She had thought it was just two people fooling around in the restroom, but it turned out to be far more intense.
Fortunately, neither of them noticed her. Yet their conversation didn't sound like a lovers' tryst at all. It sounded more like some kind of lesson, ending with the woman making a solemn vow, followed by a bloodcurdling scream.
The scream was deafening, sending her into a trembling panic. She didn't even dare breathe loudly. Only after the man's footsteps faded into the distance did she finally step out.
As soon as she exited the restroom, the cold wind from outside hit her. She shivered uncontrollably, touched her back, and realized her clothes were soaked through.
She glanced at the nightclub in the distance, hesitated for a long time, and finally ran away.
She knew the girl next door. That girl was the top figure of the nightclub. Though she never understood how a twenty-year-old could be in charge of such a large establishment, she knew very well that tonight's affair was far beyond what an ordinary person like her should get involved in.
Better to stay out of trouble. All she hoped was that no one would realize she had been there.
But she never noticed a pair of eyes in the darkness tracking her silhouette as it disappeared into the night.
Bang!
An ashtray smashed into a man's head. Blood gushed instantly as he clutched his skull and crouched down. Yet he didn't let out a single scream.
Because the one who threw the ashtray was his boss - Tony, the leader of the Sky-Breaking Gang.
"My Tina, dead in her own territory? What is this? What the hell is this? This is a slap in my damn face!" Tony's eyes burned with madness, bloodshot and wild.
Present with him were Charles, Tiger, Qiangzi, Watson, and the branch leaders of the Sky-Breaking Gang. Practically every notable figure in the gang had gathered.
Tony paced back and forth inside the room, his chest boiling with rage. Everyone else kept their heads lowered, eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to make a sound.
The members standing along the walls barely dared breathe, terrified that a single wrong move might anger Tony and bring disaster upon themselves.
Tony smashed a few more glasses before his fury eased slightly.
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed his subordinates.
He then sat in the main chair, stroking his chin, and looked at the gang's elders.
"Tell me your thoughts. Who killed Tina?"
Charles, holding a cigar, remained calm despite his niece's death. He took a deep drag and said, "Big brother, this matter is very strange. According to the investigation, Tina died from concealing poison in her body. And that poison is something only you possess. Which means Tina must have faced someone truly formidable to resort to such a desperate method. Otherwise, she'd never use something so dangerous on just anyone."
Tiger slapped his thigh when he heard this. "Exactly! So simple! Why didn't I think of that?"
Watson shot him a contemptuous glance. Simple? If Charles hadn't pointed it out, you'd never have thought of it in your lifetime.
Tony nodded. His second brother's wisdom was undeniable. Building their underground empire in New York had required more than his own iron fist—it also relied heavily on Charles's cunning strategies.
Tony asked, "Second brother, who do you think this person might be?"
Charles thought for a moment before replying, "That, I can't say for now. After all, we have plenty of enemies. New York has nearly nine million people. Brooklyn alone has three million. Back when we seized this territory, we offended more than a few."
Tony turned to glance at Qiangzi, signaling him to speak.
Qiangzi cleared his throat twice. Though he had followed Tony the longest, his brains weren't much sharper than Tiger's. The only difference was that age had made him steadier.
"Forget it. If you don't want to say anything, then don't," Qiangzi said.
Tony understood his character and didn't press further.
His gaze swept the room and landed on Watson, who kept his head lowered. Tony said, "Watson, Tina was your girlfriend. You spent more time with her than anyone else. Do you have any leads?"
Watson had tried to bury his head as deep as possible, but Tony still called him out. He could only answer stiffly, "Lately, Tina and I have been spending all our time at Brooklyn's top nightclub. We didn't stir up trouble outside. You also know most of the goods we brought in from Mexico were moved through our place."
He paused, noticing everyone's eyes on him, then continued, "If there are clues, the only major figure we've offended recently is Tony Stark. But a man of his status usually wouldn't come to Brooklyn, so…"
He didn't finish, but everyone understood the implication.
Tony frowned deeply. Tony Stark?
Back when Tina was street racing, she had complained about being bullied by him. But family matters are always clear to oneself—she had probably just vented with harsh words. Stark, someone with government and military contracts, wasn't someone a small-time gang boss like him could challenge.
If he really made a move against Stark, he'd likely vanish from the face of the Earth overnight.
Even with Hydra's backing, they only dared operate from the shadows. None of them had ever dared lay a hand on Stark.
And besides, Tony Stark wasn't just a successful businessman. He had another identity that couldn't be ignored—Iron Man.
The invincible power of that suit of armor had been reported on TV and online. Though quickly censored, Tony had learned enough through other channels.
That kind of single-soldier combat armor couldn't be taken down unless with weapons of mass destruction. Human-wave tactics would be useless.
Which was why he had buried the matter in his heart all this time.
The council chamber fell silent. Watson didn't dare breathe either. His words had been nothing but an attempt to redirect suspicion. Whether Tina's death had anything to do with Stark or not didn't matter. Throwing his name into the mix was worth a shot.
If this Tony really was foolish enough to go against Stark, then Iron Man might just wipe him out completely. When a pretender meets the real deal, it never ends well.
And that would give Watson the chance to escape his suffering. After all, George had promised him that once Tony and his two brothers were dealt with, he could return to his police identity and finally end his days as an undercover.
The thought brought a faint smile to his lips.
"Watson, investigate whether anyone suspicious entered or left the nightclub during that timeframe last night. As for Tina's death, don't let it escalate further. Everyone, just go back to your own business."
That was Tony's final word on the matter.
No matter what, the first step was to find out who Tina had poisoned herself for. Only then could they decide what to do.
Watson nodded in agreement.
(End of Chapter)
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