Jack’s eyes remained locked on the stage, his chest rising and falling as though the very air had turned heavy with betrayal. Ray Stevens no, Drug Lord Fero, his cousin, the quiet boy who once refused to order pizza over the phone because he feared stuttering in front of strangers, now stood illuminated under gold and violet beams like a crowned serpent. His posture was regal, smug even, as he emerged from the secret elevator, flanked by two bodyguards, a man and a woman, both Chinese, both dressed in crisp black suits that clung to their movements like shadows.Their eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the crowd with the precision of snipers, their hands occasionally twitching near their belts, where hidden weapons most certainly slept.The announcer, a pale man with slicked-back hair and diamond earrings that glinted like deceit, bowed low and offered the microphone with both hands. His voice echoed. “Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the man of the hour. The son of the wealthi

A sharp click echoed behind them. Jack, Scott, and Lord Leo froze. A heavy door creaked open.From the dimly lit hallway behind them, a shadow emerged, tall and muscular and also armed. His boots stomped against the concrete floor as he approached like a silent executioner. In his gloved hands, a black assault rifle glinted under the flickering warehouse lights."Move." He barked, his voice laced with menace.The trio had no choice. Slowly, cautiously, they stepped out of their hiding spot behind the metal storage containers. The man’s weapon didn’t waver as he motioned them forward.They were led across the echoing warehouse floor,each step bringing them closer to the looming figure of Ray Stevens, who stood like a god among men. His jet-black suit clung to his toned form, the fabric sharp and elegant, reflecting his wealth and cruelty in equal measure. His loyal henchmen still had their rifles aimed squarely at them.They were now just four meters away from him,close enough to see

The black limousine hummed softly beneath Ray Stevens as it glided through the outer Italian suburbs, flanked by a convoy of identical vehicles. The mood inside the car, however, was far from smooth.Ray sat poised in the leather seat, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of crimson wine gently swirling in his hand. The tinted window beside him framed the hazy city lights in streaks. He had just silenced the television screen mounted before him, the last words of the press still echoing in his head. Everything was going according to…His phone rang.Ray's smile curved slowly as he leaned forward and checked the caller ID. The smile tightened.Dad.He tapped the green icon and brought the phone to his ear with confident composure.“Hello, Dad.” He greeted, his voice smooth as velvet, there was silence.Then the voice came,calm at first, icy and deliberate, each word slicing through the speaker.“So… you finally showed your face.”Ray chuckled softly. “I did. And the crowd went wil

Jack froze mid-step just as he was about to reach the door to his suite. The soft click of a heel and a subtle shift in the hallway's ambient energy made him glance to his left. Emilia stood a few paces away, her back leaning gently against the corridor wall, her arms folded not in defiance but in self-protection. Her expression was heavy, painted with a sadness she didn’t try to mask. Her eyes, usually aglow with teasing wit or warmth, now shimmered with something closer to regret.“I’m sorry.” She said, her voice low, like a tremble caught between the lips and the throat. “I… I shouldn’t have asked you those questions at the dinner table. I only said them because…” She hesitated, inhaling deeply as her eyes lifted to meet him. “Anna told me you weren’t cheating on me.”Jack slowly turned, a soft and ironic chuckle rising in his chest not mocking, just weary. He crossed his arms, leaning slightly toward her.“Then why don't you trust me?” He asked softly. “Don’t you trust me,

The night air turned ice cold in Jack’s lungs as he tore through the narrow alleyways, Lord Leo on his heels. Footsteps thundered against the cobblestones. The crowd behind them was a blur, swallowed in a whirlwind of chaos as screams erupted where Rex had once stood. Jack’s hand was tight around the walkie-talkie, his breath shallow and his mind screaming the same thought over and over again…He’s been shot.In the distance, Victor’s agonized cry rang like a bell of horror. "NO!”Victor dropped to his knees beside his brother, trembling as blood gushed from the wound in Rex’s abdomen. Rex was gasping, one hand pressed weakly to his gut, the other limp at his side. His tan shirt was soaked in scarlet. Victor ripped off his jacket and pressed it down hard.“Stay with me, dammit. Stay with me, Rex!”Lord Leo reached them first, panting, his eyes going wide at the scene. His knees nearly buckled at the sight of Rex lying in a pool of his own blood. Without wasting another second, he f