By the time Crocodile strode into his study, hiscomposure was restored, hisarrogance fully intact, and there wasn't a single hint ofthe sin he had just committedlingering in his expression.
Sineka, on the other hand, was still trying tocompose herselfin her room—legs weak, skin flushed, thephantom of his touch still burning between her thighs.
And the bastardknew it.
He smirked to himself as he adjusted his coat, rolling his shoulders before reaching for the receiver of theDen Den Mushithat had been left waiting on his desk.
The snail's features had already shifted intocherry-red lips and dark lashes—the unmistakable image ofStussy.
"Took your sweet time, Croco-boy,"her sultry voice purred through the line."Busy with something?"
Crocodile exhaled smoke through his nose, lowering himself into his chair."Business."
"Mmm,"Stussy hummed knowingly."Is that what we're calling it now?A little birdie told me you've acquired somethingnew—or should I say,someonenew?"
Crocodile didn'treactoutwardly, but his grip on the glasstightened ever so slightly.
Sineka.
Hisqueen in silk and fire, theunexpected variablein his carefully controlled world.
Stussy chuckled, the sound rich with amusement."You always were a man of singular focus, Desert King. It'sveryunlike you to keep company."
Crocodile swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the liquid catch the light."Maybe I'm getting sentimental."
Stussylaughed, a sound full ofteasing disbelief."You? Sentimental? Oh, please."
Crocodile chuckled, but there wasno humor in it—just amusement at how little peopletrulyunderstood him.
Stussy sighed dramatically."Well, she must be something special to hold your attention. But I didn't call just to gossip."
She shifted, her voice dipping intobusiness.
"The underworld is shifting, and not everyone is surviving it."
Crocodile leaned back, his interestfully captured.
"Go on."
Stussy's tone turned sharp,cutting through the honeyed sweetness like a blade hidden in lace.
"The Montressi Cartel is collapsing. One of their own sold them out, and the government's already gutting their operations in the North Blue. Too many loose tongues, too many bad deals."
Crocodile smirked."Predictable."
The Montressi Cartel had beenrotting from the insidefor years. It was only a matter of time before the weight of their ownarrogancecrushed them.
"And who's rising?"he asked, fingers tapping lightly against the glass.
There was a brief pause. Then—
"The Zhao Syndicate."
Crocodileexhaled smoke through his nose, unimpressed."They won't last. They're impulsive."
Stussy chuckled."Maybe. But for now, they have money, they have firepower, and they have the backing of a certainbrokerwho doesn't like staying in the light."
Crocodile's eyesnarrowed slightly."Name?"
A pause. Then—"Tezren."
Crocodile's smirk faded.
Tezren was aghost in the face, no fixed location, just a name whispered in dark rooms.
If he was backing theZhao Syndicate, then it meantsomething bigger was at play.
"Find out what his endgame is,"Crocodile ordered smoothly, swirling the last of his drink before finishing it in one slow sip."And keep me informed on the Zhao's movements. If they grow too fast, they'll need to be put down."
Stussy sighed dramatically."You always were a man of control, Desert King. And here I thought you might besoftening."
Crocodile chuckled, setting his empty glass down with aclink.
"Try me."
Stussy'slaughterwas soft, knowing."I'll be in touch."
The line wentdead, and Crocodile sat there, fingers resting against his jaw, his mind already moving three steps ahead.
The underworld was shifting.
And if there was one thing he excelled at—
It was making sure he controlled the tide before it ever reached the shore.
Crocodile let the silence settle after Stussy's call, exhaling a slow stream of smoke as he leaned back in his chair. His thoughts were already turning, pieces falling into Zhao Syndicate. Tezren. The shifting power in the underworld.
All .
Unlikeher.
The moment Sineka stepped into his office, he knew exactly what she was doing.
Dripping in silk and danger, she strolled in likeshe owned the damn place, herhips swaying, gaze unreadable, somethinglazy, slow, and utterly lethalin her stride.
Crocodile didn'tacknowledge her immediately, but hisgolden gaze flicked over her once—a singleprecise, knowing glance.
She had changed.
Gone was the flushed, wrecked mess he had left in her room.
Now, she waspolished to perfection, dressed indeep wine-red silk, the gown clinging to her curves inall the ways that turned men into was swept back, revealing thelong column of her throat,her bare shoulders, the delicate goldchain resting at her collarbone—the onehe had put there.
Her makeup?Sharp, deliberate.
Like she was ready forwar.
Hislips curled slightly, intrigued.
She was stillbothered.
Still trying totilt the scales in her favor.
Good.
"Enjoying yourself?" Sineka murmured as sheglided toward him, slow and deliberate.
Crocodileexhaled smoke, unbothered. "Immensely."
She hummed, dark amusement curling at the edges of her mouth. "You're a bastard, you know that?"
Hissmirk widened slightly, the cigar balanced between his fingers. "And yet, here you are."
Sineka reached forhis whiskey decanter, hergold-painted nails tracing the glassbefore pouring herself a didn't ask permission.
She never did.
Crocodile watchedthe way her wrist moved,the way her throat bobbedas she took a slow sip,the way her lips parted ever so slightly when she swallowed.
Calculated. Every motion. Every breath.
He almost wanted toapplaud her audacity.
Almost.
Sinekadidn't sit across from himlike a guest.
Sheleaned against his desk, placing herselfjust close enough to touch, thesoft scent of her perfume wrapping around him like something dangerous.
Crocodile smirked."I know what you're doing."
Sineka tilted her head."Do you?"
And then—she moved.
Slowly, deliberately, she lifted herself onto theedge of his desk, letting the high slit of her dress part, revealing the smooth expanse ofbare, golden thigh.
Crocodile's eyesflicked downwardfor exactlyhalf a second.
Then back toher face.
Sineka smirked."You looked."
Crocodile exhaled through his nose. "And?"
She shifted, crossing her legsdeliberately, letting the fabricslide further up.
"You're predictable,"she purred.
Crocodile chuckled, taking another drag from his cigar before setting it down, the emberglowing softly in the dim light.
"That's where you're wrong."
And thenhe moved.
Faster than she expected.
One sharp motion, one brutal show of dominance—
Crocodilegripped her thigh, fingersdigging in just enough to make her still, hishook braced against the desk beside her.
Hisgaze was dark, unreadable, entirely in control.
Sineka's breathhitched, but she didn'tflinch.
Shenever did.
Crocodile leaned in,his breath hot against her ear, his voicelow, full of something cruelly amused.
"You think you can play this game with me?"
Sineka's nailspressed into the wood of the desk, her pulsepounding against her throat.
She hadwanted a reaction.
But this?
This was dangerous.
Crocodile smirked as hedragged his fingers along the inside of her thigh,not quite touching where she wanted, but close enough to drive her insane.
Sineka swallowed, voicesmooth despite her shiver."I don't think I can play. Iamplaying."
Crocodile chuckled, dark and slow.
"Then you'd best be ready to lose."