Blood for Power: The Mercenary's Return

Chapter 5: The Cost of Betrayal

Marcus was in the big foyer of his mother's estate, which he used to think of as home but now felt like a foreign land. The marble floors echoed with the sound of his footsteps, and the weight of his mission weighed heavily on him. The woman who had given him life and whom he had trusted was now a stranger. Betrayal had grown deep inside his family, the most private place.

He rushed into the living room, his heart racing. His mother was standing by the fireplace with her back to him. She didn't look back when he walked in, as if she had known he would come and had been waiting for this moment.

"Marcus," she said softly, and her voice sounded worn out, which he hadn't expected. "I knew this day would come."

Marcus's hands turned into fists at his sides. "You knew?" he yelled as he stepped forward. "You've known all along what I've been through and what you've done to me." And you knew about Quincy’s plan, right?

She turned to face him only after her shoulders had stiffened. Her face showed no guilt, only the cold, calculating eyes of someone who had lived with her choices for too long.

"I've done what I had to do, Marcus," she said in a voice that was eerily calm. "I've done everything to keep you safe."

"Protect me?" he said again, his voice getting louder. "You sold me to Quincy." You agreed to something with him. You let him ruin my life, my team, and everything we ever had. "You gave up all of us."

Her face twisted, but she didn't move. "You don't get how important this is, Marcus." You never did. I had no choice. Quincy had control over us and everything else. By staying close and working from the inside, I thought I could keep you safe. But I've been playing a dangerous game, trying to keep you safe by controlling what I could.

"Keep me safe?" Marcus's voice broke as he couldn't believe it. "Are you keeping me safe by not telling me? Are you using me as a pawn and manipulating me?"

"I didn't want this for you," she said, stepping forward and almost begging. "I never wanted you to be a part of it. But you have the skills. You could bring it all down. If you could just see it. Marcus, Quincy wanted you to be the head of his empire. He wanted you to take over for me. He wanted you to be his successor.

Marcus's world changed. "Heir? To what? His kingdom? You've been getting me ready for this, your own goals and power plays. And I've been doing exactly what you want.

"I wanted you to be better than me," his mother said, her voice breaking. "I wanted you to see what I couldn't." You can change this and get it all back. But you can't do it by yourself."

Marcus's heart raced and his mind raced. He couldn't handle this much. Quincy, the man he had always thought was the bad guy, wasn't the only one in charge; his mother had been responsible for everything. For a long time. The truth was worse than being betrayed. He had always been a pawn in a carefully planned game.

Marcus said "no" in a cold voice. "You can't change this. "You can't make me the bad guy in your story."

"I never wanted you to be the bad guy, Marcus," she said, moving closer and shaking her hands. "But now you're in it. You can't get out of this. "You've gone too far, and it's too late to go back."

His heart was racing. His mother had been using him as a tool for Quincy’s empire. He couldn't have imagined how deep the betrayal was.

"You wanted me to take over the Vultures," Marcus said in a low growl. "To take Quincy's place and run the empire."

She nodded. "I never wanted you to be a part of the violence and bloodshed." But you're the only one who can bring the system down from the inside. They've never been able to control you. "You have what it takes to make everything better."

Marcus stepped back, his anger boiling over. "Mother, I won't be your puppet." You ruined everything: my team, my life, and my choices.

The silence that came after was stifling. Marcus couldn't bear to look at her. For so long, the woman he loved and trusted had lied to him.

But her voice stopped him before he could turn away.

"Marcus," she said, her voice shaking with fear. "There's more." I haven't told you everything. I couldn't do something. "I, "

The ground shook under their feet before she could finish. The estate shook with the sound of explosions, and the windows rattled. Marcus turned around, letting his instincts take over. He reached for the gun at his side, and his mind was already on high alert.

His mother whispered, "We're not safe here." Her face was pale. "They know you're here." They've been keeping an eye on things.

The door flew open, and armed men rushed into the room with their guns drawn. There was a Quincy emblem on their gear, so this wasn't just a random attack. The assault was planned. They were aware that Marcus was here.

But then, something strange happened. The man in charge of the group stepped forward, but his mask hid his face. Marcus's breath caught in his throat as he took it off.

It was Malik.

"Malik?" Marcus whispered, "I can't believe it." "What are you up to?"

Malik's face was difficult to read, but his eyes were cold, which made Marcus shiver. "I have to do this, Marcus. "What we all need to do. "Quincy has already won."

Marcus shook his head as the last pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Malik wasn't just a piece in Quincy's game; he was a part of it. He had also betrayed Marcus.

Marcus said, "You're with them now," his voice full of sadness and anger. "After all we've been through?"

For a brief moment, Malik's eyes softened, but then they hardened. "Marcus, it's too late to fix this." "Everyone has made their choice."

Before Marcus could say anything, another explosion shook the house and sent debris flying. The ground moved again, and the walls began to break.

In the middle of all the noise, Quincy spoke. "You've done your part, Marcus. It's time to finish the game now.