Eighty Two

Chapter 82

The dimly lit warehouse smelled of metal and dampness, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing in the distance. At the center of the room, Viktor Reznov and Thomas Rivera were tightly bound to metal chairs, their faces lined with tension and bruises. Marcus stood nearby, his large frame exuding a cold authority, while Ben paced back and forth, his expression clouded with thought.

Ben’s gaze shifted toward the two men, his jaw tightening. “This is truly unbelievable,” he said, his voice a mix of disbelief and disappointment. “Antonio gave both of you a chance—a way out of ruin. He loaned you capital to build your businesses, and this is how you repay him?”

Viktor sneered, refusing to meet Ben’s eyes. Beside him, Thomas glared at Ben with undisguised disdain. “Spare me your lecture,” Thomas rasped, his voice hoarse. “Antonio is nothing more than a loan shark. Sure, he lent us money, but the interest he charged? Outrageous.”

Ben stopped pacing, his expression hardening. “Outrageous?” He stepped closer to Thomas, his tone growing colder. “You took his money. You built your empire. And when it came time to repay what you owed, you decided to betray him? To try to kill him? You’re nothing but a coward.”

Thomas let out a hollow laugh, leaning forward as much as the restraints allowed. “A coward? No, I’m a realist. Antonio’s time is up. People like him don’t last. You’re all too blind to see it.”

Before Ben could respond, Thomas spat on the floor near Ben’s feet, a gesture dripping with contempt. Marcus, who had been silently observing, stepped forward, his face turning ice-cold.

“That’s enough,” Marcus said in a low, commanding voice. He turned to Ben. “What are your orders?”

Ben stared at the spit on the floor for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Marcus. “They’ve made their choice,” he said curtly. “Finish it.”

Marcus nodded and signaled to two operatives standing in the shadows. They moved forward immediately, their expressions blank and devoid of emotion as they prepared for the grim task at hand.

Thomas’s bravado began to fade as the gravity of the situation set in. “Wait—” he started, but Marcus silenced him with a sharp gesture.

“You’ve said enough,” Marcus said coldly.

Without hesitation, Marcus’s men took their positions. The sharp sound of silenced gunshots echoed briefly in the warehouse, followed by a heavy silence. Viktor and Thomas slumped lifelessly in their chairs, their defiance extinguished.

Marcus gestured to his men to clean up the scene. “Make sure there’s no trace left. Burn everything if necessary.”

“Understood, sir,” one of them replied before efficiently getting to work, dragging the bodies toward a waiting vehicle.

Ben stepped outside into the cold night air, pulling his phone from his pocket. He dialed Antonio’s number and waited for the call to connect.

“Ben,” Antonio’s voice was calm yet laced with vigilance.

“It’s done,” Ben reported. “Thomas and Viktor are no more.”

There was a brief pause on the other end. “Good,” Antonio finally replied. “Make sure the cleanup is flawless. I don’t want any traces left behind.”

“Understood,” Ben said. “We’ll handle the rest.”

As the call ended, Ben slipped the phone back into his pocket and let out a long breath. The night was eerily quiet, but the weight of what had just occurred still hung heavily in the air. He returned to the warehouse, where Marcus and his team were finishing their tasks, his mind already planning the next steps.

At the estate, Antonio sat in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand as he gazed out the window at the sprawling grounds. The faint buzz of his phone drew his attention. He read Ben’s message: All clear. Everything is handled.

Antonio set the phone down and took a slow sip of his whiskey. His face was unreadable, but his mind remained sharp and focused. He had eliminated two threats, but he knew others would follow. The game he played demanded constant vigilance, leaving no room for complacency.

Yet as he leaned back in his chair, a faint smile crossed his face. For now, the storm had passed. And he was determined to protect what mattered most to him—no matter the cost.

In the grand estate, the night was peaceful, the soft whispers of the wind rustling through the trees outside. Cassandra descended the stairs slowly, wearing a silk nightgown that radiated understated elegance. She paused at the top of the staircase, observing Antonio seated in the living room.

He sat alone on the large sofa, a nearly empty glass of whiskey in his hand. His face looked calmer than usual, but there was a shadow of weariness that he couldn’t hide. Cassandra stood still for a moment, watching him. In the silence, she felt something different about Antonio that night—something that drew her closer.

Cassandra stepped down, her footsteps almost soundless. As she approached Antonio, he looked up, sensing her presence. A faint smile appeared on his face, though his eyes remained burdened.

“You’re still awake?” Antonio asked, his voice soft yet deep.

Cassandra nodded and sat on the sofa opposite him. “I saw the lights were still on. I thought you might’ve gone to bed.”

Antonio gave a faint smile. “There’s a lot on my mind.”

Cassandra tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. “Like what?”

Antonio stared at the glass in his hand, turning it slowly as though searching for the right words. “The future,” he finally said. “Our future. Our child’s future.”

The words left Cassandra momentarily speechless. She lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously clutching the edge of her gown. A warmth bloomed in her chest as she heard Antonio speak about their child, but guilt crept in alongside it. She tried to remind herself that their relationship was merely a contract, that she had once had a mission to destroy the man before her. But now, everything felt blurred.

“Have you thought of a name?” Antonio suddenly asked, breaking Cassandra’s train of thought.

Cassandra looked up, startled by the question. “A name?”

Antonio nodded, his gaze steady and attentive. “I wonder if you’ve thought of a name for our child.”

Cassandra smiled faintly, though she felt a pang in her chest. “I haven’t yet. It feels too early.”

“It’s never too early,” Antonio replied, his smile widening slightly. “We need to be prepared for everything.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “You sound like a very protective father.”

“Maybe because I am,” Antonio said seriously. “I want our child to have everything. A better life than I had.”

His words struck a chord in Cassandra’s heart. All this time, she had seen Antonio as a cold, calculating figure of strength. But in that moment, she saw another side of him—a man who wanted to protect his family, someone willing to do anything for the people he cared about.

“Antonio,” Cassandra began, her voice barely a whisper. “Have you ever thought... that none of this might last?”

Antonio’s gaze sharpened, his expression turning serious. “What do you mean?”

Cassandra bit her lip, searching for a way to explain without revealing too much. “Our lives... our situation. Have you ever felt that everything could change in an instant?”

Antonio was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. “Life is always full of uncertainty, Cass. But one thing is certain—I won’t let anything destroy our family.”

His words pierced Cassandra’s heart. In that moment, she almost forgot about her vendetta. She saw Antonio as a man who wanted to protect her, a man who spoke of their child’s future with genuine care. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away before Antonio could notice.

“I don’t know why, but hearing that from you makes me feel... safe,” Cassandra said softly.

Antonio smiled, a warmth in his expression that she rarely saw. “That’s how you should feel. As long as I’m here, no one will hurt you, Cass. No one will hurt our child.”

Cassandra nodded slowly, feeling for the first time that she believed his words. Though her heart remained conflicted, she couldn’t deny that the man before her was beginning to fill a space in her heart she had kept closed for so long.

The two sat in silence, accompanied only by the ticking of the clock in the living room. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, allowing them to savor each other’s presence without the looming dangers outside.

Cassandra leaned her head back against the sofa, gazing at Antonio with a soft expression. “I don’t know what the future holds, Antonio. But I know one thing... our child will be proud to have a father like you.”

Her words echoed in Antonio’s heart. He didn’t reply, simply holding her gaze with a meaningful look. In that moment, he felt that no matter what happened, he would do whatever it took to protect this woman and their child—no matter how dark the path ahead.