Ethan Sullivan was taken hostage.
Chris Marino stood with a dozen professional assassins behind him.
Countless gun barrels were aimed at Sophia Sullivan's head.
"Even if you run fast enough to reach the yacht, this man will be tortured to death," Chris said with a smirk. "I doubt you want to see that, Ms. Sullivan."
He continued persuading, "Why not sever your own tendons? If the boss spares you, I might even pursue you. A woman as stunning and fierce as you is rare."
Sophia wiped the blood from her face with deliberate calm.
"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't entertain advances from someone like you," she said evenly. "But using coercion? That's just low. I despise being threatened."
Not a trace of fear showed on her face.
She would rather die with honor than live in disgrace.
Before anyone could process her words—
Sophia suddenly produced a bundle of explosives.
"Now the choice is yours," she said, lifting the explosives with a mocking smile. "Die together, or release the hostage?"
Chris's smirk froze.
This woman was out of her damn mind.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
"Boss, those are real explosives!"
"One pull of the pin, and we're all dead!"
"Is she insane?!"
Chris narrowed his eyes. "Shut up!"
He forced composure. "Ms. Sullivan, you won’t do this. You have too much to lose. You wouldn’t throw it all away for a man."
He tried to see through her bluff.
But Sophia’s expression was as calm as if she were discussing the weather.
Chris clenched his fists. "People like us value our lives too much. That much explosive would kill you too."
He emphasized the consequences of mutual destruction.
He refused to believe she’d go that far.
Sophia placed her finger on the pin without emotion.
"Being captured means death anyway," she said. "Might as well take you all with me. Better than being cornered."
She feigned the desperation of someone with nothing left to lose.
"I can die alongside my companion, but you’ll all be blown to pieces," she declared coldly. "I’ll count down from five. Your lives are now on a timer!"
"Five!"
Sweat beaded on Chris’s forehead.
He was betting Sophia wouldn’t pull the pin.
But he couldn’t let her go either. The boss had said failure meant death for all of them.
"Three!"
Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. Chris gritted his teeth.
Some of the more cowardly men began backing away.
"Boss, she’s crazy. Let’s retreat!"
"No one moves!" Chris barked.
He still didn’t believe Sophia would do it.
"One!"
The countdown ended. Chris instinctively shut his eyes.
The expected explosion never came.
He opened his eyes triumphantly, ready to mock her—
Only for his smile to die instantly.
Sophia pulled the pin.
With a dull clink—
The explosive rolled to his feet.
Chris’s pupils shrank to pinpoints.
She was actually serious!