Chapter 5 Proud Man.

Laith's hands shook with barely contained fury as he stormed away from the docks, his men trailing behind him like shadows. His blood roared in his ears, his vision tinged red with rage.

"I'll show her" he seethed, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "That weak, sniveling little nothing-how dare she stand against me?"

Kelly kept pace beside him, cautious. "Boss, we can still-"

"SILENCE!" Laith whirled on him, his eyes wild. "Did you see her? Standing there like she owns the world? That pathetic woman who used to beg me-beg me-to stay!" His laugh was sharp, unhinged. "Now she's playing gangster? Now she's Owais' fiance?"

One of his younger men, Basil, hesitated before speaking. "She... didn't look scared. She looked like she wanted this."

Laith backhanded him so hard the boy staggered. "SHE IS NOTHING!"Spittle flew from his lips. "She was nothing with me, and she'll be nothing without me!"

The men exchanged uneasy glances. They had seen Laith angry before-but never like this. Never unraveling.

Kelly stepped in carefully. "Boss, we need to think. The Wolves have them now, but we can-"

"I don't care about Badir and Shams right now!" Laith snarled. "They're dead men walking. But her? His voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "She doesn't get to walk away. She doesn't get to win."

A slow, twisted smile spread across his face.

"I'm going to make her regret the day she ever stopped fearing me."

The men fell silent. The hunt wasn't over. He was determined to make her pay.

The moment the last of the men shuffled out of the room, Kelly shut the door with a heavy sigh. Laith paced like a caged animal, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. The air was thick with the stench of rage and whiskey.

"Sit down," Kelly said his voice firm. "You need to calm down. There's something you have to hear-and you need to listen."

Laith whirled on him, eyes blazing. "Spit it out, then!"

Kelly didn't flinch. He pulled out a chair and sat, gesturing for Laith to do the same. When Laith remained standing, Kelly leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

"I've been gathering intel on Owais and Amani for weeks," he said, keeping his voice low. "And right now? The smartest move is to let the Wolves have their victory. Just for now."

Laith's nostrils flared. "You're telling me to run? From her?"

Before Kelly could respond, Laith lunged, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. "How dare you belittle me like this? I'm not some sniveling coward who hides from a woman!" Spittle flew from his lips. "I'll make them all bow before I let her humiliate me!"

Kelly didn't struggle. He met Laith's fury with steady eyes, even as his breath grew ragged. "Listen... to me," he choked out. "Owais and Amani aren't just strong-they're connected with Politicians, businessmen, even the damn police. They've built an empire while you've been chasing ghosts."

Laith's grip tightened. "She's nothing! Just a stupid girl I threw away!"

"Then take her back," Kelly rasped, his voice strained but sharp. "If she's really that weak, it'll be easy. Seduce her, manipulate her-use her to tear Owais apart from the inside." He paused, letting the words sink in. "It will spare us so much trouble, instead Or screaming like a madman and getting us all killed."

For a heartbeat, Laith's fingers dug deeper-then, with a snarl, he released Kelly and shoved him away.

"You think I'm the type of man who would pick up what he already threw away?"Laith hissed.

Kelly rubbed his throat, catching his breath. "I think you'd rather win than die proud."

Silence stretched between them. Outside, the distant noise of the city carried on, indifferent to the storm raging inside the room.

Finally, Laith turned away, his voice a venomous whisper.

"Get out."

Kelly hesitated, then stood. "Think about it. Or don't. But this war won't be won with rage alone."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Laith stared at his own reflection in the darkened window-a man on the edge of ruin, haunted by the ghost of the woman who used to tremble at his touch. And for the first time, he wondered if he was the one who had underestimated her.