The bullet soared through the air with the screech of death. Jason turned his head, his instincts kicking in too late. “Alessia!” he screamed, just as the bullet slammed into her shoulder—no, deeper—ripping through her chest like a blade of fire. Her body jerked violently. Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, time itself stopped. The sounds faded. The chaos of gunfire, screams, crashing pews—they all fell into silence as Jason caught her. “No—no, no, no—Alessia, stay with me,” Jason whispered hoarsely, lowering her trembling form onto the polished floor already slick with blood. Her blood. Her beautiful white dress was stained crimson where the bullet had hit. Her hand, still clutching his, trembled weakly. “I told you not to let go,” she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. Her lips trembled as she struggled to speak, “You… promised.” “I know. I know, baby, please just stay with me. Raven, call the medics! Get the car! We need to—” Jason’s voice cracked,

The room was a bit tensed. " What if this is what they want, Mr Jaosn. The rage, the anger. What if this is what they actually want to make you come after them. Then that means we are going to be playing into their hands." Skull said looking at his face. " Do you think I care anymore? I have lost good men to this endless war. I have lost a brother and people who are actually with saving and now my wife?" Jason said with his breath hunged in the balance. " I know what I am risking and I am not asking any of you to come with me. I know you all have tried your best. You can seat this one out and let me care Irene and Niko alone." The room went silent once more. " They need you to fall into this trap, Mr walker. Can't you see what is going on? You have Clark captured and of you will ask me, I am going to tell you that it was too easy. We captured Clark like he was nothing and so far as good we have managed to have him men at bay. The can't come into the house without us giving the

Irene sat down with Niko staring at both her and Eric. "Do you think it worked?" he asked, looking a bit frightened. "If Father isn't dead, then we are as good as being dead ourselves." "Can you keep your fucking voice low? I thought you knew what was going on when you agreed to join this little clique of ours. It is a win-win for us. You get to live your life, I take over the company and we share the Carters' properties." Irene looked at Eric, "And who says you will be the new kingpin? Don't you know what we stand to gain if Niko plays the perfect Jason Carter's life? All we need to do is assemble the Carter's family and have Niko be lord over them. He is going to need the company if he is going to be respected." The room was silent for a while. "Don't tell me you both are trying to outsmart me?" Eric said with his face contorted into anger. "Corner you? We work this shit out, and I believe we should share the profit. If my father is dead, then I don't need to travel back to my

The room became quiet. Each one of them trying to anticipate whose voice they were going to hear. Irene's lings nearly collapsed when she heard it to be Jason's. " Do you really think you have one?" Jaosn's voice boomed over the speaker. " I can forgive you, Niko. We don't have to fight this out." Jason said slowly " Why do you think he is here? I told you already, Jason. If I can't have you then no one will. Alessia's death is just a collateral damage." Irene replied taking a seat. " Since you know we are the master mind behind the death of your beloved wife, I am still surprised that you are not here trying to burn the house down. Besides, what happened to that power of yours. I thought you were invisible. Well..." irene brought out another pack of cigarettes. " I don't think you are invisible as you claimed to be." She said conclusively. " Well, you are having two choices, Irene. You either give yourself up to the authorities or..." Jason was cut short. " And why woul

Jason’s gaze locked with Skull’s, and for a long moment, silence stretched between them like a drawn bow. Then he exhaled, sharp and calculated.“Plan B is war,” Jason said flatly.Skull’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He knew better than to challenge Jason when that edge crept into his voice—the one that meant he had already made peace with bloodshed. “War it is, then.”Jason turned back to the photo on the dresser. “But let’s hope Irene is foolish enough to take the bait. Because if not, I’m burning every inch of ground between here and wherever she’s hiding.”The spy, still disoriented from the blow to the head, blinked as he came to. The van door swung open and he was shoved out roughly, landing in an alley between two rundown buildings. The moment he looked up, the van was gone.He stumbled forward, clutching his still-tender ribs, unaware of the black motorcycle engine idling several rooftops away. Reaper sat astride the bike, binoculars raised, tracking every step with me