The air was tense—so tense that it choked every single mobster gathered around. Most of them had tears filling their eyes, while others looked broken.Milena stood among them, her lips parted in disbelief.One of the strongest men was down: Viktor.The door swung open, and Rosa rushed in, her hair blowing behind her. Fear clouded her features as she approached them.“Move away!” she yelled, forcing her way through, and as she did, she dropped to her feet. A body was covered in white fabric.Rosa prayed inwardly that the news she heard wasn't true. It better not be true!She crouched before the body, her hand reaching for the fabric and slowly sliding it away from the fugure's head.A whimper tore from her throat, her eyes widening in horror at the face. For a moment, she stopped breathing… then she screamed.“Nooooo!!!”She shook her head violently. This can't be Viktor. This can't be her man lying dead on the cold floor.This is a nightmare… she desperately wanted to wake up.She clu
“No… this has to be a mistake,” Milena shook her head. “What are you talking about? Why my computer? There has to be a mistake!”Rosa stood before her, eyes red and burning with fury. “Did you do this?” she asked, and Milena shook her head in defiance. “You leaked our perimeter information and let an enemy in?”“No, it isn't me!” Milena yelled, but then Rosa slapped her hard across the face making her fall hard to the floor with a bleeding mouth.Rafaël, who saw this, tightened his fists as he held himself back.Silence gaze fell over Rafaël, his eyes cold in a way he had never seen before. “Remember your promise. The girl has to die by your hand after she confesses,” he stated, facing the mobsters. “Take her to the torture room.”“No!” Milena shook her head. The mobsters glanced at each other, some pitying her, others staring as if she deserved it—Angie was among them. Zade looked worried but couldn’t do anything, and Rafaël…He wasn't looking at her at all. His eyes were shut, fists
“Do you know who Dr. Oxford is?” Rafeal asked Milena as they waited for the butler.He knew what he was doing was crazy and that Silence would get mad if the news reached him. Before that could happen, he needed a clear understanding of Milena first.“I don't know who that is,” Milena shook her head.“He's the doctor who mentioned my poor immune system to my family. He's currently after us, creating a weapon we’re trying to find out... and that man,” Rafeal paused, gauging her expression, “is said to be your biological father.”Milena's lips parted, and for a moment, she froze; her face paled. “My father?”Rafeal didn't reply; instead, he scrutinized her. Her shock was clear, and so far, he hadn't detected any lies from all her actions.Rafeal was good at reading people. That was why it was so hard to deceive him.“I don't understand. How could he be my father? My father is an asshole back home... a drunk who moves around gambling all...” she paused as she seemed to realize something.
Milena was unsettled. So unsettled that her breath came too hard for her.Did Rafael just agree to that? What if he couldn't find a way to prove her innocence? Does that mean he was going to die with her?“Rafael… no! What do you think you are doing?!” she yelled at Rafael. “Why would you agree to that?!”“Because you're not the culprit,” he said to her.“How could you be so sure?! What the hell are you thinking?! Let him take me. You cannot be dragged into this! Are you insane?!” she yelled, her voice rising in panic.With a swift movement, Rafael turned, held her face, and crashed his lips onto hers, snapping her mouth shut.“You made me insane,” he whispered, and she sobbed. “Stay here a little bit longer. I'll set you free by fishing out the bastard who framed you.”“But…”“Don't 'but' me, little flower. I have a plan.” He kissed her again; this time, she returned the kiss, shaking in fear. “Just trust me, okay?” he whispered, and she nodded.“I trust you.”Rafael turned to leave
The door creaked open, and Milena snapped awake from her slumber. Her gaze went to the entrance as a male figure stepped in.It wasn't Rafael; she would have recognized him at first glance.Was this person here to torture her? So far, no one had stepped in since Rafael left… this person was the first.Before she could panic, he spoke. “Hey, it's me. Zade.”Zade emerged from the darkness, stepping into the dim light of the room. Milena immediately relaxed.“Zade?” she whispered.“Yes,” he replied gently, crouching before her and pulling out a package of food from the plastic bag he had with him. “Rafael asked me to bring you this. You must be hungry.”Milena tried her best to hold back her sob. “Is he okay?”Zade sighed. “Yeah. Worry about yourself for now… he is currently finding a way to get you out of here. You just need to wait a little bit longer.”Milena bit down on her lips. “He made a dangerous deal with Silence because of me. Why am I so pathetic? He is in trouble because of m
Angie stayed in her room, fingers buried in her hair as she tried her best to stay calm.Other mobsters were busy finding the intruder.Viktor’s lifeless body flashed in her mind, and Angie gripped her hair harder, not minding the pain that spread through her scalp.The way Rosa cradled against him, sobbing violently, had broken her heart so badly.What was happening? This was all screwed up.She then recalled her conversation with Rosa before she locked herself in her room.“I’m pregnant with him, Angie… What do I do? Why? Why do the heavens have to be this cruel? Why? This is unfair! I love Viktor… and I thought of telling him after the mission… I thought of talking to Silence about the life we both dreamed of, but… but now he is gone!”Angie began crying in her spot. Everything was so wrong.A mobster came to the quiet corner where she was.“You're being called. Rosa wants to see you,” the mobster announced.Angie snapped up. “Rosa?” The mobster nodded before leaving.Angie made he
Rafael heard the gunshot but didn't bother going back; instead, he needed to release Milena before going to Silence.He had already caught the culprit and couldn't wait to set her free.Reaching the passage, Rafael frowned at the strange feeling that hit him.Something had gone wrong; it was eerily quiet and dark. Rafael found the light switch, and when he turned it on, his eyes widened.Several mobsters were lying lifelessly on the floor, their skin green just like Viktor. It was the same culprit who killed Viktor.“Milena,” Rafael muttered, and immediately, he sped through the corridor to the room where Milena was kept.The chair was empty; the chain that had bound her now lay on the floor.Rafael's lips parted, dread seeping through his core. His eyes darted frantically, his heart racing.“Milena… no,” he mumbled, quickly searching the room, but there was no sign of her.“Milena!” he yelled, storming out. His hands ran through his hair.The intruder must have taken her.“Fuck!!!”*
“Your mother was a good woman. A beautiful, nice, and calm independent woman when I first met her,” Dr. Oxford began as he served Milena some tea.Milena simply glanced at it, then looked up at the man, her eyes revealing a clarity that she wasn't going to drink it.Dr. Oxford continued, “Her name was Tanya. A bold blonde woman. You look so much like her,” he commented with a smile. “Tanya and I met at the hospital. She was hit by a stray bullet, and I saved her. From there, we began to talk, chat, and soon desire emerged between us, and… we fucked," he shrugged and took a sip of his own tea.Milena scoffed. “Desire and not love.”Dr. Oxford smiled. “There's no such thing as love in the mafia world,” he said. “No such thing. It is simply desire, one that fades as time goes on.”“So what happened to her?”“She got pregnant, and due to my world being hard for her, she left and had you without my knowledge,” he said, his voice sounding nonchalant even though he tried to hide it. “I wasn'
“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