Chapter Five

Victor's point of view.

As soon as the plane touched down, I dialed Matilda’s number, my heart pounding as we moved quickly to the waiting SUV on the runway.

“How is she?" I demanded as soon as Matilda picked up, my voice was sharp and to the point.

There was a brief hesitation, a deadly pause that sent a chill up my spine. Then came her stammering. “I... I don’t know, sir. He... he took her to a small, abandoned warehouse in Greenwich.”

“Greenwich?” I barked, loud enough for the driver to hear. Without needing further instruction, he nodded and adjusted course.

“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” I said. “But you need to get there first. Stop him before he can do anything.”

The silence on the other end spoke louder than words, and then came more stammering. “Sir… I… we had a problem on the way. We are still in Inwood,” she said. My eyes narrowed, anger boiling through me. How could she be so incompetent? What if something happened to Sophia before we got there? She opened her mouth to speak again, but before she could get the first word out, I hung up. I had no room for this level of incompetency in my team.

I turned to the driver, my voice dropping into a commanding growl. “Step on it!” I yelled, glancing briefly at my wristwatch.

My heart raced as I realized how much time had passed and how I was the only one who could save her now.

Matilda sent us the coordinates to an abandoned warehouse right outside the village, and the driver rushed us there.

As soon as the car stopped, my hand tightened around the grip of my gun, and I stepped out, my eyes immediately locking onto the entrance. Every second counted, and I wasn’t about to waste another as I walked toward the entrance.

"Boss! Wait!" Alex’s voice came through as he stepped in front of me, his arms raised slightly as if to block my path.

"Move," I growled, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Alex hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and the warehouse. "I think we should make a plan first," he suggested cautiously.

I shook my head, my fury barely contained. "The plan is simple," I snapped, glaring at him. "If you hear a gunshot, you come in."

Without waiting for his response, I pushed past him and made my way toward the entrance, my gun raised and ready.

I walked through the entrance to find the warehouse empty. I scanned the space, every nerve in my body on high alert.

"Where is everyone?" I muttered under my breath, my pulse pounding in my ears.

My gaze zeroed in on a single door at the far end of the warehouse. It was slightly ajar, a faint light spilling out from the gap. My chest tightened, dread pooling in my stomach. "Was I too late?"

I bolted toward the door, my heart hammering as I reached it. Without hesitation, I kicked it open, the force sending it crashing against the wall.

The scene inside stopped me cold.

Jackson Junior stood over Sophia, his face twisted into a sickening grin. In his hands, he held a saw. The blade hovered dangerously close to her trembling neck.

"Leave her alone!" I roared, my voice booming through the room as I raised my gun.

Junior froze, his grin faltering as he slowly turned to face me. His brow furrowed as he studied me, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"Victor," he muttered, his gaze flicking back to Sophia. "Is she...?" he wondered.

"Yes," I snapped, taking a step closer, my gun pointed straight at him.

His eyes widened as the realization dawned on him, his grip on the saw loosening slightly. Every cartel knew the legend of Victor's woman, the one no one was to touch.

"I didn’t know," Junior stammered, his voice filled with sincerity as his eyes darted between me and Sophia.

"Now you know," I said coldly, my finger tightening on the trigger. "So let her go."

For a moment, I saw the hesitation in his posture, the flicker of fear as he weighed his options. I was willing to spare him if he complied, willing to let him walk away if he released her.

But then his jaw tightened. "I’m sorry, sir," he said, shaking his head. "But we Jacksons live by a code. We've been paid, and she has to die." Before Junior Jackson could say anything more, the sound of gunfire echoed through the warehouse.

Junior clutched his hand, blood oozing between his fingers as he stumbled back, his face contorted in pain. I didn’t give him time to recover. I closed the distance between us, my eyes blazing with rage.

"You dare refuse me?" I growled, raising my gun again. Without hesitation, I fired, the bullet tearing through his leg.

Junior screamed, collapsing to the ground as the pain overwhelmed him. His body twisted in agony, his hands trembling as he tried to push himself upright. I walked toward him slowly.

He looked up at me, his face pale and drenched in sweat, his lips trembling. "No... sir. I’m sorry," he stammered, his voice cracking as he raised his hands in surrender.

I stopped in front of him, standing over his fallen saw

.

"I gave you a chance," I said coldly, my finger twitching against the trigger.

As if on cue, Alex and the driver burst in, both holding their guns at the ready. Alex’s eyes darted between Junior and me, his concern evident.

"Boss! Are you okay?" he asked. I gave him a curt nod, my gaze never leaving Junior. Alex stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the trembling figure before me.

I stepped back to give Alex room. "What do I do with him, boss?" Alex asked.

"Take him to our warehouse," I replied. "Get him to tell you the names of every living Jackson—and kill every one of them." "Also make sure Matilda's incompetence is taken care of properly."

Alex’s eyes widened in protest, his lips parting as if to argue. But when I turned my cold stare on him, he swallowed hard and nodded. "Understood, boss," he murmured, gripping Junior by the collar and dragging him to his feet.

As they left, my focus shifted to Sophia, who lay stunned on the table, her chest rising and falling rapidly as if she were trying to process what had just happened.

I approached her slowly, my eyes softening. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice gentle.

Her wide, brown eyes met mine, and for a moment, I lost myself. This was the second time I was seeing her up close, and she was breathtaking.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without answering, I scooped her into my arms, her body fitting perfectly against mine. Her head rested on my shoulder, and I could feel the warmth of her breath against my neck. It was disarming, the way she made my heart race.

I carried her out to the waiting car, carefully placing her inside. The ride to my penthouse was silent, but my mind was anything but. I fought the urge to stare at her, my eyes flicking to her face whenever I thought she wasn’t looking.

When we arrived, I carried her to the bedroom, laying her gently on the bed.

She stirred slightly, her lips parting as she began to mumble.

"John… kiss me," she whispered, her voice fragile and dreamlike.

Her words were like a dagger to my chest. The man who had betrayed her, who had nearly cost her her life, was still the one she longed for. My eyes fell to her lips, soft and inviting, and for a moment, I felt an unbearable pull.

I leaned closer, her scent intoxicating. My lips brushed hers lightly, a touch that sent a shiver down my spine. And just as I was about to crush my lips against hers, I stopped myself.

"What are you doing, Victor?" I scolded myself, forcing the urge away.

I pulled back, watching as her eyes fluttered closed.

She murmured softly, her words the aftermath of the trauma she must have faced. "Why me? Why do you all hate me? Why does everyone leave me?" she muttered, her voice breaking.

Her words broke my heart as guilt washed over me. I was the reason Sophia was going through this, me, and I had to make it right.

Things were getting out of hand and I could no longer protect her from the shadows, I have to step out and help her reclaim her life, her peace—everything she had lost because of me.