Chapter 85
Karl froze. The man’s words pierced his mind, shaking his already fragile composure. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice trembling despite his best effort to mask it.
The man in the black suit stood firm, unbothered, his smooth smile plastered on his face like a mask. "You’re aware your family has been popping up in Angeline’s videos, aren’t you? And you do know Angeline’s a major public figure on Glowsphere? So... how do you think she found your family?"
Karl’s eyes narrowed, his chest tightening with dread. He didn’t like where this was going. Without thinking, he stepped forward aggressively, his fist clenched as if ready to throw a punch. Layla, standing to his side, grabbed his arm firmly, pulling him back before he could close the gap.
"Karl, stop it!" she hissed, her voice urgent.
Valencia, who had been watching the exchange silently, leaned against the campervan door, her arms crossed. Her cold, calculating expression didn’t falter as she broke her silence. "Enough with the cryptic wordplay. If you know something, say it. Right now. Or so help me, you won’t leave this parking lot alive."
The man raised his hands slightly, a gesture of mock surrender, his smug smile fading just a fraction. "Easy there, I don’t want this to get messy. Neither do you, right? Especially not in such a public place." He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulling out a plain white envelope. "Take this. Read it. Decide for yourself if the lives of your loved ones are worth considering our offer."
Karl stared at the envelope like it was a live grenade. "What’s this?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"A invitation," the man replied simply. "What you do with it is up to you."
The tension hung heavy in the air. Valencia’s eyes darted toward the man’s two companions standing in the shadows a few paces behind him. They were silent but intimidating, their hands resting casually on their sides, ready to act if things went sideways.