Chapter 2 : This Attack Reeks Of Professional Hitmen,

"Captain Morgan!"Antonio spat in disgust. "That straight laced bull 'policeman' got a personal vendetta against me”.

Oblivion Captain Morgan has been consistently thwarting Antonio's illegal activities since he got transferred to Enchanted Hills.

Personally, Morgan harbored doubts about Antonio's identity as a hotel conglomerate.

To the untrained eye, Antonio's wealth and fame is perceived as a stroke of good fortune, but to Morgan's microscopic gaze, it seemingly materialized out of thin air, without explanation.

Antonio's black modified jeep came to a halt with a screeching sound , just beside the Captain's van.

"Why run from an inevitable fight, when I'm always one step ahead ?" Antonio sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

"Okay Blade! as you wish ," Grinch acquiescently nodded.

Meanwhile Captain Morgan emerged from his van, his expression stern and unyielding as he made to confront the reckless driver that almost hit his van.

"Antonio Hunt?", Captain Morgan called in surprise, he swiftly switched moods, from anger to sarcasm.

Antonio's eyes drifted onto the Captain's, his gaze unwavering without a word.

Captain Morgan stepped back , making enough space for Antonio to come down.

"Mr. Hunts! good to see you again", The Police Captain acknowledged mockingly as Antonio stood before him.

Antonio just maintained a mix of piercing & daring eye contact with the Captain without acknowledging his feign concern.

"You're finally on my investigation table, Mr Hunt," the Captain continued with a sneer, his voice dripping with mischief.

"And this one opportunity isn't going to slip by."

Anthony's expression remained impassive, his eyes never leaving the Captain's face.

Grinch passed a pack of cigarettes to him, Antonio clenched one in-between his teeth unblinkingly.

He flicked open a sleek gas lighter, the metallic click echoing through the air, sounding like a challenge to Captain Morgan.

Small flame erupted, casting a warm glow on Antonio and Morgan's face as he lit the cigarette.

He took a long, deep drag on his cigarette, the smoke curling around his head like a halo,

Antonio exhaled slowly and gently, the smoke drifting lazily to Captain Morgan's face.

Captain Morgan's face immediately contorted into anger.

The smoke puffed out of Antonio's nostrils, onto his face was like an open challenge from Antonio to him.

The Captain began to circling around Antonio with a snort,

"Mr Hunt, you're a hard man to pin down. But I love the silent war you just declared."

Just as the Captain paused , a homicide team leader walked up to the trio and whispered something into the Captain's ear.

Antonio's eyes flicked to Grinch, who stood silently by the jeep bonnet, his eyes fixed on the homicide team leader's lip.

The Captain dismissed the homicide leader with a wave and narrowed his gaze dangerously at Antonio before he walked away.

Grinch leaned in closer to Antonio 'Blade Knuckles', "I know that look, they found something"

"Get the mouthpiece 'gangster lawyer' on stand by," Anthony instructed cautiously.

Grinch nodded, his eyes betraying no emotions, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"I'm on it, Blade," he said, his voice low and maintained, he walked away, towards the dark alley for discreet communication.

Immediately darkness enveloped Grinch, Antonio's eyes locked onto the taped stash house, his gaze unwavering as he approached closer.

The Narcotics beagle dog had sniffed up something by the threshold, and it prompted the Homicide team leader to call the Captain's attention.

He gave the forensic group a pass to conduct their analysis on the evidence.

Captain Morgan personally walked through the scene, his keen eyes scouring the scene, missing nothing,

The stash room was in disarray as if a storm has passed through, Blood splatter bullet casings littered the whole room each telling its own story,

The lifeless men lay dead in the pool of their own blood , Bruises marring their skin, a testament of fierce confrontation.

With a voice quivering with emotion, The Casino Manager narrated the event to the Police.

"This attack doesn't have the hallmark of a usual Casino rival hit," Captain Morgan simmered with pursed lips.

"Sir, what are you insinuating?" Jordan, the constable asked, narrowing his gaze.

Captain Morgan clenched his fist tightly , repressing his emotion,

"Jordan, we're looking at a possible turf war, this attack reeks of professional hitmen , I can smell it ...more like a gang war." Captain Morgan swore, his eyes narrowed into slits.

A heavy silence hung over the scene, thick with undercurrent possibilities which etched on the cops faces.

After about an hour, the forensic lab delivered the results, sealed in a crisp envelope.

Captain Morgan held the envelope with the kind of veneration reserved for big events.

A blend of restrained satisfaction and quiet menace flickered across his face as he broke the seal.

His gaze sharpened as he scanned the forensic report, slowing deliberately over one particular detail.

For a moment, his face betrayed nothing, but eventually he exhaled slowly, the sound menacing like a predator’s growl.

"Jordan," he called, his voice low but charged with the weight of imminent action. "We're making an arrest."

Constable Jordan blinked, completely caught off guard. "Captain, are we... Are we really going after him?"

Captain Morgan’s lips curled into a predator’s grin, sharp and dangerous.

