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58. The puzzle gets more complicated
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Revenge Business 59. Thomas' empire
We were once again at the mercy of the unknown, running through the deserted streets as if death itself were chasing us. My thoughts were still stuck on the revelation about Adrian and the Royal Falcons, but I knew I had to focus on the present. The only thing clear at that moment was that my life, one way or another, would never be the same again.Adrian led the way, moving with a dark determination that frightened me. He didn’t have the imposing physical presence of Thomas, but there was something about him—something dangerous and calculated—that I couldn’t ignore. Even with the scar that disfigured his face, he exuded an air of command.Sharon, always alert, was right behind me, her eyes scanning the surroundings as if expecting an attack at any moment. Her loyalty to Thomas was unquestionable, but I still wondered how far that loyalty went. After all, she had spied on me. Even if it was just following direct orders, part of me couldn’t fully trust her.My thoughts were interrupted
Revenge Business 60. Thomas's Empire
The boat docked smoothly at the pier, and Adrian was the first to step off, extending his hand to help me. Reluctantly, I accepted the gesture, feeling the firmness of his fingers around mine. The island, wrapped in an almost supernatural silence, seemed like a fortress isolated from the rest of the world.Sharon soon joined us, her eyes scanning the landscape with the same vigilant attention as always. She said nothing, but it was clear she was also on high alert. The tension between us seemed to have reached a new level since the escape, and while we were all united by the need for survival, trust was still a scarce resource."Thomas is waiting up there," Adrian said, pointing to one of the mansions hidden among the trees. The stone path, discreetly lit by lamps, wound its way up to the white stone building that seemed to blend with the landscape.I swallowed hard, the weight of everything that had happened up to that point finally crashing down on me. The revelations, the betrayals
Revenge Business 61. Thomas's Empire, part 3
With newfound determination, I firmly pull away from Thomas's kiss. He looks stunned as I step back against the door, one hand on the handle.Not that I'm foolish. One command, and I’d likely be surrounded, so no, trying to escape would be pointless. I just needed him to see how focused I was on making him listen to me, even if it meant threatening to run away to escape his hold.“What are you doing?” he murmured, softly.“I mean it, Thomas,” I try with all my might to keep my voice steady, even though I'm terrified. “You need to seriously consider the possibility that there is indeed someone pulling the strings in this situation.”His expression is almost furious as he replies:“So you’re telling me that I’ve been chasing ghosts all these years? That Masato, despite all the evidence, isn’t guilty?”“I’m saying that things aren’t always as we want them to be, and sometimes bad and clever people take advantage of our vulnerabilities to play with us. Masato spoke to me too, you know? An
Revenge Business 62. The twin
As I heard the doorknob turn, my body stiffened. I turned slowly, expecting to see Thomas entering the room. But to my surprise, it was Adrian who appeared at the door.He closed the door behind him, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. The resemblance to Thomas was shocking: the same sharp features, the same imposing presence. But there was something darker about Adrian, more reserved, almost wounded. And the striking scar running across his face, a pale, rigid line from his forehead to his jaw, set him apart drastically."Surprised to see me?" His voice was low, with a raspy tone that contrasted with Thomas's softness."Adrian... what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to mask my tension.He stepped forward, a half-smile on his lips, but his eyes held no trace of humor."I needed to talk to you away from my brother's influence." He looked at me, then at my freshly put-on clothes, and the sliding doors in front of me. "Were you thinking of running?"I shook my head.
Revenge Business 63. Against The Wall
About ten minutes after Adrian left, a maid knocked on the door. She wore a typical maid’s uniform, barely spoke to me, and didn’t really look at my face either. She had a cart with some snacks and a bowl of soup.I noticed the small hawk tattoo on her wrist. It was a miniature, but it was the same symbol the other Hawks had.After she left, as I devoured the snacks, I wondered where Thomas's own tattoo was. After all, I had seen him naked and didn’t notice any hawk.About five minutes later, already full and having barely touched the soup, I lay down on the huge bed. I kept wondering where Masato might be at that moment. Was he looking for me? Was he still dealing with the Hawks? Had he discovered that there were infiltrators among the Eagles?The door opened again. Thomas.He had changed clothes. Now he was wearing an orange dress shirt and black pants. His hair was wet.“You… took a shower,” I thought out loud.Thomas chuckled.“Indeed.”Closing the door behind him, he took a step
Revenge Business 64. Bribery
I felt the world collapse as the weight of Thomas's words fell upon me. He had me in his grasp, and there was no escape.I took a shaky breath, trying to regain my composure and mask the panic erupting inside me. I needed to stay strong, no matter what happened next."The other person..." I began to ask, but my voice faltered. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew that this suspense, this uncertainty, eroded any trace of resistance I had left.“Are you going to cooperate, or do you want to find out who else I can bring here?” Thomas spoke in a serious, yet ruthless tone.I swallowed hard, feeling bile rise in my throat. I was cornered.The men holding my father on his knees remained impassive. I immediately recognized one of them: the same Asian man who had confronted me at Thomas's political event, thrown me to the ground, and threatened me. There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but I was fully aware that he knew exactly who I was.How foolish I’d been. It was
Revenge Business 65. Sacrifice
..........I remember that summer afternoon as if it were yesterday. It had been ten years, but the details were so vivid in my memory that it was as if I could feel the fresh breeze and the warmth of the sun on my skin again.Carmelia had dragged me to the top of a distant hill, far from home and responsibilities."Hurry up, Bianca! We don't have all day!" she shouted, laughing as I tried to keep up with her. She was quick, her long brown hair blowing in the wind, and I did my best not to fall behind."You always make me run," I complained, breathless when I finally reached her at the top. She just smiled, that lively smile that made the world seem like a safe place, at least as long as we were together.We sat on the grass, and as always, Carmelia started pointing at the sky, creating stories for the clouds that drifted by. For each shape she found—a house, a dragon, a broken heart—she invented a narrative, and I would immerse myself in that fantasy world only Carmelia could create.
