Now or never, he thought, realizing he needed to be convincing. She needed a semblance of normalcy. "I think it would be great for you to get out and see her. You two can catch up and make a day of it." He watched her, hoping for some acknowledgment, but Jenny only stared blankly at him, leaving him unsure of her thoughts. As Jenny realized she had an opportunity to be at the bar and carry out Julius's plan, thoughts raced through her mind. What do I do? The words echoed loudly in her head, making her wonder if Alexander could somehow sense her turmoil. I'll just go and decide when I get there, she finally resolved. She offered a forced smile. "Yeah, sure," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Alexander sensed that something was off. A wave of concern washed over him as he worried she might be in too much pain to go. "Are you in any pain?" he asked gently, taking her hand again. Without waiting for a response, he added, "If you're not up for it, everyone can see you tom
"Enough," Lemuel interjects, swaying slightly at Steve's side. "You can't play doctor and sniper at the same time, Jenny. We all saw how you handled those guys." He mimics firing a gun with his hands, aiming at some guys across the bar, who glance over, shake their heads, and return to their conversation. "Alexander probably wouldn't have made it without you." "Yeah," Steve agrees, his eyes lighting up. "Anthony told me all about it, dude. You were incredible in there. He said you emptied a full clip without missing once. He said they were dropping like flies while you stood and shot out of the sunroof. That's the most badass thing I've ever heard." "Well," Jenny replies, her cheeks flushing. She recalls the moment with a sense of pride, remembering how badass she felt at the time, but hearing it echoed by someone else feels startling. She doesn't want to dwell on the state Alexander was in that night or the reason she was there in the first place. The pack of gum feels heavy in her
Jenny grips the gum box tightly behind her, afraid she might drop it because her hands are trembling so much. I can't be discovered with this, she thinks nervously. They would definitely kill me. She tries hard to maintain a nonchalant demeanor. Dolf is talking to her, but all she can do is offer a silly grin in response. What is he even saying? she wonders, realizing it's time to focus. Leaning in closer, sensing something is off with Jenny, Dolf repeats himself. "Listen, Georgina," he pauses, frustration creeping into his voice. "Goddammit! I'm sorry." He scratches his head, shifts his weight, and emphasizes each syllable as he continues, "Jen-ny." Dolf's words finally pull Jenny back to reality, and he has her full attention. "I'm really sorry for giving you such a hard time when you first came into our lives," he admits. Jenny waves her hand as if to dismiss his apology while keeping her smile intact. "I was a total jerk, and I have no problem admitting it." He leans on the
Dolf, noticing her distress, asks if she's alright. She gives him a quick nod and looks away. Jenny understands there's a strong possibility that her attempt to reveal the truth to Alexander may not go as she hopes. With that realization, she makes a split-second decision. Dolf, unsure of whether he believes her, chooses to remain silent, waiting for her to act on whatever she feels is necessary. He recalls having heard stories of people experiencing these kinds of meltdowns, but those were usually related to substance abuse, he thinks. Determined, Jenny decides to share as much as she can with Dolf, hoping to bring him to her side, at least to some extent. If she doesn't get the opportunity to speak to Alexander alone tonight, at least Dolf will have a grasp of the situation. She trusts he will ensure she gets time with Alexander tonight. This situation is too critical to disregard. Unbeknownst to her, she begins to sway from side to side, and Dolf notices the crumpled pack of gum
"That's very convincing," Alexander laughs coldly. "Do you understand that the damage you cause is my responsibility? Your presence here, taking advantage of these people, it's my problem to solve. These people are my family. And I'll be damned if I let you lie and wriggle your way out of this again. You bring explosives to my bar? It should have been obvious that you were always with them. Damn explosives." He pauses, a sad chuckle shaking through his body. Rubbing his free hand over the bridge of his nose—something Jenny has seen his mother do—sadness wells within her again at the thought of everything she's about to lose. Because of Julius. Because of herself. "Damn explosives," he chuckles again, meeting her eyes. There's something deeper than sorrow in his gaze, as if he's already begun to mourn her. "I can't take that risk, Jenny. Close your eyes." She refuses, keeping her gaze locked on his. Tears flow down her chest, but she demands her body to remain still, even as it ache
