Xavier :The tale of the broken

05. The night l stopped being him

The following day l reached the industrial district but didn't enter.From a distance I studied the area, blending into the moonless night like I belonged to it. l was learning fast to adapt since l was being trained to be successful. Security cameras three facing the main gate, one covering the loading bay. Fresh tire marks on the gravel. Different cigarette brands scattered near the wall.Too many.

This meeting wasn't meant for me. It wasn't even meant for Pakhan. It was meant for someone else.

Maybe Diego.Maybe Liam. I stayed anyway.

Thirty minutes passed before she finally arrived.

Not nervous. Not cautious. Calm and collected just like yesterday.

"Well… you learn fast," she said seriously, not even attempting a smile.

"That will keep you alive." We stood in silence.

Then the cars began to arrive one by one.The meeting started. I narrowed my eyes.

Not Pakhan's men.Not police either.A third faction.

We slipped in through the back; the front was heavily guarded. She walked ahead of me, guiding the way like she knew the place better than its owner.

And then I saw them. Liam. Diego.

Tables covered in weapons and drugs. So it was true.

She raised a hand, stopping me.

"Stay behind. I'll move closer and record."

"You think I can't do that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I know what I'm doing. I've been doing this for years." Tension hung between us.I didn't like her tone. But she was right.

She moved forward while I stayed back, watching the surroundings. Minutes later, more men arrived expensive suits, polished shoes. Buyers. There were three of them. One was a woman in an extravagant dress. I took pictures, but I couldn't hear the conversation. Suddenly she returned.

"We've been made. Let's go."We moved quickly to the exit. A car waited.

"We got it. Drive," she told the driver.Silence filled the car.

Halfway down the road the vehicle stopped. The driver stepped out.

"I'm switching cars. You go to Pakhan and show him what we gathered," she said while undoing her hair, shaking it loose before pulling her zipper down slightly.

"Wait," I said coldly. She paused.

"Why can't you do it yourself? She sighed.

"I'm his granddaughter. I'm not supposed to be doing someone else's job."

"Then why are you here?" She didn't answer immediately.

"…Not important."She stepped out before I could question further. Leather leggings. Crop jacket. Controlled elegance.

She entered another car. Another driver replaced ours.

We drove in separate directions.

An hour later I was still staring at the tape recorder in my hands when the car stopped. A villa stood before us.

Huge. The driver opened my door.

Inside, the butler guided me to Pakhan's office.

He stood near the fireplace, hands folded behind his back.

"Young man."

"Pakhan."

"You already have something for me? Impressive."

"Yes."

"Good. Sit." I played the tape.

Liam's voice filled the room asking about the next shipment, demanding more supply, suggesting stealing shipment documents… even eavesdropping on Pakhan's calls. I handed him the photos.

Silence.

"I always knew our shipments weren't disappearing randomly," he said calmly.

"I just never knew the mole."

"Your brother had connections to the underworld " I showed no reaction.

Inside rage.

"Young man," he continued, "you've earned my complete trust. I want to offer you something." He opened the safe and handed me a document. Shares.

All his companies.

"I want you to be my successor." My grip tightened slightly.

"I've already signed. Sign when you're ready. No rush."

"I understand, Pakhan." He smiled.

"Call me grandfather."

"…Okay. Grandfather." We shook hands.

The ride home was quiet.

My apartment had already been repaired perks of working with the mafia.

I took a cold shower first. My back still ached.

Afterward I made a cocktail. Exactly how I liked it.

Tomorrow was Christmas. I had to visit mother and Lia they always loved to celebrate it together as a family. Morning came too fast. The doorbell rang while my hair was still wet.

"Coming!" I opened the door. Delivery man.

"I didn't order anything."

"Apartment B23?"

"Yes."

"Correct address, sir." l was given two large boxes. I signed it closed my door and asked myself who sent it ?

I opened the first box. Inside was a navy blue Tom Ford suite,Tom Ford formal shoes, and Shumukh by Nabeel perfume.

The second box contained a red Brioni Vanquish II suit, Clive Christian perfume, and John Lobb formal shoes.

A note was attached.

A gift for your Christmas party Grandfather.

For the first time since the betrayal, Xavier smiled genuinely.

He chose the Brioni Vanquish suit. The fabric felt heavy, expensive authoritative.

He combed his hair back carefully, revealing sharp features and cold grey eyes, then added transparent Matsuda shades. This wasn't the Xavier people knew. Not the pathetic one. A different man would walk out tonight. He stepped out of the apartment with calm confidence the kind that quietly made others feel inferior. Outside, a man waited beside a car.