Revenge Business 66. Shades of gray
I knew I was dreaming. Or rather, having a nightmare.I was running through a dark and endless labyrinth, where the walls moved and seemed to close in more and more. I couldn't see my pursuers, but I knew that if I stopped running, it would be the end of me.When I looked up, I saw Thomas and Masato. They were abnormally large, like real giants. Laughing maliciously, they crossed their arms and mocked my ridiculous attempt to escape.I turned around and continued my frantic run, but two giant fingers grabbed my body and lifted me.It was Masato. He placed me in the palm of his other hand and looked at me like a cat cornering a mouse. Beside him, Thomas laughed even harder. Masato held me by the collar and started shaking me as if I were a set of keys.Each shake made my brain bounce inside my skull. I tried to scream, but it was useless. No one would come to save me. I was trapped, their favorite toy.In my naïveté, I thought I might even gain the affection of one or perhaps both of t
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Revenge Business 80. a revealing nightmare
A man in his fifties, dressed in the same attire as the Blood Ravens, entered the area where we were. He wasn’t pointing his weapon at us, though he held it in his left hand."I don’t know what kind of soap opera this is,” he warned, looking at Masato. “But you made a deal with us. The Hawk’s head is ours.”Thomas didn’t react. Masato looked confused, as if unsure of what to do. He glanced at me, desperate, but what could I do under these circumstances?!“Don’t let this happen,” I pleaded with Masato. “Don’t let them take Thomas. Please.”He didn’t even react. He just pretended he didn’t hear me.The silence felt heavy between us, like a silent threat. The Blood Raven man took a step forward, his disdainful smile illuminated by the faint light filtering through the trees. Masato looked frozen, as if every fiber of his being fought against some decision he knew he had to make.“So that’s it?” I shouted, my voice breaking. “You promised you were here to protect me, but now you’re going
Revenge Business 79. The meeting of the two nemeses
Explosions and screams echoed around us as Masato and I ran, dodging debris and fallen bodies on the ground. The Royal Falcons and the Ravens were locked in an unending, relentless battle. The Blue Falcons, caught off guard, reacted immediately, but it was clear how exhausted they were.Worried, I bit my lip, wondering what they would do to Thomas. Had he already escaped to a safer place? I was genuinely concerned for him. As the man himself had said, the Blood Ravens didn’t take prisoners.Masato, with his focused and determined gaze, never let go of my hand, guiding me along a route that only he seemed to know.“We’re almost there,” he said as we ran, his voice muffled by the sounds of war around us. “The hidden pier is just behind those rocks. We have a boat waiting.”“Hidden pier?”“Yes. Thomas has a secret spot on this hell he calls an island. That’s probably where he’ll try to escape, though I doubt he’ll make it there alive.”I felt a knot in my stomach.“What if he survives?”