"Oh, we’re not just going after him," he said, His microscopic eyes settled on Antonio, who stood across the room, seemingly unbothered. "We are unlocking a big mystery".

"Antonio Hunt!" Captain Morgan’s voice sliced through the room like a sword, silencing every whisper.

Antonio turned slowly, his icy eyes meeting Morgan's. His whole demeanor reeks of silent control.

"What is it this time ?" Anthony growled, getting tired of Morgan.

Morgan advanced forward with cuffs, his gaze shifting like a predator locking onto prey.

"Recuerdas cuando te dije que te arrastraría conmigo a la estación" His voice dropping to a lethal whisper as he spoke Spanish.

'Remember when I told you I will drag you along with me to the station'

Antonio said nothing, his stance unflinching, His silence was deafening while his expression was as cold as death.

Morgan, undeterred, took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper "Bruno in disguise of Magnate.. Eres carne muerta"

'Gangster in disguise of Tycoon.. You're dead meat'

Just then, Grinch emerged from the darkness, his phone still clutched in his hand.

Antonio's eyes flicked to him, and Grinch nodded imperceptibly.

Anthony knew that the storm wasn’t just coming, it had already arrived and it had a name 'Captain Morgan'.

Meanwhile in Bulgaria, Nevena stirred, the faint rhythm of a heart monitor drawing her back from the world beyond.

She blinked slowly until her hazy vision picked up the blurry outline of a man

Every muscle in her body was seemingly heavy and felt weighed down by invisible chains. Her chest ached as though it still held the cold waters of the waterfall.

After sometime the world came into focus, it was Stefan, her childhood friend.

He sat beside her, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped tightly.

“Nevena,” he said, his voice breaking on her name. He leaned closer, searching her face.

“Finally awake, huh?, You scared the shit out of me.” Stefan's tone was sharp with anger and frustration.

"Stefan! ,” Nevena croaked.

Stefan leaned forward, handing her a glass of water. “Sip slowly,” he instructed.

After a few sips, she managed a whisper. “Why am I…?”

“Alive?” he finished for her, his voice was firm, though it wasn’t directed at her but at the situation.

“You nearly drowned, Nevena. Someone saw you and called the paramedics . What on earth were you thinking?”

Nevena’s gaze shifted, shame evident in her eyes. “Maybe that would have been better.”

“I’ve already lost everything. What’s left for me, Stefan? My life is a graveyard of broken dreams.”

Stefan sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You’ve always been impulsive, but this… this isn’t like you.”

A tear of regret slipped down her cheek as she whispered,

“I lost everything, Stefan. My health, my family… I only have two years, Nothing is left.”

"Nevena, I know it's not just your kidney that's failing. Your heart was broken when he left you after the transplant". Stefan's words cut deep, reminding Nevena of the painful memories she'd tried to bury by drowning herself.

Nevena's face crumpled, her body trembling as the memories came flooding back.

The pain, the fear, the desperation, it all came rushing back like a tidal wave and she broke into tears.

"Why am I so unfortunate, why am I so unlucky, Stefan! I did everything", Nevena's sob deepened, her body shaking with despair.

"I gave him a second chance at life, only to be discarded like a used tissue."

Stefan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“That’s not true,” he countered firmly. “You are the luckiest girl I ever came across, you bring happiness and laughter wherever you step in"

"You deserve so much better. You deserve to be loved, to be cherished, not by that loser, come on Nevena, you still have you"

Nevena's lips quivered, but a word didn't come out.

Do you remember what you told me when my father died?” Stefan’s voice cracked, his hands trembling. “You said, ‘We only get one life, Stef. If we don’t live it, who will?’”

"While you’re fighting this disease, why not fight for your dreams too? Tour the world, Nevena. See the places you’ve always longed for".

Nevena shook her head. “That was a lifetime ago.” her breath hitching. “Before Aleksandar"

“Don’t you dare say that." Stefan reprimanded. "You’ve always been the girl with the biggest dreams , you’d drag me to the edge of the village just to stare at the mountains? You said the world was calling you, Nevena....it's time to answer"

She stared at him, his words stirring something deep within her. “I can’t, Stef. I’m sick. I don’t have the time or strength…” She shook her head, sobs wrecking her fragile frame.

“You have more time than you think,” Stefan said gently, taking her cold hand in his. “

“The dialysis will keep you stable for now, and with the right care, we can work towards a transplant"

Nevena hesitated, her mind racing with memories of the maps she’d meditate over as a child, the postcards she’d collected, and the stories she’d imagined. Could she really do it?

“You don’t have to do it alone,” Stefan said, his voice resolute. “I’ll make sure to remind you about the care you need :dialysis, treatment, whatever it takes."

Nevena's resolve strengthened but suddenly crumpled, fear passing through her.

“What if I fail? What if I don’t have enough time?”

Stefan squeezed her hand, his gaze staunch. “Then at least you’ll have lived, Nevena. At least you’ll have tried. ”

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice fragile but resolute. “Let’s do it, Stefan. .”

Stefan's lips curved into a sad but determined smile. “That's the Nevena I know. Where do you want to visit first?”