"Mr. Vladivostok," he bowed, opening the door of a 2001 Maybach.

Xavier hid his surprise behind indifference and entered without a word. He didn't ask who sent it. He already knew.

They drove to his family home. The party was already alive when he arrived lights, music, voices layered over laughter.

He had bought wine on the way. The driver opened the door.

Xavier stepped into the modern penthouse. Lia noticed him first.

"Xav! I'm so happy you came, I thought you wouldn't!" She hugged him tightly.

"Xavier, my son just in time," his mother said warmly, pulling him into an embrace.

"Mother, look at him. Doesn't Xav look great?" Lia giggled.

"Yes, he does. Come greet your father." They approached.

His father barely looked at him.

"You finally did something with your life. Shame you'll never be like Liam."

His mother quickly intervened.

"Darling, don't say that. He looks wonderful. I'm sure he found a better job."

"It's okay, mother. I'll get a drink."

"Sweetheart"

He left before she could finish. More guests arrived. Then Liam and Lenny entered both dressed in white. Obnoxious.

Xavier sipped his champagne slowly as his father proudly announced their engagement. They held hands.

Lenny smiled brightly. He imagined erasing that smile.

Does he really support this…? He stepped onto the balcony for air because being in the same room with them was suffocating Cold night. Quiet stars. He didn't turn when heels approached.

"Xavier." Lenny.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly.

"Why did you come? To win me back? I chose Liam, not you." He laughed softly and turned.

"Who said I came for you?" She stepped closer.

"I know you. You're crazy in love with me."

"That ended the moment I saw you in bed with my brother." Her expression flickered.

"And one more thing I'm not attracted to you anymore. The Xavier you knew is gone." He walked past her.

He said goodbye to Lia and his mother, claiming work in the morning. They were disappointed, but he left anyway. By the time he reached home, anger burned beneath his calm exterior.

Arrogant woman. He took out the contract Pakhan gave him.

Signed it without hesitation. Then he called. The line connected instantly.

"I'm ready."Silence lingered on the line. Then a soft chuckle came from the other side.

"Good," Grandfather said calmly. "I was wondering how long anger would take to mature into resolve."

Xavier leaned back in the chair, phone resting against his ear.

"I didn't call because I'm angry."

"No," he replied. "You called because now you understand." A pause.

"You saw them tonight, didn't you?"

Xavier's eyes darkened slightly.

"Yes."

"And?"

"They're sloppy," Xavier answered. "They believe betrayal is finished once discovered. They're comfortable." Grandfather hummed in approval.

"Comfort makes men predictable. Predictable men are easy to destroy." The fire crackled softly in the background of the call.

"I won't move against them yet," Xavier said.

Grandfather did not respond immediately. "Explain."

"They still think I'm weak. If they panic, they'll hide evidence. I want them confident… careless." A longer silence followed.

Then a pleased laugh.

"Excellent. You think like us already." Xavier's fingers tapped slowly on the table.

"What's my role now?"

"You begin tonight." Xavier straightened slightly.

"There is a shipment arriving in three days. One your brother intends to steal."

"I know."

"You will make sure he succeeds." Xavier's gaze sharpened.

"…Explain."

"I want him to take it," Grandfather continued. "Every crate."

"And then?"

"Then," he said softly, "he will discover he stole from the wrong owners." Realization settled in.

A trap. Not punishment. Erasure.

"You want a massacre."Xavier exhaled slowly.

"I want a message."

"And my part?"

"You will guide the outcome. Not as a victim… but as the architect." The words settled deeply.

For the first time, Xavier felt something unfamiliar. Control.

"I understand."

"There is more," Grandfather added. "From now on, you no longer react to the world, Xavier." A faint pause.

"The world reacts to you." The call ended.

Xavier lowered the phone slowly. The apartment was quiet.

Too quiet. He walked toward the window overlooking the sleeping city. Streetlights reflected faintly in his grey eyes.

Hours ago he had been a man trying to survive humiliation.

Now . He was planning a downfall.

He loosened his collar slightly and poured another drink but didn't touch it. His reflection stared back at him from the glass.

"So this is who I am," he murmured. Not broken.

His phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

" You accepted it"

He didn't ask who it was. Only one person spoke like that.

"You were watching tonight", he replied.

Three dots appeared instantly. "You noticed "

A few seconds passed. "You didn't stop me", she wrote.

"you didn't want me to" He smirked faintly.

"Be ready in three days"

" Already am " The chat ended.

Xavier finally picked up the untouched drink and emptied the glass in one swallow.

His gaze returned to the city.

"Liam," he said quietly. No anger in his voice.

Only certainty.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance." He placed the empty glass down.