Chapter 5

Amir was even crazier than Ares had imagined.

Seeing Ares just standing there, Amir suddenly burst out laughing.

"What's wrong, Ares? Where's all that fearless attitude you had a moment ago? Scared?"

"You don't dare set off the bomb, do you?"

"So what's it gonna be — save Alyssa, or save your teammates? Or have you already decided to hand over the USB drive?"

"You have no choice!"

Alyssa, hands bound behind her back, shook her head desperately at Ares, her voice breaking:

"NO! Ares, don't worry about me!"

But even so, how could Ares really leave her behind?

He hesitated.

Both the Antonelli family and the Chaykos family were his sworn enemies, and today they were all here in one place. All he had to do was set off the bomb, and everything would turn to ash — Evelyn would finally be avenged.

But Alyssa was here.

She was so kind, and she had once saved his life. He had even decided he wanted to marry her.

"No, Alyssa. I can't leave you."

Ares shook his head, his mind made up in an instant.

But the problem was, he didn't have the USB drive. So how was he supposed to get Alyssa out?

Just then, the unhinged Amir spoke again: "What's the matter, Ares? Too scared to die? Since you can't make up your mind, let me help you out!"

"Sixty seconds! That's all you get!"

"In sixty seconds, either you hand over the USB drive, or I blow the bomb myself and wipe the Hilton off the map — and everyone in it, including all of you!"

"The clock starts now."

Ares' eyes snapped wide. "What did you just say?"

"I think I was pretty clear." Amir raised his gun and pointed it at Ares' head, smirking as he counted down. "You've got fifty seconds left... and after I finish this sentence, forty-two. Make your choice. The USB drive, or death!"

The guests erupted in panic: "No! Amir, you can't do this! We'll all die!"

"Amir, this is insane! If you want to blow this place up, at least let us get out first!"

"Please, stop!"

But Amir had made up his mind and ignored every plea and cry around him.

"Twenty-five seconds, Mr. McKay!"

Ares was torn.

Then a urgent voice crackled in his earpiece — Simon:

"Boss! I found it. The USB drive is most likely tied to Miss McKay's belongings. The one who actually took it back then — it had to be Miss McKay. And on top of that, there's a third party, some unknown group, also looking for it — not just the Antonellis and the Chaykos!"

Ares frowned slightly.

The USB drive was among Evelyn's things? Why?

What did Evelyn know?

He couldn't figure it out, but at least now he had a real lead on where the drive was.

Amir's voice rang out again, sharp with cruel satisfaction: "Ten seconds left! Still haven't decided, Mr. McKay? Then go ahead and die — fall back!"

With that, Amir led the Chaykos family's elite guards in a swift retreat toward the exits, ready to trigger the bomb himself and reduce the Hilton — and Ares along with it — to rubble.

Henry, still in Ares' grip, screamed at Amir in terror: "Amir, do you know what you're doing?! Stop! Stop it! Are you trying to kill me too?!"

Paul was begging desperately: "Amir, you can't do this!"

The countdown hit its final seconds.

"Three... two... one!"

"Well then, Mr. McKay. Say goodbye to the world."

Just as Amir was about to trigger the bomb, Ares suddenly shouted:

"Wait!"

"Got something to say?" Amir looked at him with a sneer.

Ares let go of Henry's throat and slowly raised both hands. "Alright. I give up."

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire room let out a collective breath.

If he had held out any longer, the Hilton would have been gone in the next second, and everyone would have gone down with him.

Amir smiled faintly. "Good. You finally made the smart call, Ares."

Then Monica's voice came through Ares' earpiece: "Boss, there are too many of them — they've formed a wall at the front entrance, we can't get through. But Hankins has reached the back door. We're coming in from there right now. Hold on just a little longer!"

Hearing that, a slow, cold smile crept across Ares' face.

He looked at Amir and said quietly, "Alright. You win."

Amir gloated. "I knew it. You didn't have the guts to blow the bomb. Game over. Now hand over the USB drive!"

Ares nodded cooperatively. "No problem. But I don't have it on me."

Amir's expression darkened. "Ares, don't play games with me. If you do, you and Alyssa are both going to regret it."

Ares said calmly, "The drive really isn't on me. But I can take you to it."

Amir thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But first, I'm going to have to make you a little uncomfortable."

He gave a quick look to two of his men nearby. They moved in immediately, pinned Ares' hands behind his back, tied them, and led him over to where Alyssa was standing.

At that moment, Monica's voice came through the earpiece again:

"Boss, we're in position!"

A cold flash crossed Ares' eyes. He suddenly roared:

"Now!"

The instant the words left his mouth, he threw his arms apart with full force and snapped the rope clean.

Before anyone could react, he knocked out both soldiers beside him with two quick punches and pulled Alyssa close, shielding her.

At the same time, gunfire erupted from the back of the building.

Monica burst into the hall first, a gun in each hand, blazing.

Hankins came in right behind her, sweeping the room with a submachine gun:

"Every last one of you — die!"

A storm of bullets tore through the hall. Amir's elite guards dropped in waves.

Henry grabbed Paul and pulled him into a corner. The guests scattered in panic, though many were still caught in the crossfire and went down.

Gunfire filled the room. Amir's first instinct was to run, but Ares wasn't about to let that happen.

"Running? Not without my permission."

Ares launched a kick straight into Amir's gut, sending him crashing to the floor.