Chapter 275: I’m Right Here, and I’m Not Leaving

Morgan Sterling knew full well that if he escaped alone, neither the police nor the Keating, Grant, and Peyton families would ever let him go. But with Leah Sinclair, things were different.

The police and the Peyton family might not care if Leah Sinclair lived or died, but Asher Keating and the Grant family would never abandon her. They would even run interference with the police for her sake.

This was the most important reason he had grabbed Leah Sinclair at the first opportunity after his escape.

“All right, Leah, we’ll be leaving Riverfall soon. As for all those questions you have, I’ll answer them for you one by one once we’re safe,” Morgan Sterling said, standing up to gag her.

Leah Sinclair said frantically, “I need to call Asher! I have to know how Sheila is doing.”

When it happened, everything was a frantic blur. Leah herself had been dizzy, but in her daze, she sensed Sheila Hughes chasing after them. She just didn’t know what happened afterward.

“Hah. Leah, rest assured, I’ll let you make a call once we’re in the clear. I’m not stupid enough to give you any chance to contact the outside world right now.” After saying this, Morgan Sterling stuffed a gag in Leah Sinclair’s mouth and left the cabin.

「In the hospital.」

“Is Sheila Hughes’s family here?”

The doors to the operating room finally opened. Ethan Shaw shot up as if he’d been shocked and rushed over. “I am! I’m her boyfriend. Doctor, Sheila… is she going to be okay?”

“Neither of the two stab wounds hit any vital organs, so there’s nothing life-threatening. She just lost a significant amount of blood, so she’ll need to be observed in the ICU,” the doctor said, removing his mask and sighing with relief.

“‘The ICU? Does that mean it’s really serious? Doctor, please, I have money, you don’t have to worry, just…'”

Ethan Shaw panicked at the mention of the ICU. Chester Hale, who had followed the doctor out, quickly stepped in to stop him. “Ethan, calm down. It’s standard procedure to move a patient to the ICU for observation after this kind of surgery. It’s just to monitor her vitals. I’ve already checked; she’s really going to be fine.”

Riley Sterling also stepped forward to grab his arm. “The doctor and Second Master Hale both said she’s fine, so don’t get so worked up. Second Master Hale, what should we do now?”

“She’ll be in the ICU tonight, so there’s no need for you all to stay. Ethan, you should go home and get some rest.” Chester Hale looked at Ethan Shaw with concern. The man was in a terrible state.

“No. I’m staying right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

The tension in Ethan Shaw’s expression finally eased. Only then did he feel his legs give out, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Fortunately, Riley Sterling was there to catch him and help him into a seat.

“Then head over to the ICU area in a bit. I need to go check on Nash, and I also have to see what the situation is with Third Master Keating.” Chester Hale patted Ethan Shaw’s shoulder.

“Go on, I’ll stay with him. Asher and the others went to the West City Wharf. Call us if there’s any news,” Riley Sterling said quickly.

“Okay.”

After Chester Hale left, Riley Sterling went with Ethan Shaw to the ICU. Ethan stood motionless outside the glass door, staring at Sheila Hughes on the hospital bed inside. Riley patted his shoulder and sighed softly, unsure of how to comfort him.

‘The girlfriends of two of his best friends… one was lying in the ICU, and the other’s fate was unknown. People always say life is unpredictable, but who could have ever imagined it would be this unpredictable?’

“Riley, you should go help Asher. Sheila will be fine with me here. They need more people on Asher’s end.”

Ethan Shaw turned to look at Riley Sterling. He was emotionally stable now, the initial panic and confusion gone. Riley was still hesitant, but Ethan pushed him, urging him to hurry.

“Just go. I’m fine now. I’ll call you if anything happens. Asher needs the help more than I do right now.”

“Alright, call me if you need anything. Troy Lawson, stay with your master!”

“Yes, sir, I will. You can count on me.” Troy Lawson quickly stepped forward and replied.

Riley Sterling clapped Ethan Shaw on the shoulder and hurried out. Now that Sheila Hughes’s life was no longer in danger, he was indeed worried about Asher Keating’s situation.

Asher Keating arrived with his men at the West City Wharf. The teams arranged by Shawn Grant and Asher Keating were already waiting. The two sides gathered under the cover of darkness to share their intel.

Shawn Grant laid out a few photos. “Asher, my men just swapped out the crew on the adjacent boat. They’ve been watching. They estimate at least ten people on that ship, all mercenaries. No sign of Morgan Sterling yet, and there’s no telling how many more are hidden from view.”

Asher Keating’s lips tightened as he finished looking at the photos. He looked up toward the ship’s location. “My intel shows that this ship has two lower decks. One level is the galley and cargo hold. I suspect Morgan Sterling and Leah Sinclair are on the second lower deck. And… I expect they’ll make their move tonight.”

Shawn Grant nodded in agreement. If Morgan Sterling didn’t leave tonight, he wouldn’t get another chance. Choosing this location was his best move.

It was the perfect place to hide in plain sight. There were too many boats, too many people, and it was the closest point to international waters. He could hide, he could run, and even if the police show up, they wouldn’t dare to launch a full-on assault.

Sean Yates came running up, panting heavily. “Young Master, Young Master Shawn, based on your deductions, we’ve been running drone surveillance. There are three suspicious vessels on the edge of international waters. However, on this yacht, we’ve only seen one person since we started filming. A man appeared on deck ten minutes ago. We’ve identified him as a mercenary.”

As he spoke, Sean Yates placed a photo of the yacht in front of them. Asher Keating had already deduced that Morgan Sterling’s group would switch vessels after leaving the wharf. A fishing boat is too conspicuous. It’s fine in the harbor, but it’s not safe farther out at sea.

“Have you identified the yacht’s owner?” Asher Keating’s voice was frigid.

“Not yet. But we asked around. According to the local fishermen, the yacht only showed up this afternoon and hasn’t moved since it anchored. The drone is still on it.”

After Sean Yates finished his rapid report, Asher Keating grunted in acknowledgment. Shawn Grant asked, “Asher, are we going aboard?”

“Yeah. I’ll take Sean Yates and a few others to sneak onto that yacht now. Leave a few men here on standby. Shawn, you get ready to provide support.” Asher Keating quickly picked his team and began checking their equipment.

“Got it. I’ll get on the fishing boat and tail them from a distance.”

Shawn Grant nodded immediately. This was the plan he and Asher Keating had agreed on earlier. Asher would lead a team to intercept their getaway vessel, while Shawn would lead another to tail Morgan Sterling’s boat. It was a necessary precaution, a way to ensure they weren’t left in a purely reactive position.

Once the men and equipment were checked, Asher Keating and Sean Yates left their post, taking a separate boat toward the yacht’s position.

Asher Keating stood on deck and studied the yacht. It was anchored quietly not far from shore, completely dark, as if it were deserted.

Sean Yates walked over with a diving suit. “Young Master, the suit.”