Chapter 582

Tension carved deep lines across Nate's face as strain overtook his features. "Ms. Scott, if Mr. Jones finds out we've left you alone in this lion's den, he'll have our heads!"

Though Hannah's eyes softened for a heartbeat,her voice stayed firm. "He won't. If he's angry, tell him this was my call. Tell him I forced you to leave me behind. He'll understand."

She knew Vincent well enough to expect his fury, but ultimately, he would grasp the reasoning behind her choice.

Nate and his men exchanged uneasy glances,reluctance written across their faces.

"Get out of here, quick!" Hannah ordered,her voice taut with urgency. "If Brixton comes back with

backup, none of us will get out alive. Everyone will die. Take a few of the cash boxes with you. Make it look like a robbery. Otherwise, they are going to wonder why I'm the only one untouched."

Seeing the unshakable resolve in her eyes, Nate knew staying any longer would only endanger everyone. With fierce resolve burning in his voice,he bellowed, "Get moving!"

His men burst into motion, grabbing several money boxes, dragging a protesting Alfredo with them as they retreated swiftly along the escape route.

Watching them leave, Hannah sprang into action.She went down the row of cages, locking each one with quick, precise movements. Bending close, she hissed, "Listen carefully-nothing happened today.You didn't witness a damn thing, and you sure didn't hear one. One slip of the tongue, and I'll personally make sure it's the last thing you ever say.Got it?"

When coaxing and persuasion failed, she resorted to instilling fear.

Her hard-edged threat struck home far better than her earlier persuasion ever had. The women shrank back, shaking so hard that their teeth nearly chattered, both hands clamped over their mouths as if afraid a single sound might doom them.

With that handled, Hannah hurried to check Scorpio and the fallen men nearby. A quick look brought her relief-they weren't breathing anymore.

In the distance, the low rumble of speedboat engines crept closer, cutting through the stillness. Brixton was on his way back.

Without missing a beat, Hannah moved with sharp precision. She smeared more of the dark, sticky blood from the floor onto her face and clothes,making herself look battered and desperate, and then dragged herself to a spot partially hidden from view. Curling up, she shut her eyes and went limp, as though she had fainted.

Moments later, Brixton and his men stormed aboard the Odin.

Brixton's piercing stare swept over the wreckage, his expression sharpening into something lethal.

"Damn it!" Vulture exploded when he caught sight of Scorpio's lifeless body. His fury was palpable as he barked, "Mr. Ward, I'll take a team to chase them!They can't have gotten far!"

Without waiting for Brixton's command, he bolted away with a team at his heels.

Brixton ignored Vulture. His cold gaze swept over the blood-spattered deck until it locked onto Hannah crouched in the corner. He closed the distance in measured strides, boots thudding against the floor.

At the perfect moment, Hannah let out a faint, pitiful groan. Her lashes fluttered as she feigned waking."Brixton? You're finally here."

She made a show of struggling to sit up, her arms trembling.

Shock flickered across Brixton's face as he said,"You're alive?"

His voice held a flicker of relief he himself hadn't even registered.

"I nearly didn't make it" she murmured, her voice shaking. "But someone saved me."

Inside, Hannah stayed razor-sharp, but on the surface, she kept her wide-eyed fear. Sticking to her story, she continued, "I barely made it back here when a gunfight suddenly erupted. Scorpio was fallen, your guys were taken out, and the cash vanished in the chaos."

She framed the blood-soaked chaos as a robbery,trying to steer Brixton's suspicions elsewhere.

But his attention didn't settle on the missing money.He crouched, his dark eyes drilling into hers, voice low and weighty. "How did you manage to survive?"

She forced a practiced tremor into her face, letting calculated fear and sorrow mingle. "I was terrified, so I hid. They didn't find me."

"You hid?" Brixton echoed, his tone edged with doubt. "All those bodies, all that stolen money-and you only suffered a few scratches?"

His stare sent an icy shiver through her. She deflected quickly. "Maybe I found a really good hiding place. They were too busy grabbing the money to bother searching for me. Besides,Scorpio and his men shielded me."

She feigned a look of deep sorrow.

Brixton's gaze slid over her shaking shoulders."Why are you trembling?" he asked suddenly, his voice deceptively calm.