The Heart System

Chapter 732: Chapter 732

I let out a low breath, momentarily speechless at how casually filthy she was.

"Just... wear a normal bikini please, okay?" I compromised.

"Okaaay. I will. Jeez," she teased, rolling her eyes. "I didn’t know you were this smothering, Evan."

"I’m not. I’m not forcing you to wear anything. You can wear whatever you want. I’m just asking."

"Yeah, I know," she said warmly. "That’s why I love you."

She leaned in and kissed my neck softly, her lips lingering there for a moment. Then she pulled back with a mischievous grin.

"Low-key a jealous guy, huh?"

"I’m not."

"Uh-uh, you jealous guy," she giggled. She finally let go of my dick, giving it one last affectionate pat, and stood up. "I’m gonna wipe myself off. Be right back."

"Yup."

I leaned back again, staring up at the ceiling with a long exhale.

"Yup... yup... yup..."

I shut my eyes.

"Fucking yup."

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I pulled the car over across the street from the gas station and killed the engine.

After stepping out, I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked toward the station. The afternoon sun was still blazing overhead, making the asphalt shimmer with heat. If the weather stayed like this, tomorrow’s beach trip was going to be perfect.

Too bad I had a feeling something was about to ruin it.

I crossed the street and headed inside the gas station market. The glass doors slid open with a soft chime.

Tuck was sitting behind the counter. He looked exhausted. His elbows rested on the countertop while both hands covered his forehead, as if he’d been sitting in the same position for hours.

"T."

He looked up at me for a brief moment before leaning back against his stool. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and tossed it onto the counter without saying a word.

I picked it up and unfolded it.

There were only two words written in large, messy capital letters.

WE HAVE HER

That was it.

I flipped the paper over.

Blank.

"We have her?" I frowned. "Her who?"

"Mel."

My stomach tightened.

"Your sister?" I asked. "Who has her? Is she... kidnapped?"

"The Resistance Boys."

"...Fuck."

I hadn’t heard that name in years.

Back when I was younger, the Resistance Boys practically owned this part of the city. They bribed crooked cops, intimidated witnesses, and preyed on anyone too weak to fight back. Extortion, assaults, drug dealing, racketeering. If there was money to be made through fear, they were involved.

More than once, criminal cases against them mysteriously fell apart. Witnesses suddenly refused to testify, disappeared altogether, or simply vanished from public view. Whether they were bribed or threatened didn’t really matter. The result was always the same.

Nobody talked, nobody testified, nobody touched the Resistance Boys.

Then Tuck came along.

He gathered his own crew, pushed back against them, and after months of bloody fighting, the Resistance Boys finally lost their grip on the neighborhood. Eventually both sides settled into an uneasy peace, but it was never real. They still showed up every now and then, causing trouble whenever they felt like reminding everyone they were still around.

"Fuck," I muttered as I leaned against the counter. "What are we supposed to do?"

"I can’t get the old boys back together." Tuck rubbed his face. "We split up years ago. Everyone went their own way."

"What about your cop friend?"

"If the police get involved, Mel dies."

His voice didn’t shake.

That somehow made it even worse.

"What do they want?"

"My head."

He stared down at the counter.

"They gave me one day."

"We still have until tomorrow, right?"

He slowly shook his head.

"No."

I frowned. "Tonight?"

He nodded.

"Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner?" I snapped. "Fuck, Tuck."

══════════════════

NEW MAIN QUEST

──────────────────

Title: Little Ol’ Sis

Task: Save Mel.

Reward: 45000 EXP

══════════════════

I barely looked at the notification before closing it. This wasn’t about the quest.

It was Mel.

I’d known that kid since she was born. Hell, I’d changed her diapers once. She was practically my niece. There was no way in hell I was letting those bastards keep her. Not while I was still breathing.

"Where are they holding her?"

Tuck slowly shook his head. "Man, I didn’t call you here so we could come up with some genius plan. I already know this is a lost cause."

I frowned. "What?"

He looked me straight in the eye. "I want you to take care of Mel."

My heart skipped a beat. "You’re... are you... wait, wait, wait..."

"She’s thirteen, man. There are too many shitty people in this world, and you’re the least shitty person I know. If something happens to me..."

I took a step back. "You... what?" I stared at him. "Are you seriously planning to surrender yourself, you crazy bastard? I mean, I know you’re an idiot, but this fucking takes it to a whole new level!"

"What else am I supposed to do?" He threw both hands into the air. "Tell me. What the fuck else can I do?"

"We’ll figure something out."

"There’s nothing to figure out."

"There has to be."

"There isn’t." He shook his head. "It’s over. Just promise me you’ll look after Mel. That’s all I’m asking."

I let out a slow breath.

Without answering, I turned around and walked out of the market. Once outside, I leaned against the wall beside the entrance and lit a cigarette. Across the forecourt, a man was filling up his car, completely unaware that my entire world had just been flipped upside down.

Fuck. We didn’t have time. Once the clock struck midnight, it would all be over.

The Resistance Boys weren’t the kind of people who made empty threats. I still remembered seeing them beat an old man half to death outside this very gas station years ago. His crime? He accidentally bumped into one of them. That was it. They laughed while they kicked him across the pavement.

Those bastards never needed a reason.