with me. They would carry this mark..."

She traced a quick, simple "L" across the wet countertop with her fingertip. "Anyone with this mark is one of ours. When I need to pass a message, I'll find a way to approach them."

Kayce's brows knitted as he thought it over and then said gravely, "It's a risky plan. This ship is crawling with spies, and Scorpio watches you more closely than anyone. And the idea of freeing the women on the second deck-it's too risky. A lost cause. I can't agree to it."

Hannah pressed her point, her voice quiet butinsistent. "Kayce, those women don't deserve this.And you wouldn't want Alfredo's fate to repeat,right?"

The words struck home. Kayce stilled, jaw tight, and then finally spoke. "The east corridor cameras on the second deck have been malfunctioning for days. No one's fixed them. Between two and two-thirty in the morning, the guards are at their sloppiest-it's peak gambling time. As for the key..." His gaze hardened."I'll find a way."

"Thanks, Kayce." Hannah gave a solemn nod and added, "That girl Aanya from earlier-she seems a bit naive. Maybe she could pass along minor intel without even realizing its importance. If we're going to pull the escape off, we need every pair of eyes and ears we can get-even the unsuspecting ones."

Kayce didn't answer right away, but his dark eyes held hers with unsettling intensity. "Here's the fundamental rule for surviving on this ship-trust no one." He let the words hang before adding,voice flat and merciless, "Not even me."A cold weight settled in Hannah's chest.

Kayce continued, his tone sharp as a blade, "I'm only helping you because I want Alfredo out of this nightmare. But if it ever comes down to saving you or saving Alfredo, I won't hesitate to trade you for his life."

Hannah held his gaze. "So, are you going to betray me?"

Kayce answered without a moment's hesitation, "I want Alfredo to get out safely."

It wasn't a straight answer, but its underlying messages were clear.Alfredo was the only line Kayce refused to cross, the center of every decision he made. As long as Alfredo stayed safe, Kayce might keep his word-but if Alfredo's life was ever threatened, he would sacrifice Hannah without a second thought.

Hannah stayed quiet for a beat before giving a small nod. "I get it." The bluntness of the deal,the clear lines he had drawn, felt more real to her than anycomforting lie.

After a pause, Kayce's expression shifted, as if something had just come to mind. He lowered his voice and changed the topic. "In a few days,the casino onboard will close for a day."

Hannah's brows lifted. "Close? The daily turnover here can reach millions of dollars. What could be more important than making money?"