Horror flashed across their faces as they exchanged glances."Is this a joke?" The middle-aged man on the right slammed his hand on the desk."Do I look like a comedian?" Tatiana asked in a calm tone, her aura composed. She looked up at the guard standing behind her."Do I?" she asked him."No, ma'am," he responded."I didn't think so, so no, it's not a joke... Oh," she gasped slightly. "Maybe because I didn't explain it well." Her face suddenly turned cold, and the shareholders wondered if she was the same calm woman they had seen seconds ago.She leaned down, resting her elbows on the desk, her chin on her knuckles. "This company has been in the hands of trash-people who use innocent lives for their selfish interests. I'm here to take out that trash, starting with you."Another man stood up and roared. "You wench! Do you even realize what you're saying?! This company would collapse without us. We are the backbone of this place!""Oh really? Let's test that, shall we? I'll prove to y
Cassius gazed down at Silence, his father, his emotions in turmoil as he recalled how he had stormed into Silence's room, eyes blazing."You're helping me," he said, and Silence turned to give him a questioning look. "Helping? And what makes you think that?""Rafael told me everything. How you made him turn against his family, causing their death. You hate the Wallingtons," Cassius said, and Silence simply returned his gaze to the sky he was looking at."If you want me to hate, then just say so instead of acting like a fucking asshole."Silence shut his eyes and sighed. "You're one stubborn son of a bitch. I'll be done and gone soon. So if you're going to throw a tantrum, do it later.""Why didn't you ever show up?" Cassius persisted. He wanted to get the answer out of this man at all costs. At least he knew something-Silence wasn't an enemy."I clearly recall telling you not to bother knowing who I am.""Well, sorry, Dad... I'm going to trouble you until you spill the shit," Cassius
Meanwhile, Rafael glanced at the man seated beside him with his eyes closed. He was now so used to his cold aura. "You're not going to see her? I mean, Mr. King's mother?" he asked. "I'm not going to meet her." "Why not?" Rafael asked, curious. "Can you keep your mouth shut? I'm trying to meditate here." "Says the man who used me. I'm still mad at you, you know... But weirdly, I'm glad you found me," Rafael mumbled. "So what are you going to do with me?" "Your choice. Either you stay and get the hell out of my way, or you come with me and become like me," Silence said curtly, standing to leave. He had gone far when Rafael ran to walk beside him. "You called me your apprentice. I'm going to stay that way. My place is with you," Rafael responded, and the man shot him a glare. "You wanna die? 'Cause I'm damn sure you won't last a week." Rafael laughed confidently. "Try me." Silence's lips curled up. "Fine then," he muttered, continuing to walk with Rafael beside him. "What are
Cassius's face paled, mirroring the expressions of the others. Jaxon choked on his drink before bursting into laughter. The others joined in, and the room erupted with laughter.After they finished eating, they all headed to the park. Cassius decided to buy the entire place for his son and wife.Jaxon stood at a distance, watching Tatiana, Cassius, and Dylan riding the carousel. Aurora stood beside him, also watching."A wonderful sight, isn't it?" she sighed. "For a fleeting moment, I thought I'd never see this. Silly me."Jaxon put his arm around her shoulder. "You'll get to see this every day." He then recalled what Cassius had said about Silence and Aurora not wanting to meet each other.He knew it was for the best, but his heart ached knowing Aurora never experienced true love... or maybe she did.She cared for her family more than anything. The smile on her face and the happiness glittering in her eyes were priceless."Aren't you going to ride with them?" Jaxon asked Jolene, who
[Four years later]Issabella spun around to look at the women in the room. "How do I look?" Nervousness was evident in her voice. She was wearing a professional outfit, her hair tied into a bun, with light makeup accentuating her beauty."Fantastic!" Tatiana responded. "You're really made for this.""President Issabella, right on track!" Jolene exclaimed, a ring glittering on her finger. She had married Jaxon last year. In her arms was little Elsa, dressed in a blue fluffy dress."Gosh, I feel nervous," Issabella exhaled, fanning herself several times."You're fine," Tatiana approached and adjusted her shirt.Jolene added, "Just be yourself.""Are you okay with this? I mean, you've been handling it for a year now..." Issabella asked Tatiana."With you by my side. You're way more capable than you think. Besides, handling it with my career is stressful," Tatiana said."Especially when Tatie won the Best Actress Award three times in a row," Jolene added."Drama queen," Tatiana mumbled."
