Chapter 25: Shadows Behind Silence
The warehouse was dark and cold, the faint smell of rust and damp concrete filling the air. A single hanging bulb swung slowly above, casting long, restless shadows across the room.
In the center, a man sat tied tightly to a metal chair. His wrists were bound, his face pale with fear, and small beads of sweat ran down his temple.
Standing in front of him was Leo.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp and dangerous.
Behind him, Nick leaned casually against a table, Natasha stood with her arms crossed, and Jhosen watched the man carefully.
"Let's make this simple," Leo said quietly. "Tell us what you know about Valley Lilly."
The man blinked in confusion.
"V-Valley… what?" he stuttered.
Nick chuckled softly. "Don't insult our intelligence."
"I'm serious!" the man said quickly. "I've never heard that name before!"
Leo took a slow step forward.
The sound of his shoes echoed in the empty warehouse.
"Then maybe you've heard of someone else," Leo said coldly.
"The Silent Duchess."
For a brief second, the man's eyes widened.
It was small. Almost invisible.
But Leo saw it.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about!" the man said quickly, shaking his head.
Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting reaction for someone who knows nothing," she murmured.
Nick walked closer and slammed his hand on the table beside the man.
"Stop pretending!"
"I'm not pretending!" the man shouted desperately. "I swear I don't know anything!"
The room fell silent.
Leo stared at him for a long moment, studying every movement, every breath.
Then suddenly—
"Nick."
Nick understood immediately.
A moment later the warehouse filled with the man's painful cries as the interrogation turned brutal.
At the same time… somewhere else.
A large screen glowed inside a dark room filled with computers.
A young man sat in front of them, typing quickly.
He pushed his glasses up and spoke through a headset.
"Duchess."
A calm female voice answered from the other side.
"Yes?"
"They caught him," the hacker said. "Leo and his people. They're interrogating him right now."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then a soft laugh came through the line.
"Let them," she said calmly.
"But he might talk—"
"He won't," she interrupted.
The hacker hesitated.
"They're asking about Valley Lilly and… you."
Another quiet laugh.
"He knows nothing about us," she said. "He was only a small pawn."
"So we ignore it?" the hacker asked.
"Yes," the Silent Duchess replied calmly. "Let them chase shadows."
The screen light reflected in the hacker's glasses as he nodded.
"As you wish."
Back in the warehouse.
The man's breathing had become uneven, his voice weak after the brutal questioning.
"I told you… I don't know anything…" he gasped.
Nick wiped his knuckles and stepped back.
"This guy either has incredible loyalty," he muttered, "or he really knows nothing."
Natasha frowned slightly.
"Something about this doesn't feel right."
Leo remained silent.
His cold eyes were still fixed on the man.
The warehouse felt heavier now, filled with tension.
Finally, Jhosen broke the silence.
"Boss…"
Leo didn't move.
Jhosen looked around the room before asking slowly,
"Where is Jack?"
Nick frowned immediately.
"Yeah… he was supposed to be here."
Natasha straightened slightly.
The realization slowly spread through the room.
Jack was missing.
But Leo didn't look surprised.
Instead, the corner of his lips moved slightly.
"I know," Leo said calmly.
Everyone turned toward him.
Nick frowned. "You know?"
Leo glanced toward the dark entrance of the warehouse.
"Jack," he said quietly, "is exactly where he needs to be."
The others looked at each other, confused.
Whatever Leo knew…
He wasn't saying it yet.