Ethan expertly stopped the silver Mercedes at a safe distance from Pier 17, tucking the car behind a large stack of corroded shipping containers. The area was exactly as expected: desolate, smelling of salt and industrial waste, and dominated by the looming darkness of an old, cavernous warehouse.

"I need you to go alone," Ethan said to Alexandria, his voice low and firm. "I will be circling on foot. Give me ten minutes before you start approaching the building."

Alexandria's eyes were wide with fear, staring at the dark structure. "I'm scared," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Everything will be fine. Trust me," Ethan said. He reached into his jacket—not into a pocket, but into his System Inventory—and pulled out a compact 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He swiftly checked the magazine and slide. "I will be close."

He handed the weapon to Alexandria. She stared at it, then quickly tucked it into the waistband of her pants. She assumed Jason had provided the gun during the money exchange.

"Okay," Alexandria agreed, nodding stiffly.

Ethan opened his door, slipping out and immediately melting into the shadows and stacks of containers, moving silently toward the target warehouse. Alexandria watched him disappear, then looked at the clock on the dashboard, forcing herself to wait the agonizing ten minutes.

When the time was up, Alexandria took a deep, shuddering breath, put the car in drive, and accelerated slowly toward the main entrance of the abandoned warehouse.

As she pulled up, two massive, heavily built men emerged from the shadows. They wore dark clothing and had crude, lecherous smiles on their faces as they saw that she was alone.

"Well, well," the first guard said, licking his lips. "We were waiting for you, bitch. Get inside."

Alexandria gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white. "My daughter! Where is my daughter?" she screamed, fear overriding her training.

"She's inside," the second man chuckled. "Go on ahead. We've got a little party planned."

Alexandria felt a sinking certainty that this was not going to end well, but she had no choice. She grabbed the heavy briefcase from the passenger seat, stepped out, and walked toward the yawning, dark entrance.

Inside, the warehouse was a scene of industrial abandonment. Dust motes danced in the sparse shafts of moonlight filtering through broken windows. She saw no sign of her sister or daughter. Instead, she saw eight men clustered in the center of the vast space, all turning to look at her, their expressions ranging from casual amusement to cruel anticipation.

Before Alexandria could take another step, the two guards who had met her outside slammed the massive metal door shut behind her, plunging the warehouse into near-total darkness save for the moonlight. She was trapped.

She stumbled forward, dropping the heavy briefcase onto the dirt-caked floor.

"I brought the money!" Alexandria cried out, her voice echoing weakly in the cavernous space. "One million dollars! Now, where is my daughter?"

The group of men burst into harsh, unified laughter.

"Listen to her!" one man jeered, stepping forward. He was short, stocky, and had a cruel scar across his cheek. "She really is that stupid, huh?"

"You think we're going to just trade a couple of million for the fun we're going to have with you?" another man sneered, running a hand over his unshaven jaw. "The money is secondary, sweetheart. Your humiliation is the point."

"We already got the main prize, anyway," the first man said, gesturing vaguely. "The contract is done. We just need to make sure you won't talk. And we have instructions to make it memorable."

Alexandria's legs gave out beneath her. She fell to her knees, staring up at the faces of her tormentors.

"No, please! Where are they?" Alexandria pleaded, crawling slightly toward the group. "My sister! My daughter! You promised! I did what you asked!"

The group only laughed louder, the sound bouncing off the metal walls and crushing her hope.

"A promise from us? You are dumber than dog shit!" a third man yelled. "You resigned like a good girl, and now we get the bonus. You think we'd just leave your family intact? That's not how Celestial Garden operates!"

Terror, raw and overwhelming, finally consumed Alexandria. She screamed, a primal sound of utter despair.

"Ethan! Where are you?" Alexandria shrieked, the name tearing from her throat as she searched the dark corners of the abandoned warehouse. "You promised! You promised you would protect me!"

She repeated the desperate plea, collapsing onto the concrete floor, sobbing the name over and over: "Ethan! Where are you?"

Just as her voice broke, a soft sound of displaced air indicated that Ethan had appeared out of nowhere, right beside her.

He stood up, calmly looking at the eight surprised men. The impact of seeing him materialize was palpable. Among the thugs, a guard looked at Ethan and began to tremble visibly, holding his stomach.

Ethan swept the group with a look of chilling contempt.

"Lay a hand on my woman?" he said, his voice deadly calm. "Hahaha, I think that's impossible. You aren't worthy enough to even dream of touching my woman, you damn bastards."

The guards regained their senses, their faces contorted with rage, and they began to advance threateningly. Ethan didn't even look at them. He took Alexandria by the arm, lifted her effortlessly, and walked toward the enormous metal door and padlock of the warehouse.

He looked at the heavy padlock for an instant, then pulled Alexandria against his chest.

"Easy, my queen," Ethan said, his voice a soft roar. "Step outside for a moment. I don't want you to see what is about to happen. Wait for me in the car; I'll be right back for you."

Without saying more, he delivered a rapid, powerful kick to the enormous metal door. The sound was deafening; the padlock mechanism shattered, and the steel doors burst open, revealing the moonlight on the pier and leaving everyone present in shock.

He gave her a firm spank. "Go," he commanded.

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