Revenge Business 78. The enemy of my enemy is my friend
I froze, unable to process what was happening. Masato’s face, which I had thought lost forever, was right there in front of me, his expression serious and intense. My eyes filled with tears, a mixture of shock, relief, and anger bubbling within me.“Masato… you…” My voice came out shaky, broken by emotions. “Where have you been? How could you just disappear and leave me… with him?”I hugged him desperately. Despite the terrible sounds of the ongoing fight, the feeling of safety that washed over me was immense. There, in Masato’s arms, I knew I had nothing and no one to fear.“I didn’t leave you, Bianca. Believe me, it was the last thing I wanted to do,” he replied, his eyes burning with an unusual intensity. “To protect you and to get us out of this hell, I had to make a dangerous deal.”“A deal?” Horror mixed with relief in my chest. “With the Blood Ravens?”Masato nodded, a hint of surprise in his gaze as he realized I knew the gang’s name. He explained:“Yes. To reach you, to get y
Revenge Business 77. A new wave of attacks on sight
Thomas's revelation hit like a cold stone in my stomach. I was still weak, my body barely recovered, and now we had a war ahead of us? The thought of more battles, more losses, more wounds was almost unbearable. But there was no time for hesitation.“How many?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“More than we’re ready to face,” he replied, tension evident in his voice. “The Royal Hawks are determined to take control of the island and bring me down.” He paused abruptly. “And this time, they won’t make the same mistakes Adrian did.”“What do you mean by that?”Thomas sighed.“Our spies said they recently formed an alliance with another enemy group of ours.”“Another group?”The billionaire nodded, his lips pressed in nervousness.“Unfortunately, over time, as I expanded my empire, I made more enemies. Of course, the Eagles are still our biggest rivals, but other groups also want us destroyed.”I crossed my arms, distressed.“Okay, and who exactly have the Royal Hawks aligned with?”T
Revenge Business 76. Prelude
The darkness enveloped me completely, and time seemed to lose its meaning. There was no pain, no fear—only a comforting emptiness that almost made me forget everything that had happened.When I finally awoke, I found myself in a place that was initially unfamiliar. The ceiling was white, illuminated by a soft light. Blinking slowly, I realized I was in a comfortable bed, surrounded by machines and medical equipment. The sterile smell and the low hum of the devices around me made me realize that I was back in the hospital ward of Falcon Island.I turned my head slowly and saw Thomas sitting next to my bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped, and his eyes fixed on me. There was an intensity in them that seemed to suggest he was carrying the weight of the world. Upon noticing I was awake, he leaned closer, taking my hand.“How do you feel?” he asked, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid to break the silence.I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. Thomas quickly grabbe
Revenge Business 75. Fatricide
Adrian's weight on my body felt unbearable. His blood trickled, hot and thick, down my neck and face, mixing with my own blood, which continued to seep from the wound on my side. I tried to move, but I was too weak. My arms trembled as I struggled to push his limp body away.It was then, amid my blurred vision and rising desperation, that I heard hurried footsteps approaching. My heart leapt as I saw Thomas appear in front of me, his gaze filled with a restrained fury and, at the same time, relief. In his still-trembling hands was the firearm that had fired the shot.He had saved my life… and killed his own brother.The man quickly lifted Adrian's body off me, his expression shifting to something between worry and despair as he took in my condition."Bianca," he murmured, his voice rough. His fingers shook as they touched my bruised, blood-covered face. "I'm... sorry it came to this."A solitary tear slid down my cheek as I tried to smile, even with the pain throbbing in every part of
Revenge Business 74. Hostage
My heart was pounding uncontrollably. I knew that if I approached, I would be stepping into a game where the rules belonged to Adrian, and any misstep could mean the end. But Carmélia’s life depended on my choice, and I couldn’t leave her behind.I cast one last look at Thomas, hoping he had a plan — anything. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with helplessness and anger, but he made no move. I knew he was trying to stay calm, trying to think of something as I slowly walked toward Adrian.Each step echoed in the silence, increasing the weight of that decision. Adrian smiled, satisfied, as if he had already won. He pulled the weapon away from Carmélia and grabbed her arm, pushing her toward Thomas.“There you go, brother, I kept my part of the deal. Now, Bianca is my guarantee.” He pulled me to his side, keeping the gun pointed at me.I tried to stay steady, but my hands trembled. I looked at Thomas one last time, hoping he’d say something, do anything to stop Adrian from taking
Revenge Business 73. Consequences of a not too distant past
Thomas stood frozen beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the scene before us. His lips parted as if he wanted to speak, but there was no sound. Just a heavy, terrifying silence.Adrian kept the gun firmly pointed at Carmélia, but his gaze was fixed on his brother, a mocking smile forming on his face.“Is that fear I see on your face? Now that is a surprise.”My fear and shock at seeing the brother who had been so mistreated by Thomas quickly faded, giving way to anger. I took a step forward, but the billionaire beside me gripped my arm tightly, stopping me from moving further.“Let her go! Let her go now!” I shouted, enraged, seeing how pale Carmélia looked, likely from blood loss.“I’ll let her go, Bianca, don’t worry.” His voice was so calm and controlled, as if he were commenting on the weather. “No need to get so worked up. After all, I only needed bait, and you fell right into the trap.”Where were Thomas's other associates? Why weren’t they showing up? I looked around, searchi
Revenge Business 72. To the rescue
As we headed to the helicopter, I felt the weight of the situation sink into me. The strong wind from the blades whipped across my face, and even with the sharp pain in my abdomen, my concern for Carmelia was greater. Thomas was focused, silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lips pressed into a tense line. I knew he was not only worried about locating my sister but also about maintaining control of the situation after Masato's unexpected attack.As soon as we took off, the silence between us became almost palpable. My thoughts were racing, divided between fear and anger. Carmelia should never have been involved, but now she was a valuable piece on both sides of the board. And that tormented me. What would Masato do to ensure Thomas stayed away?I remembered the day of my mother's funeral, when the Japanese CEO confessed his feelings and fears to me, at least partially. In contrast, I remembered the same Masato who physically punished me after discovering I had disobeyed his orders.W
