Ryan didn’t stop or hesitate, striding toward the exit.
Everyone knew that the second Ryan stepped out of that door, the slaughter would begin.
The Dark family’s power was immense, and even though the Silver family held influence in legitimate circles, they were no match for Ryan. Panic took over, and the people in the hall unleashed their fury on the middle-aged man.
Following behind Ryan, Echo glanced at the people on the ground with disdain. Some siblings they are, she thought, having heard their desperate words clearly. It was all about wealth and power.
Sacrificing their own family for it-what a pathetic family. Is money and power really worth that much?
She didn’t know why Clement, who spent all his time tomb raiding, had become a target for the current acting boss. But Ryan must’ve seen this coming. Echo studied Ryan’s back. A man like him, who had clawed his way to the top, knew exactly how these things played out.
“In Egypt! He’s in Egypt! He disappeared near a pyramid! I don’t know the exact location-I just got word about it! I didn’t mean to kill him, I swear!” The moment Ryan set one foot outside the door, the middle-aged man finally cracked and shouted.
Echo glanced back. Dozens of gun barrels were pointed directly at them. No wonder he spilled-it turned out his life was still more valuable to him than pride.
“Don’t let me catch you lying a second time,” Ryan said coldly, tossing the warning over his shoulder as he walked out.
The armed men, perfectly disciplined, followed Ryan in silence. Not a sound, not a hesitation-just pure obedience.
The old man watched Ryan disappear through the doorway, then looked down at the four collapsed figures on the floor, frowning deeply. His voice was heavy as he said, “Fight amongst yourselves if you want, but if you want my position, earn it with strength. And don’t provoke him again. You can’t afford to.”
With a sigh, the old man turned and left. The way he gripped his cane and the slouch in his posture made it seem like he had aged several years in mere moments.
“Head to Egypt,” Ryan ordered coldly as he slid into the car. His expression, filled with disgust, hatred, and a hint of helplessness, made it clear that this wasn’t something he wanted to do.
It was the first time Echo had ever seen helplessness on Ryan’s face. It didn’t suit him. Ryan was supposed to be the kind of man who never faltered, never struggled-not because of anything specific, but simply because he was Ryan.
Echo raised an eyebrow and said, “Boss, if you wanna go, go. If you don’t, then don’t. But wipe that look off your face. It’s annoying to look at.”
Ryan glanced over at Echo, noticing the dissatisfaction on her face. Despite everything, the bright, lively energy she carried never wavered. It was warm, refreshing, and steady-a stark contrast to the darkness around them. Ryan arched an eyebrow slightly, studying her with quiet curiosity.
Echo immediately slid in next to Ryan without needing to be told, quietly acting as his personal pillow.
Seeing this, the harshness in Ryan’s eyes gradually faded. The off-kilter expression he’d worn ever since entering the Silver family’s territory quickly disappeared, replaced by the old Ryan. The helplessness, disgust, and hatred evaporated, leaving only the commanding, formidable Ryan-back in full control.
In the front seat, Hawk and Cobra exchanged glances, both silently relieved. This was the Ryan they knew-their ruthless, iron-fisted boss who dominated the underworld.
Ryan might’ve promised not to kill them, but he never said he wouldn’t destroy them.
And killing wasn’t the only way to solve a problem.
If they wanted to bury a family for good-strip them of power and ensure they could never rise again-Dark family had more than enough ways to do it.
The Silver family’s reputation in the legitimate world didn’t mean a thing. If Ryan wanted them ruined, it was as good as done.
With his eyes closed, Ryan rested against Echo like she was a pillow.
Meanwhile, Echo watched Hawk and Cobra silently communicate up front, not the least bit interested in their plans. What they wanted to do with the Silver family was their business. She had no intention of getting involved or opposing them-Ryan’s grudges were his to settle. As long as they didn’t mess with her, she was fine with whatever happened.
Her thoughts, however, wandered to Egypt, and a wave of excitement hit her.
Pyramids!
Tombs!
She wasn’t the most academically inclined, but she’d heard plenty about Egypt, and the idea of going there thrilled her. And it had to be safe-no man-eating creatures lurking in pyramids.
Echo had traveled across five continents and seen countless artifacts, but she had never stepped inside an actual pyramid to view ancient treasures firsthand. No one had ever hired her to steal from one, either.
As someone who specialized in antiques, the thought of seeing relics from thousands of years ago was enough to make her mouth water.
Egypt-this was her dream destination.
Egypt-an ancient kingdom with a rich history that stretched across Asia and Africa. It was home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations, filled with mysteries and wisdom from the past. This land was steeped in history, making it an irresistible adventure.
“You’re way too excited,” Ryan said coldly.
Ryan leaned back against the airplane’s cushions, his brows furrowed as he watched Echo pace the aisle like she was ready to jump off the plane the moment they landed.
“Sure am,” Echo admitted cheerfully, flashing him a grin. She then turned toward Cobra in the cockpit and shouted, “How much longer? Speed it up! Don’t you know time’s critical when you’re rescuing someone? Hurry up, hurry up!”
She pressed her face against the window, watching the scenery outside with excitement.
After that one high-altitude flight, Echo no longer found things like this scary-it was child’s play now.
Amazing what a person could handle when pushed, she thought. Once you tapped into your potential, there was always room for surprises.
Cobra was speechless, his lips twitching in frustration. “Too slow, huh? Fine, why don’t you fly it?” he snapped, turning to glare at Echo.
Echo shot him a glare right back. “If I knew how, you’d be out of a job already. Hurry up! It’s not like flying this thing takes skill-no traffic, no competition. And you still can’t manage to pick up the speed? You’re acting like Boss’s orders are just suggestions.”
Cobra scowled even harder, especially since Echo had dragged Ryan into the conversation. He kept flying at the same speed, resisting the urge to argue further. The plane could only go so fast, after all. Still, if there had been a way to shut Echo up, he would’ve gladly taken it-she was a total air travel idiot.
Meanwhile, Hawk sat next to Ryan, busy going through intel on Egypt. Though the country wasn’t a huge market for arms, it wasn’t a small player either. But Egypt was Street family territory, meaning they had to prepare carefully to avoid any unnecessary trouble once they arrived.
Hearing Echo’s rant, Hawk couldn’t help but let out a rare chuckle, shaking his head with a hint of amusement. “Come over here,” he said, holding up the papers. “Memorize this. If you get yourself killed out there, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”