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Chapter_174
Yvette casually glanced at Jacob, whose body was stiff as a board. A smirk curled on her lips as she spoke, “Just make sure to protect my man from now on.”
Jacob, awkward and caught off guard, nodded quickly, then glanced over at Jeremiah. The man was grinning smugly, looking completely at ease. Does Jeremiah even need protection? Jacob thought. Ms. Zeller really thinks a lot of me!
At the bustling airport, Jeremiah looked effortlessly stylish in a white shirt and black dress pants, the top few buttons undone, revealing a hint of his collarbone. He exuded a restrained charm, yet his presence was intimidating enough that people kept their distance.
He gently squeezed Yvette’s hand, his dark eyes filled with nothing but her reflection. Leaning in, he lowered his voice, asking softly, “You won’t come home with me?”
Yvette tilted her head slightly, glancing at him seriously. They were so close now that they could feel each other’s breath. She paused for a moment, then replied casually, “Yeah, I still have things to deal with here.”
Jeremiah’s face softened, and for a brief moment, he looked almost pitiful.
Yvette broke into a teasing smile. “Stop acting. You’re not a good actor.”
Jeremiah chuckled, a helpless smile spreading across his face. “I’m not pretending, Yve. I’m really sad. Do you know how hard it is to get a girlfriend at thirty?”
Behind them, Emmett, Bruce, Chris, and Frankie all pretended not to hear, but they exchanged amused glances. Mr. Chavez is so cunning, even acting in front of Yvette… they thought. Why does it feel so… strange?
Yvette squeezed Jeremiah’s wrist playfully, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Take care. Goodbye.”
As Jeremiah walked away, the group in the back seat of the car stifled the urge to clap. It doesn’t work on Yve, they mused.
Emmett took the wheel, Yvette sat in the front seat, and Frankie along with the others occupied the back. Yvette curled up on the seat, her hat covering most of her face, leaving only her chin visible. She was engrossed in a game on her phone. Moments later, the sound of a victory played.
Frankie glanced over, but he couldn’t make out what game she was playing. The only thing he could see clearly was the words “FastPulse Technologies” on the screen.
“Ms. Zeller, what game is that? I’ve never seen it before. Is it something new from FastPulse Technologies?” Frankie asked, his curiosity piqued.
Yvette turned off her phone and slipped it into her pocket, resting her hand on the car window. She looked over at Frankie. “Yeah, but it’s not available yet. It’s set to release later this year.”
Frankie scratched his head, his curiosity growing. “A new online game from FastPulse Technologies? How come I didn’t know about this? I’m a gamer myself, but I haven’t seen any announcements. Maybe I’ve been too busy. But Ms. Zeller, how did you get access to the beta test? Normally, FastPulse does internal testing and doesn’t let outsiders participate.”
Chris, who wasn’t as interested in games, chimed in, “What’s so strange about that? Maybe Yve is just really good at games, so FastPulse Technologies thought she’d be a good fit for the beta test and sent it to her.”
Frankie couldn’t think of a better explanation and nodded along. Yeah, that makes sense. Still, how would she even get involved with FastPulse?
Emmett’s face remained serious as he focused on the road, though he seemed lost in thought.
Bruce immediately noticed Emmett’s change in demeanor and asked, “What’s wrong? You’ve seemed preoccupied ever since we left the airport.”
Emmett thought for a moment, then shared his concerns. “I’m afraid it won’t be long before we have a confrontation with the Goodman family.”
Everyone in the car knew exactly who Emmett was talking about—the Goodman family, who had controlled Mysonna’s underground mafia for nearly two decades. They were the undisputed rulers of the city’s criminal world.
Bruce fell into silence, his thoughts heavy.
Frankie, however, blurted out, “What’s the big deal? If Mr. Chavez uses his people, how can the Goodman family deal with them? It’s not like they’re invincible.”
The car fell into an uncomfortable silence after Frankie spoke. Bruce, Chris, and Emmett all exchanged disapproving glances. This fool… Mr. Chavez clearly doesn’t want to reveal his hidden power to Yve, and now it’s being blurted out so openly!
Yvette, still resting her wrist on the window, casually tapped her fingers. She closed her eyes, seemingly indifferent to Frankie’s words.
The others remained silent, sensing the tension. Some things were better left for Mr. Chavez to discuss with Yve himself.
Realizing his mistake, Frankie awkwardly tried to lighten the mood. “So, why are you staying in Mysonna, Ms. Zeller?”
Yvette’s expression shifted as she reached into her bag for a piece of vanilla toffee. Unwrapping it, she popped it into her mouth, looking as captivating and rebellious as ever. “To kill someone,” she said, her tone calm.
Frankie dramatically exclaimed, “Come on, Ms. Zeller, stop joking! Do you really have enemies here?”
Bruce and Chris both looked at Yvette, concern and curiosity in their eyes. After spending so much time with her in the rainforest, they had come to see Yvette as one of their own. Her enemies were now theirs as well, and if she ever needed help, they’d be there.
Yvette stared out the car window, her expression distant. She moved her fingers slightly, then answered flatly, “No enemies.”
With that, she closed her eyes, signaling she didn’t want to discuss it further. The others, understanding her silence, stayed quiet.
They knew it was pointless to worry. Yvette’s handling of Eban had proven she was more than capable of dealing with any threats.
There was a place in the eastern part of Mysonna that everyone knew to avoid—the Goodman family’s private estate. A place so dangerous, it was considered a death trap. It was home to the Goodman family, the leaders of Mysonna’s underground mafia.
Rumors spread about the countless bodies that were carried out of the estate daily, bodies that were often unrecognizable and mutilated beyond belief. The deaths were brutal, but the allure of power, fame, and privilege kept many in the underworld dreaming of reaching that level of influence.
In recent years, the Goodman family had been led by Braydon, the second son, a man feared throughout Mysonna’s criminal world. When he took control five years ago, Braydon wasted no time eliminating the old officers his father had left behind. Some of them had attempted to assassinate him, but none succeeded.
Braydon, with ruthless efficiency, wiped out his opposition and solidified his control over the Goodman family’s operations. He was infamous for his cold-blooded methods and his disinterest in women. Even before he took power, many tried to offer women to him, but those who did were often never seen again, disappearing into the shadows of Mysonna without a trace.
Rumors began to circulate among the Goodman family’s servants that Braydon often stared at an empty photo frame late at night, lost in thought. Some speculated that the ruthless leader might even prefer men, but no one dared to speak of it openly. The truth was a mystery, and most people in Mysonna’s underworld knew better than to try and uncover it.