SOMEWHERE UNKNOWNA place strictly restricted, strictly prohibited. One would think a place like this didn't exist because of how secretive it was. Inside were a few men in black dragging a wounded man across the floor. The men reached the large imposing door, swung it open, and stepped into the room, which had a menacing air."Please let me..." the man being dragged spat out blood as he coughed. "Let me... go... I'm sorry... I'm fucking sorry."They dropped him in the middle of the room. His limbs felt heavy, his bones like water, yet he forced himself to move. He gazed up at the cold devil standing right before him.His piercing blue eyes, the scar that ran across his neck, and the deadly smirk playing on his lips sent a shiver down the man's spine."Si... Silence... I... I didn't mean to offend you," the man trembled. Falling into the trap of the most dangerous man in the underworld was a nightmare. He thought he had succeeded in his evil plan, not knowing he was falling into the
A deep, cold voice sounded on the other side of the phone. "Your tongue or your dick, which one should I cut first?"Rafael snickered at Silence's words. "Sadly, Dad, I'm going to be needing both of them—one to tease you and the other to fuck as many pussies as I want.""Get over here. This is no time to play; you know that."Drawing a deep breath, Rafael relented. "Fine, I'll be there in a minute."After a long while, Rafael's car pulled up in front of a large building. His black jacket and chain trousers made him look incredibly handsome, catching the attention of every female mobster who noticed him. He flashed them a charming smile as a greeting.After years of being Silence's apprentice, Rafael had become the strongest among all his men. Silence treated him like a son—he was practically the second-in-command of all the mobsters.With his destination in sight, he reached for the door and knocked twice. After receiving permission from the man inside, Rafael turned the knob and step
Rafael went straight to the training ground, where mobsters were lined up, training hard. Some were exercising, others were taking a break—indulging in drugs or engaging in sexual activities—while others remained focused, training with guns.Grabbing a gun, Rafael headed to the shooting range.Gun training had always been his favorite. The sight of mannequins being destroyed with each bullet oddly satisfied him.'Why?' Leonard’s dying face flashed in his mind, making his nerves go rigid. His grip tightened, and he fired aimlessly, each shot tearing into the mannequin, destroying it until its parts scattered across the ground."You made your choice."Silence’s cold voice echoed in his head, and his anger doubled.He had given him a choice, and now that decision haunted him—even after so many years. It felt as though Leonard was still here, lingering in the shadows, whispering in his mind.His voice wouldn't leave him.He thought he had buried it—at least for a while—but the guilt was c
“Rosa,” Zade approached her quietly. She sat alone on the hotel rooftop, gazing up at the night sky.“How did you find me?” Rosa asked, her expression blank.“I figured you'd be somewhere quiet, probably with a nice view and fresh air. The rooftop seemed like the best bet,” Zade explained. “Care if I join you?”“As long as you don’t become a burden, help yourself.”Rosa had always been the one who smiled the most in the clan. She was cheerful, helpful, talkative—everyone loved her. Talented. Beauty with brains.But after Viktor’s death...Zade hadn’t seen even a glimpse of a smile on her face.It had been over a week since the war ended. Leonard was now being held in a psychiatric facility known as the Phantom Cell, secured with high-tech restraints. That guy would be tortured until his last breath.Not the violent kind of torture, but the kind that would haunt him. Trapped between walls, injected with things that would slowly drive him insane.Rafeal had said Leonard was saved agains
Angie Hales. That name was carved into the gravestone. The yard was the place where all the dead mobsters were buried. Rafeal approached, placing a bunch of flowers on the stone, his expression blank, but inside he was breaking. He hadn't seen her death coming. Even though she had made a grave mistake that caused the clan to suffer, Angie had been his friend ever since he joined the clan. She was brave, smart, and always there to calm him with her words. Even now, he still found it hard to believe Angie was truly behind it… Rosa walked to stand beside Rafeal, her face unreadable, but she was breaking inside too. “I shouldn’t have told her to die after the mission,” Rosa said, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I regret my words that day.” “It’s not your fault,” Rafeal said. Rosa nodded, understanding what Rafeal meant. “She was my best friend.” “She paid her debt,” Rafeal mumbled. Memories of Angie surfaced, striking Rosa’s heart. “Still… I hope she fin
Several days passed, and Milena didn't leave Rafeal’s side for a second. She watch the doctor feed and treat him occasionally, read him stories and watched him sleep until her own eyes shut.Three days had passed, and Milena grew worried, missing him so badly. She missed his voice, his smile, his touch, and the way he made her feel.Wake up soon, Rafeal.The doctor mentioned his body was still healing and that it would take time before he regains consciousness.Milena rested her head beside him, taking his hand into hers and falling asleep like that. She loved doing so—she could sense even the slightest movement from him.The sun rose from its horizon, casting a warm glow over the city.Milena stirred in her sleep, releasing a light moan. She looked up, and shock rippled through her.She was lying on the couch, and the bed was empty."Rafeal!" she gasped, shoving off the sheet that covered her one side of her and bolting to the bed. "Where did he go? He can't be up! Did the doctor tra
