For several seconds after Sebastian Vale spoke, no one moved.
The warehouse felt strangely quiet despite the aftermath of the firefight. Broken crates littered the floor, the smell of gunpowder still hung in the air, and Gale's men held Romano's guards at gunpoint.
But all attention had shifted to one man.
Sebastian Vale.
He stood calmly in the center of the warehouse as if none of this concerned him.
Vanessa studied him carefully.
She had interrogated dozens of criminals during her career.
Desperate ones.
Arrogant ones.
Terrified ones.
But Sebastian Vale was something different.
He wasn't nervous.
He wasn't angry.
He looked… curious.
Gale's gun remained pointed directly at him.
"Walk away," Gale said quietly.
Sebastian tilted his head slightly.
"You're letting me leave?"
Vanessa glanced at Gale.
Interesting.
Romano, however, exploded.
"What?!"
His hands were restrained behind his back by one of Gale's men.
"You're letting him go?"
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
