His Destructive, Toxic Love

But...

There was still no answer from the other end of the phone.

In the alley, the men and women lounging against the walls, smoking, all glanced curiously at Casper. Those intrigued by him even approached to chat.

"Hey handsome, you look a lot like someone I know," a heavily made-up woman said, reaching out to touch his chest. "Like the man of my dreams." Casper grabbed her wrist and twisted it hard, the sound of bones snapping echoing in the air. The woman screamed in agony, drawing everyone's attention.

A group of people, both men and women, started to gather around.

"Look what we have here, someone looking for trouble, not fun."

"Who do you think you are? Do you know who runs this place? You've got some nerve messing with Sister Mary."

"Folks like you need a lesson from Rick, but he might be busy right now."

"Strange day, first a beautiful girl, now a handsome guy."

No sooner had this person finished speaking than Casper grabbed them by the throat.

"What girl? Where did she go? What did you do with her? Speak."

"Hey, what are you doing... ah... you're choking me ..." The person struggled, quickly being rescued from Casper's grasp by the crowd. "Who are you? If you're so tough, go find Rick." Rick? Who was Rick?

"Who's Rick? Take me to him, now," Casper roared, leaving no room for argument.

The reluctant group looked at him, realizing he was not to be trifled with. "You've never heard of Ricardo? We can take you to him, but don't say we didn't warn you."

Ricardo. A well-known underboss of the Falconridge syndicate. He had a reputation in the underworld.

Casper had never seen this man, but he had heard tales of him now and then.

At the end of the alley, the mansion's gate was shut tight. The crimson door panels glowed solemnly under the moonlight, and the brass knockers gently swayed in the night breeze, making a faint clinking sound.

"Rick's inside, go in by yourself," said the person who had brought Casper, turning to leave with a swish of their hips. The door was ajar. Casper strode in.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

The courtyard was quiet, his heart pounding with anxiety. He shouted for Eliza, "Valerie, Valerie, are you in there?" "Valerie."

"Valerie..."

Hearing the intrusion, someone came out on alert, "Who's making noise out there?"

Casper looked up. A man in a black suit stood under the light, his face obscured. "Are you Rick?"

"What do you want with Rick?" the

man

warily, eyeing Caspere

"Who are you to trespass

, wishing for de Rick's

"Where is she?" Casper had no patience for idle chat.

"Who are you talking about?" The man gestured, and three or four thugs ran out, surrounding Casper in an instant.

But Casper wasn't intimidated by their numbers. He wanted to find her, not waste time.

"Where's the woman you took? Hand her over."

"Which woman?" The man in black seemed to understand, laughing. "You mean that drugged-up girl? She's with our boss right now..." "What?"

Casper's rage and worry erupted like

a volcano, engulfing him in an

instant He charged forward

recklessly. The thugs tried to block

him but were no match. He knocked them down one by one.

Just as he was about to burst into the bedroom, several thugs tackled him, holding Casper down firmly.