Milena blinked in shock, still frozen in place as her limbs refused to listen to her.Finally met her? Why would the great Tatiana Wallington be anticipating meeting her?As if reading her thoughts, Tatiana spoke again in that smooth voice.“We've heard about you, dear.”Milena’s legs wobbled. “Good things, I hope,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced at Cassius, who still had his sharp gaze fixed on her.Then she bowed deeply, her head almost touching her knees.“Nice to really meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. King,” she straightened up and flashed them a nervous smile as Cassius gave her an acknowledging nod.“Rafeal told me about you guys too,” Milena added.The Ward's door slid open, and Zade walked in as well, standing beside her. Milena flashed him a glare as if asking, *Why didn't you tell me they were here?*Zade gave her a replying look too. *You didn't give me a chance; how am I supposed to do that?*Milena sighed defeatedly, knowing he was right. Tatiana offered the empty
Milena snapped awake with a gasp, her eyes meeting an unfamiliar room. She was surrounded by white walls—too bright, too sterile. The ceiling spun above her for a moment before everything began to settle.Her heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself up, the hospital sheets sliding off her trembling body. Her hands instinctively clutched the fabric at her chest, panic crawling up her throat as her eyes darted around the place.“Rafeal…”Her voice came out as a whisper, hoarse and broken.Memories surged in—his limp body in her arms, the flatline sound, the doctors shouting.She swung her legs off the bed, nearly collapsing from the dizziness that hit her. But she didn’t care. Her feet touched the cold floor, and she forced herself up, dragging her weak body to the door.She yanked it open.A nurse turned at the sound, startled. “Ma’am, please—you need to lie down, you’re not—”“Where is he?” Milena demanded, voice trembling but full of desperation. “Where is Rafeal?”"Ma’am, yo
While Milena cradled Rafael's unconscious body, Angie ran to Rosa's side and saw the scene. Just like Rosa, her body froze in place, but she quickly recovered, pulling out an injection from her gear and running towards them.She shoved it onto Rafael's lap and injected him, then checked on his state."He is not breathing," Milena sobbed, her whole body trembling. "Rafael is not breathing!"Angie immediately lifted him despite the exhaustion from searching for the antidote clouding her senses. She carried him out, and Milena struggled to follow.She was drained, her bones threatening to give up, darkness slipping into her mind, and she almost fell, but Rosa caught her.Zade appeared too, shocked at the scene. He was covered in blood and sweat; it seemed they had been fighting off the men outside.He rushed to help Milena, taking her from Rosa and leading her out.However, Rosa paused and glanced at unconscious Leonard, her eyes dangerously cold as deadly intent rose within them.Angie
Milena watched them clash like two storms colliding.No hesitation. No holding back.Rafael was a blur—faster than Leonard remembered. Every strike was brutal, precise, like he’d been waiting for this fight his entire life.Their fists met, their bones cracked, and their snarls echoed like monsters in a cage.Both were skilled; no one would know who was stronger among the brothers.Leonard went for Rafael’s throat with a wild hook, but Rafael ducked and slammed his elbow into Leonard’s ribs, sending him staggering back and coughing blood.Leonard smirked, wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand. “That all you’ve got, little brother?”Rafael didn’t answer. He spun low and swept Leonard’s legs, sending him crashing to the floor. Rafael pounced, fists flying, hammering into Leonard’s jaw over and over.Blood splattered across the floor, warm and slick. Leonard twisted, caught Rafael’s arm, and flipped him—hard.Rafael slammed onto his back with a groan but rolled to his f
Oxford’s fingers flew over his keyboard, trying to find a way to connect with his allies. He needed someone to back him up.Gunshots echoed everywhere. It was no longer just one man with a sniper—more had come to attack them.He already sensed that Leonard and his men were cornered. But no matter how many times Oxford tried, he couldn’t get through.He had another method of connecting with his allies and requesting help, but access kept being denied. Were his allies under attack too?Each time he tried to reach them, someone—or something—kept blocking him out. A hacker? Fuck. He wasn’t that good at this stuff.“Where’s Zinnia?!” Oxford barked at X. Zinnia was the head of hacking.“She—” That was the only word X could manage before the van door swung open—no, it was ripped open.Before X could react, a dire wolf pounced on him. X shot aimlessly, hitting even the equipment in the van, as the wolf tore off his arm.Oxford cursed under his breath, watching X fight for his life. A large fi
Oxford’s van arrived at the port first. The ship was ready, and his men had already begun unloading the illegal drugs, weapons, and poison into it.He knew staying in a country dominated by Silence was a deadly risk, but he had to come. After all, one can't defeat an enemy without getting a little close.More importantly, there was his little daughter—she might have something that could help him bring Silence down. Once he got what he wanted from her, he would kill her… and if she insisted on keeping quiet, she would be tortured until death.Oxford snickered as he took a drag from his cigarette. Who would’ve thought he’d manage to break into the territory of the most dangerous man in the mafia world?And even kill one of his best men…Ha! Silence is getting old, after all. It was bound to happen. No one stays king forever.If it hadn’t been for Silence, he and Maximus would have had the entire world beneath their feet.“Rest well, brother,” Oxford muttered. That was one of the reasons