Chapter 428

Sean Jastrow was panting as he ran, mind racing. Lucas Ellis had clearly become unreliable, and the kid he snatched—no way that background was something he could mess with. He needed to bail, fast. But the second he stepped out the back door, cold steel pressed against his forehead. Sean froze, trembling from head to toe. Only two types of people carried guns like that—cops or Dark Empire. And whichever it was, he was screwed. Michael Jarvis stared him down, voice icy cold. "Put the kid down, and you might walk away with your life." That voice hit Sean like a lightning strike. It was him—Ninth Master. He’d never seen Michael in the flesh, but during those mandatory monthly meetings, he’d watched the man speak through a giant screen. That voice? Burned into his bones. Turning his stiff neck, Sean met Michael's eyes—and promptly lost control of his bladder, dropping to his knees and sobbing. "Ninth Master, please, have mercy!" Disgust painted Michael’s face. Ryan Wood stepped forward to