REVENGE OF THE ILLEGITIMATE HEIR

Danger is the only game worth playing.

Quinn stormed into the grand Apollo mansion, his tie loosened and face red with fury. Ava followed closely behind, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. “I cannot believe the board would even dare question us like that!” Quinn ranted, throwing his briefcase onto a nearby chair. “Do they forget who’s in charge?”

“They’re vultures,” Ava replied coldly, brushing invisible dust off her tailored blazer. “We need to act quickly before they gain more ground.”

“I’ll deal with them tomorrow,” Quinn muttered, heading toward the living room. But as they entered, both froze in their tracks.

Dimitri was sitting calmly on their father’s old leather armchair, impeccably dressed in a sharp black suit. A confident smirk played on his lips as he swirled a glass of brandy in his hand. Behind him stood Klaw, his imposing figure making the air in the room feel heavier.

“What the….” Quinn blurted, his face paling.

“Surprised to see me, brother?” Dimitri’s voice was smooth but carried an edge that sent a chill down Quinn’s spine. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. “Didn’t expect me to walk out of prison, did you?”

Ava’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of panic in her eyes. “How dare you show your face here after everything you’ve done to this family?” she snapped.

Dimitri chuckled, setting his glass down on the side table. “You mean after everything you and your precious son have done to this family?” He stood, straightening his suit jacket. “Let’s not rewrite history, Ava. I’m back, and I’ve come to take everything.”

Quinn clenched his fists, stepping closer. “You think you can waltz in here and intimidate us? This is our house, Dimitri. You don’t belong here!”

“Oh, but I do,” Dimitri replied, his tone sharp. He walked toward Quinn, his piercing gaze making his brother take an involuntary step back. “This house. This empire. It all belongs to me. And you…” He pointed a finger at Quinn. “You’ve been nothing but a parasite, feeding off what my father built.”

“Shut up!” Quinn barked. “You’re just the illegitimate son…”

“Enough!” Dimitri’s voice thundered, silencing the room. He turned his attention to Ava, his eyes narrowing. “Tell me, Ava, where is the key?”

Ava blinked, caught off guard. “What key?” she asked, feigning confusion.

“The key to my father’s hidden will,” Dimitri said slowly, his voice dripping with menace. “The one he left to name me as his rightful heir.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ava replied stiffly, but her fingers twitched, betraying her nerves.

Dimitri smirked knowingly. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.” He turned to Klaw. “What do you think, Klaw? Should we believe her?”

Klaw shrugged, his deep voice rumbling. “I’ve seen better performances in cheap prison plays.”

Before Ava could respond, the sound of a car pulling up outside drew their attention. Moments later, Tobias Reed strolled into the house, his presence commanding yet unwelcome.

“Ah, the puppet master himself,” Dimitri greeted mockingly. “What perfect timing.”

Tobias raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral. “Dimitri. I see you’ve made yourself at home.”

“Oh, I’m just getting started,” Dimitri replied. “Tell me, Tobias, was it your idea to use your wife as bait? Or did Quinn here come up with that brilliant strategy?”

Quinn stiffened, his eyes darting nervously between Dimitri and Tobias. “What are you talking about?”

Dimitri’s smirk widened. “Don’t play dumb, Quinn. Everyone knows about your little scandal. But did you know, dear brother, that Tobias here orchestrated the whole thing? He dangled his wife in front of you like a shiny toy, knowing you’d take the bait. And when you did, he used it to ruin our father and weaken the Apollo Empire.”

Tobias’s calm demeanor faltered for a brief moment before he recovered. “You have quite the imagination, Dimitri,” he said smoothly. “But I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone who spent seven years behind bars.”

“Oh, it’s not imagination,” Dimitri shot back. “It’s fact. And I intend to make sure everyone knows the truth.”

“You’re making a mistake,” Tobias warned, his voice low.

“No,” Dimitri said, stepping closer. “The mistake was underestimating me.” He turned back to Quinn and Ava. “You’ll regret ever trampling me underfoot. Mark my words.”

