tracking the field owners

"Where?"

Harper glanced at her reflection, brushing a loose curl aside.

"On this side."

She pointed near her temple, her tone soft, almost shy.

"Okay!" Quincy replied with a warm smile. He leaned in, gently sliding the pin into her hair. He took a step back and admired his work. "Looks better now."

"Yes, it does." Harper's smile widened as she touched the pinned hair, her reflection approving.

"Your hair is growing longer."

Quincy tilted his head, fingers brushing her ends.

"Yes, it is! I stopped trimming it so it's growing back." She swayed her head proudly, her eyes shining.

"Would you like to use those extensions?"

"No! It's gonna ruin my hair." Harper shot him a sharp look, her voice firm.

"Really? I see Gianna use them often." Quincy teased, half-smiling.

Harper rolled her eyes. "She will turn bald before she turns 40."

"What the hell! Don't slander my wife." He laughed, slightly scandalized.

"She's almost beating me up every time we meet."

"As if she can!" Harper raised a brow, smirking.

"Might break a hand and a leg when next she provokes me."

Quincy chuckled. "That is against the courtesan rules."

Harper scoffed. "I'll face my punishment. I hate being bullied."

He shook his head fondly. "Gianna is really troublesome."

"How did you end up with someone like her? I thought you would do better when I heard you got married."

Quincy sighed, his gaze dropping. "It's a family issue. We both have an agreement—to go our separate ways if we find someone we have an interest in."

Harper looked up slowly. "Do you have an interest in me?"

He didn't hesitate. "I definitely do."

"You can't marry a courtesan."

"Says who?"

"Until I turn 30, I guess."

"It's no big deal. We'll always be together till then."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "How sure are you?"

Quincy leaned closer, voice soft. "I am very sure that we will be together till then."

A small smile broke through her doubt. "I believe you."

Harper stood upright, smoothing her dress. She wore a deep blue silky gown that hugged her shape and flowed behind her like water. A slit ran up her thigh, revealing long legs. A delicate gold necklace rested on her collarbone.

"We should go now!"

"Alright, boo!" Quincy took her hand.

He helped her down from the car and led her upstairs. The house was massive, dimly lit, and eerily quiet. Inside, only one chair was set at the center, surrounded by men already waiting.

The moment Quincy stepped in, hand-in-hand with Harper, the men stood. Harper recognized most of them—customers from the courtesan house.

They approached the big seat. Quincy adjusted it for her like a gentleman, and she sat. He lowered himself beside her.

"Please sit down," Quincy said, voice commanding. The room obeyed instantly.

"Good evening, Quincy."

"Good evening, everyone. It's been quite long."

"We thought you already scattered the union."

"Well, not yet! I'm still contemplating whether this union is worth holding onto." Quincy's tone turned colder.

"Quincy, I don't think it is a good idea to ruin the legacy that your family has built for so long."

"Y'all make things tiring! The legacy my family built was never like this! There was unity—we did business and made money. We didn't sacrifice the innocent!" His voice rose, tense and fierce.

"This is a mafia ground. We don't do business with pity."

"Then do business with people who want it! Stop forcing your lifestyle on others. Stop trafficking, stop sacrificing others for your gain. Let people sell organs if they want to. Why do you force them?"

A murmur rose in the room.

"Quincy, stop accusing us like this! We're not doing those things!"

Quincy raised a hand, voice calm but cold. "Well, maybe not all of you. But the ones I'm talking about… they know themselves."

"Find them and regulate the union instead of scattering it."

"I'm on it. I'm working hard to do that."

One man smirked. "We knew you were serious when you took on a courtesan."

Quincy stood proudly. "Yes, I did. This is my courtesan. Her name is Blue. She will be the mistress of the Dylan mafia."

A few murmured in surprise.

"Welcome, Blue."

"Thank you." Harper smiled gracefully, eyes scanning each face.

"I hope Blue will help in holding the union together."

"I will try my best—with your care and protection."

"You are so kind."

"Thank you."

"The next gathering, I hope we'll be discussing better things—aside from trafficking and abduction."

"Sure, Quincy. We will make sure of that."

"Let's end the meeting." He stood and offered Harper his hand. She rose with him, still composed.

As they walked out, a voice called from behind. "Quincy!"

He turned. "Yes?"

One of the members approached cautiously. "The issue we keep hearing about—any progress?"

"Progress? No progress yet."