Jenny seizes the moment to rub her shoulder, then audibly pops it back into place with a rough twist. Alexander reaches into his pocket and tosses the explosives to Dolf, who proudly displays them for everyone in the room to see. So, the jig is up, Julius thinks, realizing that Jenny must have faltered in some way. He is unfazed to see her unceremoniously dropped at his feet. Disappointed, he glares at her as Alexander presses a gun to her head and asks Dolf for the detonator. The gun that Alexander holds against Jenny's temple is no ordinary weapon. It's the long slide G24.40 S&W Glock that he obtained through his French 'pastime' with Sophie. She had gifted it to him during his business trip with the Les Beaux Voyous, using their drug smuggling routes to sneak it into the States. Since he was the point man, it was a relatively easy task. This Glock was his preferred firearm, known for its reliability and minimal chances of jamming. The intricate designs of both Glock and Smith
As a cruel smile flickers across his lips for a moment, his fists clench tightly. Yet, just as quickly, the smile fades. A thoughtful expression crosses his face; his clenched fists relax as he reflects on this moment. Then there are times like this, he muses, glancing back at her. She appears so fragile and delicate, in dire need of rescue from herself and from that scoundrel Alexander. 'I can't believe I ever allowed her to be near him—or anyone, for that matter.' As his anger begins to resurface, nagging at the edges of his mind, he firmly pushes it back. 'No, I must protect her and keep her safe. I cannot allow my negative emotions to consume me when my father and Romano seek to take her from me and extinguish her life. They would rob me of her completely.' With resolve, Julius decides to set aside those thoughts for now. Jenny is what matters most at this moment, and she needs him. He approaches her quietly, taking care not to make a sound that might startle her. Lost in he
Leaning closer, he breathes in her scent, checking if she still carries the familiar aroma. There were times he could smell Richard on her and in her bed, but now he detects remnants of the bar mixed with what he assumes is Alexander's cologne. He struggles to suppress his rage as he leans back, forcing a smile down at her. "I had to shoot you," he reiterates, "there was no other way to ensure your safety. Do you understand that? I shot you to save you, honey." She flinches away from his touch, and he realizes it's a reaction to the trauma of the explosion, the shock of such a harrowing experience. She flinches away from Julius's touch, and he understands that her reaction stems from the trauma of having endured the explosion—an intense experience that leaves lasting scars. It's the kind of ordeal that haunts men in their dreams. Even he wakes up some nights, thrashing about, desperate to escape the echoes of bullets and blasts. He reflects that it's far better to be the one plant
One year later."Thank you for coming," the lawyer said, glancing down at his paperwork while adjusting his predictably dull brown suit. Alexander sat beside Jenny, comforting her with a squeeze of her hand. Both were dressed more formally than necessary for the occasion, as they had a significant event to attend afterward."I understand it's been nearly a year since the passing of Eduardo, Jessica, and Julius Swift. We appreciate your patience while we collaborated with the police and other authorities to settle the estate. We are now prepared to proceed with the distribution."Alexander offered Jenny a reassuring squeeze of her hand and exchanged a supportive glance before she turned her attention back to the lawyer, eager to hear what she stood to inherit from her parents."Eduardo Swift's will stated that his entire estate was to be passed on to his wife, Sharon. However, due to her absence during the initial sorting, the estate was set to enter the public domain. Fortunately, a r
As Alexander finally stepped into the room, he laid eyes on Jenny for the first time in days. Guilt had overwhelmed him, fearing she might not survive the attack. He was both shocked and awed by Jenny's bravery when she pushed him aside and took those bullets with such courage. Never before had he witnessed such an act of selflessness, especially from someone so close to him.Alexander replayed the day's events repeatedly, haunted by the memory of Jenny being shot three times by Jessica, who was supposed to be her sister. But then again, Alexander considered, no one in her adoptive family had truly been family to her, except perhaps her mother.He often wondered if he could have acted differently but always arrived at the same conclusion. Jenny was unpredictable—a trait he admired but which also made it difficult for him to protect her from those who wished her harm, particularly Bloody Sapphire and her adoptive family.He could never grasp their family dynamic. How could they treat h
