Vincenzo's mind drifted in and out of consciousness. Pain radiated from every part of his body, the bruises and cuts from his previous beatings now multiplied. His head throbbed with a dull, relentless ache, and his muscles screamed in protest with every slight movement. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was the mocking laughter of Baltazar and the sharp sting of fists and boots against his flesh.He stirred as the lights in the room suddenly blazed to life, the harsh brightness piercing through his closed eyelids. Before he could fully open his eyes, a cold torrent of water hit him square in the face. The shock of it snapped him into full awareness. He gasped, sputtering as he tried to shake off the water. His vision cleared to reveal Baltazar standing before him, a cruel smirk playing on his lips."Good morning, brother," Baltazar sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sleep well?"Vincenzo glared at him, his jaw clenched tight. He refused to give Baltazar the sati
Annizah stirred, her head throbbing as she gradually woke up in a dim, closed room with no windows. Her vision was blurry, and her body ached from the rough handling she had endured. She tried to move, but her muscles protested, sore and bruised. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she saw a tray of food placed on the floor beside her. The sight of it made her stomach churn; she had no appetite in her current state. Disoriented, Annizah tried to piece together her fragmented memories. The last clear image in her mind was of her sneaking out of the safe house, armed with determination and a gun, to find Vincenzo. She had been so sure she could save him, could protect her family. But something had gone wrong. She remembered encountering some men, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat using the skills Vincenzo had taught her. She had fought valiantly, but there were too many of them. She had taken down several before she was overwhelmed and captured. Her heart ached with the memory of
As Baltazar passed, she saw another figure join him—Ella. They stopped not far from where she hid, their voices carrying over the night air. Annizah strained to hear their conversation, every word a potential clue to her next move. “You idiot,” Ella hissed. “I told you we should kill Annizah and keep Vincenzo alive. He’s the key to everything!” Baltazar's face twisted with anger. "And I told you, we need Annizah alive. She's the leverage we have over Vincenzo. Killing her now is useless." Ella stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "Leverage or not, she's a threat. I won’t let her ruin everything we've worked for. We should kill her and be done with it." Baltazar grabbed Ella’s face, his grip tight and unyielding. "Listen to me, Ella. I never accepted your help. You volunteered. So don't think for a second you can dictate how things are done. If you go against me, you’ll regret it." Ella's eyes widened with a mix of fear and defiance. She pulled away from his grasp, rubbing h
Vincenzo sat in the dim, dank room, his body aching from the brutal treatment he had endured. His wrists were raw and bloody from the ropes that had bound him, and his head pounded with a relentless throb. But despite the physical pain, his mind was sharp, focused. He was worried about Annizah, the thought of her captured and possibly hurt gnawing at him like a relentless beast. He could almost see her in his mind’s eye—her beautiful face twisted in fear, her eyes wide and searching for him. He hated the thought of her in danger, hated even more that he wasn’t by her side to protect her.But Vincenzo knew he had to remain calm, had to keep his wits about him. Panic and anger would do him no good now. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He smirked to himself, his blue eyes glistening with a mischievous glint. He had fooled Baltazar, played the part of the scared, desperate captive perfectly. He had made himself look pathetic and broken, knowing that it would make Baltazar l
After leaving the headquarters, Vincenzo's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Baltazar’s suggestion to go home and spend time with his family had been laced with insidious intent, but Vincenzo saw through the facade. He knew he couldn’t let his guard down. Instead of heading straight home, he made a detour to his parents' house. The journey there was filled with a tension that knotted his muscles and sharpened his senses.When he arrived, the familiar sight of the house brought a fleeting sense of comfort. But this was no ordinary visit. He was here to set his plan into motion. His parents were seated in the living room, the concern evident on their faces as he entered. He took a deep breath, knowing he had to keep his composure.“I’ve figured out who he is,” Vincenzo began, his voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of rage. His parents looked at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to continue. “My half-brother. Baltazar.” He paused, letting the weight of the revelat
He adjusted the mask and checked the guard’s weapon, ensuring it was loaded. Every movement was deliberate, every action precise. Vincenzo knew he had to be careful. One misstep and everything could fall apart. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead.With the guard’s uniform and mask, Vincenzo slipped out of the room, moving with the confidence and purpose of someone who belonged there. The building was a maze of dimly lit hallways and shadowy corners. He navigated it with caution, his senses on high alert. Every sound, every movement was a potential threat.As he walked, his mind was filled with thoughts of Annizah. Was she safe? Had Baltazar captured her as he had threatened? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he forced himself to stay focused. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not now.The halls seemed to stretch on forever, each turn leading him deeper into the heart of the building. He passed other guards, nodding curtly, and they paid him no mind. The disgu
The hallway stretched on, dim and foreboding. Vincenzo pressed the gun harder against Baltazar's head, forcing him to move forward. Each step was measured, the tension between them crackling like electricity.“You think you’ve won,” Baltazar sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You always were an arrogant fool.”Vincenzo’s grip tightened. “Keep talking, Baltazar. It won’t change anything. You’re taking me to Annizah, and then this ends.”Baltazar chuckled darkly. “You’re so predictable, Vincenzo. Always the hero, always trying to save everyone. It’s pathetic.”“You’re the one who’s pathetic,” Vincenzo retorted, his eyes cold. “Using underhanded tactics because you can’t stand on your own. You’ve always been in my shadow.”Baltazar stopped walking, turning his head slightly. “Maybe I like the shadows. They’re where the real power lies.”Vincenzo pushed him forward again. “Enough with your games. Keep moving.”As they approached the room where Annizah was supposedly confined, Vinc
After escaping Baltazar, Vincenzo immediately took the phone he saw on one of the unconscious guards. His fingers trembled slightly as he dialed Mark's number, the familiar digits grounding him in the chaos that had unfolded."Mark, it's Vincenzo," he said, his voice a mixture of relief and urgency. "Everything is clear. You can move in now. Take down the whole place.""Roger that," Mark replied, his tone professional but tinged with concern. "Are you and Annizah safe?""We will be," Vincenzo assured him, his eyes scanning the corridor for any signs of danger. "Just get here fast."Hanging up, Vincenzo pocketed the phone and took a deep breath. He had to find Annizah. They had been through too much to let their story end here. He moved quickly, his steps silent but purposeful, his mind racing with thoughts of her safety.The building was a maze, each hallway identical to the last. But Vincenzo's sharp memory guided him. He retraced his steps, recalling the path he had taken earlier. Ev