"You haven't caught the people doing the evil behind you?"

Quincy shook his head. "Not at all."

Harper spoke up suddenly, firm and confident. "There's a progress."

Everyone turned.

"Really?"

"Yes, Collins. We sent guards tonight to track one of the fields."

"A field? Logan's field?"

"No. Others we recently discovered. We sent them to Brooklyn."

"Brooklyn! Are you serious?"

"100%, Collins."

He turned to Quincy, impressed. "I see your courtesan has been working hard."

Quincy glanced at Harper and muttered under his breath, "Oh, she definitely works hard," giving her a look that said what the hell are you doing?

Harper grinned like a cat who caught the canary.

"I need to run along now."

"Sure, sure," Quincy said. Once Collins left, he turned to her.

"What was that all about, Harper?"

She leaned closer, whispering. "Send someone after him."

"What?"

"He's going to his field. His real field is in Brooklyn."

Quincy blinked. "What?! Paige!"

"Yes, boss!"

"Send men after Collins. Follow him closely."

"Yes, boss." Paige left immediately.

Quincy helped Harper into the car, eyes locked on her.

"How did you know he has a field?"

"I did my homework, Quincy. He trains drug peddlers—kids and teenagers. I didn't know the location exactly, so I set a trap. When I mentioned the raid, I knew he'd run to protect it."

Quincy's jaw clenched. "Oh, true. I can't believe Collins is into the dirty stuff too."

"Fifty percent of your union is."

"Oh my God. And I was complaining to them."

"All the noble courtesans' companions—Collins, Parker, Eden, Reese, Reagan, Noah, Brook, Rowan…"

His eyes widened. "That many?"

"That's not all. I'll send you the rest of the list—and field locations."

"Cool. Cool."

"Once you get them, what will you do?"

"Rescue the kids. Burn the fields. Withdraw funds from all their businesses. Let's see how they survive without dirty money."

"Good."

Quincy exhaled.

"Logan is coming back in a few days. I might need you to lead me to their warehouse. They don't store goods in the fields."

"Sure. I'll do that."

"Thank you, baby."

Harper leaned back, calm and composed. "It's fine."

NOBLES LOUNGE – EARLY EVENING

The lounge was dimly lit, as always, with golden sconces casting warm glows across velvet walls. A few girls lounged on the curved couches, sipping wine, gossiping in whispers—until the doors flung open.

VIOLET burst in, her heels clacking against the marble floor, face flushed with excitement and panic.

"Guys!!!" she shouted breathlessly, hair bouncing as she stormed into the center.

"What's wrong?" one of the girls asked, springing up from her seat, alarmed.

"Did you guys hear what happened?" Violet's voice was shaking with both awe and disbelief.

"What happened?" another girl leaned in, brows furrowed.

Violet caught her breath, eyes wide.

"Jade's companion."

"Who? Collins?" someone asked, her tone suddenly sharp.

Violet nodded frantically.

"Yes! Quincy caught him doing human trafficking on his fields. He set the whole place on fire and liquidated all his assets!"

A collective gasp echoed through the room. One girl nearly dropped her glass.

"What the fuck! Quincy can do that?" another girl exclaimed, standing to her feet.

"Definitely!" Violet said, pacing now. "His family established most of them, so he can easily do that."

Murmurs broke out, panic spreading like wildfire.

"That's crazy! Is Jade going to leave the Nobles Hall?"

Violet turned sharply. "No! Why would she leave? Her money is still active. She'll remain here till the end of the year and find a new companion. Collins's problem is not her problem."

Someone laughed dryly, almost bitterly. "That's true."

A dark silence hovered over the room for a beat.

"What's going on recently?" one of the younger girls asked quietly, shifting uncomfortably on her cushion.

"The Dylan family is regulating the mafia," Violet said seriously. "Some companions might get in trouble these days."

"What the hell!" OLIVIA stood up so fast her wine spilled. Without another word, she stormed out of the lounge, heels echoing behind her.

Someone scoffed. "Olivia might have to start her life all over too."

"How about you?" a voice teased from the corner, eyebrow raised.

Violet smirked, flipping her hair back. "Oh me? I'm already on my way to find a new companion!" With a wink, she twirled and strutted out, hips swaying with confidence.

The door shut behind her, leaving the rest in a stunned, bitter silence.

One girl snorted, shaking her head.

"Wow, those little betrayers! They always save their ass first and ditch their companion fast enough."