Echo, smiling from ear to ear, matched his pace. She didn’t care much for Michael’s sentiment, but Ivy’s? That was worth acknowledging-a quick thanks to Michael for the delivery was enough.
Watching them, Michael raised an eyebrow, noticing how Ryan had his arm firmly around Echo’s waist. A flash of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by a faint smile as his expression brightened. He hurried to catch up with them.
“What are they doing here?” As soon as Echo got on the plane, she spotted Ivy beaming at her while stiffly leaning toward Brook.
Ryan’s gaze wasn’t exactly friendly.
Michael stepped onto the plane with a smile, saying, “They wanted to go sightseeing, so I figured why not let them join us?”
Echo frowned instantly. She glanced at Frank and Brook. They seemed relaxed, but their eyes were cautious. This didn’t look like a casual sightseeing trip at all; it felt way more secretive.
She had heard from Cobra that this mission was pretty dangerous. What was Michael thinking, bringing Ivy along?
She raised an eyebrow at him before turning to Ryan.
Ryan wrapped an arm around Echo as they took their seats, staying quiet.
Hawk chimed in, “If there really was an alternative to oil, then the Smith Family Group and the Wood family would be the best partners for the Brown family. It’s a huge opportunity, and no one can take it all for themselves. Sharing is the way to go.”
Hearing Hawk’s explanation, Echo understood right away.
Frank was the son of the Smith Family Group’s president, and Ivy was the daughter of the Wood family. She wasn’t too clear on what those families did, but it seemed like it was related to oil.
As for Brook, who was mixed up in the underworld, he was probably just there to protect Ivy-or he might be useful for something. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.
Once Echo connected those dots, her curiosity faded. The world might seem big, but the same people always seemed to be in the mix.
Having figured it all out, Echo shot Michael a glare. With Ivy right in front of her, there was no need for him to get her breakfast. What was his deal? Playing games with her?
Seeing Echo glaring at him, Michael just smiled a little and shrugged. “I’d rather be the one bringing it to you.”
Echo rolled her eyes at him, then glanced at Ivy beside her, who was struggling to keep a calm smile but was clearly intimidated by Ryan’s intense presence.
She cast another look at Frank and Brook, who both looked equally uneasy. Frank, not being part of the underworld, she could understand, but Brook? He was part of the underworld, and yet he seemed visibly rattled.
Echo raised an eyebrow-was Ryan’s presence really that overwhelming?
After glancing at the silent trio, Echo started to understand why Michael had brought her the breakfast-Ivy was probably too nervous to do it herself. Even though she used to find Ryan a bit scary, it wasn’t to this extent. Michael seemed to be the only one here who wasn’t afraid of him, which probably explained why he ended up delivering it. She shook her head slightly and gave Michael another look.
Michael immediately caught on to Echo’s thoughts and shook his head with a wry smile. This girl was too sharp for her own good; she had come up with such a logical explanation.
Seeing Michael’s resigned smile, Echo frowned, suddenly reminded of something. She took her seat next to Ryan and glared at Michael. “Two days. I want news on Skye.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, a little surprised she’d bring it up now. He glanced at Ryan, who looked as indifferent as ever, and replied with a smile, “It’s not time yet. Don’t worry. Since I agreed to help, I’ll find them for you.”
The Dark family had also issued orders to find Skye, but Echo didn’t seem to care about keeping that a secret; she’d brought it up in front of everyone. Michael, being smart, understood right away that Ryan knew about this too, and now that it was out in the open, there was no point hiding it. Everyone would just do their best.
As the group exchanged glances, Ryan’s gaze hardened, and without warning, he reached out, pulled Echo from her seat, and set her right down on his lap. He shot her a cold look, and she immediately stopped whatever she’d been about to say to Michael, sitting there obediently.
Being pulled into Ryan’s lap and leaning against his chest, she felt his hand lazily running through her hair.
She raised an eyebrow, giving his jaw a puzzled look.
What was this about? Ryan never got so close to her in front of outsiders. She was not hurt, so why did he need to hold her?
What had gotten into him?
Sensing a simmering anger from him, Echo blinked in confusion. Whatever it was, she figured she’d just ignore it for now. She hadn’t slept enough and was planning on taking a nap.
Across from them, Ivy, Brook, and Frank exchanged stunned, incredulous looks.
What exactly is the relationship between Mr. Ryan and Echo?
They’d learned yesterday that Echo held a high position within the Dark family, which was shocking enough, but now? Here was Mr. Ryan himself holding her like this. The world was moving too fast for them to keep up.
Meanwhile, Michael sat across from Ryan, a faint, humorless smile tugging at his lips. His eyes were brighter than ever as he slowly sipped his coffee, watching the scene with sharp interest.
This was a silent claim of possession, a wordless warning for anyone-especially Michael-not to make a move on her.
Ryan didn’t say it out loud, but Michael got the message loud and clear. The way he held her close, the casual possessiveness in every touch-it all said the same thing: Echo was his.
Michael understood, and the smile on his face only grew brighter. He was no rookie in the game of love, nor was he someone to back down easily. Feelings had to be fought for, and as long as Echo’s heart was her own, he still had a chance.
Two planes soared across the continent, flying over the Pacific towards the South Pacific, south of the Hawaiian Islands. That area was outside the Brown family’s reach, though Ryan had an arms production base near Hawaii, firmly within the Dark family territory. If Michael wanted access to what they were looking for, he’d have to rely on Ryan.
Flying through blue skies and white clouds, Ryan kept his eyes closed, holding Echo close and barely moving, while Echo slept deeply, using him like a human cushion. Ryan didn’t seem to mind at all.
Michael, meanwhile, left Echo and Ryan alone, spending his time with Frank, Brook, and the survey crew onboard, gathering information about this mysterious algae, running calculations on the location, and preparing for different scenarios.
It seemed that, despite his reputation as a playboy, Michael was fully capable of focusing when the job called for it.
In Hawaii, they switched from planes to a fleet of ships-not the ones borrowed from the Australian government on their last mission, but the Dark family’s latest models. This fleet, with its cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art functionality, was leagues above those outdated ships.
A line of warships, submarines, and large survey vessels, seven in total, departed from the Hawaiian Islands, heading towards a remote area in the South Pacific.
“Echo, are you okay? You look so pale.” As soon as they boarded the ship, Ivy noticed Echo’s face had gone white, leaning weakly against Ryan as he helped her walk. Ivy looked at her with a mix of worry and fear.
Echo forced a small smile. “I’m fine.”
But the faint tone in her voice didn’t do much to convince anyone.
Michael came forward, frowned as soon as he saw her, and said, “You get seasick? Why didn’t you say something?”
His voice was filled with concern, with just a hint of reproach, which made Ryan’s brow furrow as he said sternly, “You have no right to interfere with my people. Do your job.” He scooped Echo up and started toward the captain’s quarters.
Michael, clearly annoyed, followed close behind. “Echo may be your subordinate, Mr. Ryan, but as the future head of the Brown family, I have the right to show concern for anyone, including your people. Mr. Ryan, are you so strict that you won’t even allow a bit of concern from an outsider?”
Ryan, unfazed, replied coldly, “Then act like the future head of the Brown family.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “I don’t see any problem with my behavior. Echo may be your subordinate, but she’s not your possession. You can control her actions, but you can’t control her thoughts-or stop me from loving her.”
Ryan stopped, turned sharply, and fixed Michael with an icy stare.
Michael met his gaze, calm and unflinching, a hint of a composed smile on his face.
Ryan’s voice, cold and threatening, cut through the silence, “You love her?”