With that, Dimitri strode toward the door, Klaw following closely behind. As he reached the threshold, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “This is just the beginning.”

Once they were gone, Ava sank into a chair, her hands trembling. “He knows,” she whispered.

Quinn paced the room angrily. “Let him try. He’s nothing but an ex-convict. We’ll crush him before he gets the chance to act.”

Tobias watched them silently, his mind already working through the implications. Dimitri’s return had thrown a wrench into his plans, but he wasn’t about to let some illegitimate son ruin everything.

“Calm yourselves,” Tobias finally said. “If Dimitri wants a war, we’ll give him one. But we must act quickly.”

As they plotted their next move, the echoes of Dimitri’s confident smirk and threatening words lingered in the air, a haunting reminder that the game had only just begun.

Dimitri adjusted his cufflinks as he stepped out of the Apollo mansion, the cold night air biting against his skin. Klaw followed closely behind, his silent, imposing presence as steady as ever. They reached the sleek black car parked by the driveway, and Dimitri’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

He answered it without hesitation. “Marcelo.”

“Boss,” Marcelo’s voice came through, a mixture of curiosity and urgency. “What’s next on the agenda? I assume tonight’s confrontation shook things up.”

“It did,” Dimitri replied coolly. “But I need you to redirect your focus. Start digging into Ava’s history….every affair, every secret deal, every crack in her flawless facade. Leave no stone unturned.”

Marcelo chuckled. “That’ll be a field day. Anything specific you’re hoping to find?”

“Anything that will dismantle her piece by piece,” Dimitri said, his tone laced with venom. “And while you’re at it, look into Tobias Reed. If he has dirt….and I know he does….I want it.”

“Consider it done. I’ll report back as soon as I’ve got something.”

Dimitri ended the call and slid the phone back into his pocket. He turned to Klaw, his expression calm but the fire in his eyes unmistakable.

“Klaw,” he said, a sly grin forming on his lips. “We’re going hunting.”

Klaw raised a brow but didn’t press for details. “Where to?”

“An elite club in the city. Let’s see what the night has in store.”

The car sped through the city, weaving between late-night traffic. Neon signs and towering skyscrapers reflected off the windshield as they pulled up to The Elite Lounge, a high-end nightclub reserved for the powerful and the wealthy.

Inside, the bass of the music thumped against the walls, mingling with the murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses. The room was alive with movement, from the dancers on the floor to the VIP booths lining the edges of the club.

Dimitri’s sharp eyes scanned the room. The usual crowd of elites and influencers filled the space, but one figure in particular caught his attention.

At the center of the dance floor was a woman. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her emerald-green dress clung to her curves as she moved to the rhythm of the music. Her energy was magnetic, drawing the attention of everyone around her, though she seemed completely lost in her own world.

“Havana Reed,” Dimitri murmured under his breath, his smirk deepening.

Klaw leaned in slightly. “Tobias’s daughter?”

Dimitri nodded. “The one and only. Wild, reckless, and untouchable… until now.”

They watched as Havana tossed back a shot, her laughter cutting through the music. A group of admirers hovered nearby, vying for her attention, but she seemed indifferent, dancing with a freedom that contrasted sharply with her father’s calculated demeanor.

“She’s a liability,” Klaw observed, his tone matter-of-fact.

“She’s an opportunity,” Dimitri corrected, his smirk turning predatory. “Tobias built his empire on control and power. What do you think happens if his precious daughter becomes a pawn in someone else’s game?”

Klaw’s eyes flicked toward Havana, his expression unreadable. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Dimitri.”

Dimitri’s grin only widened. “Danger is the only game worth playing.”

As Havana danced, oblivious to the eyes watching her, Dimitri turned to Klaw. “Let her enjoy her freedom tonight. Soon enough, she’ll be more useful than she ever imagined.”

Dimitri’s gaze was fixed on Havana, his mind already spinning with plans, as the wild music of the club continued to pulse in the background.