Consciousness rushes back to Jenny like a tidal wave. It's as if she's awakened in the midst of a snowstorm, or as if her body is engulfed in flames. Every nerve in her body screams, reminding her she's alive. Alive.Once the initial flood of overwhelming sensations subsides, she begins to notice the details in the room. First, she feels a smooth, small hand in hers, then hears the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor to her right. The scent of antiseptic fills the air, and she suddenly realizes her mouth is incredibly dry."Water?" she croaks, managing to pry her eyes open, finding Malia standing above her, her hand shaking in Jenny's."Oh my god," Malia exclaims, turning and shouting into the hallway. Jenny flinches back into the pillow, unable to catch all of what Malia says, but it results in a swarm of medical professionals entering, all looking perplexed. Jenny feels like joking about the gunshots being a surprise to her, too, but her dry mouth prevents her from speaking properly
"But—" Jenny began as Jessica lifted the gun toward her. She raised her hands in a gesture to halt Jessica. Her plan would fail miserably if Jessica shot her now, something she might actually do. Jenny glanced at Nancy and Luther, the guilt almost overwhelming. If they hadn't met her, they wouldn't be caught in this tragedy. Drawing a deep breath, she steadied herself."Let them go.""What?" Jessica said, her tears momentarily halting as unkempt hair fell across her shoulder. It was nothing like her usually impeccable style."Listen," Jenny urged, closing her eyes. "There's a safe behind that painting. It holds enough money to give you the life you dream of."Jenny had discovered the safe one day while cleaning and had hurried out to keep Alexander from knowing she saw it. She had once watched him access the safe, revealing stacks of cash and gold."If you release them," Jenny continued, sensing Jessica was listening intently. "I'll tell you the code. Alexander shared it with me in ca
Meanwhile, Jenny arrived back at the sprawling log mansion, which served as Alexander's secluded retreat for himself, his most trusted allies, his mother Nancy, and Luther. Her heart tightened with worry at the thought of innocent, defenseless Luther. It was her fault he was caught in this predicament. She needed to act quickly to save that precious boy; otherwise, nothing would ever be the same for anyone involved.She hurriedly stepped out of the car she had commandeered and sprinted along the path toward the mansion's entrance. Gazing up at the moon, she whispered a silent prayer for Luther, recalling the sparkle in his eyes and his sweet, warm smile, before stepping into whatever chaos awaited beyond those doors.A wave of dread washed over her as she entered. The mansion was littered with fallen guards. Moving quietly into the foyer, she navigated around Alexander's fallen crew, careful and respectful of the somber scene.A soft, choked sob emanated from the center of the mansion
"As soon as I'm done with work," Alexander had reassured him, wrapping Luther in a warm embrace. "I'll come right back. You and me, we'll go fishing, okay?"Luther nodded, hugged him tightly, and told him to enjoy his fishing trip. Alexander kissed his head, oblivious to the idea that someone might find Luther there. He reproached himself now for not fortifying security, knowing he had plenty of enemies. What had he said to Jenny about it?"People with a lot of enemies are usually crushed under that weight. People with a lot of enemies sometimes get set on fire."The vision of his home, his son, and his mother in flames filled him with blinding rage and anxiety. He shoved past a few allies in his haste, knowing he'd apologize later, once he knew Luther was safe. Few in the Dark Wolves, apart from Lemuel, Malia, and Dolf, even knew of his son. Rushing past Anton on a stretcher, Alexander couldn't focus on anyone other than Luther.He skidded to a halt in front of his SUV just as his ph
"Yeah," Alexander replies, moving behind the bar in search of a good bottle of whiskey. Lemuel settles onto one of the barstools. Meanwhile, their team continues rolling up bodies and taking them to the incinerator they had discovered—likely used by the Bloody Sapphire for disposing of their unwanted. It's a more discreet option than transporting truckloads of bodies to the river with dawn approaching."He must have caught wind," Alexander speculates, shaking his head as he pours their drinks. Even though the operation went as smoothly as planned, he can't shake the feeling that something is missing. He knows he won't rest until the head of this adversarial group is found and eliminated.Just then, Alexander spots a shadow moving stealthily through an upper area of the tavern he hadn't noticed before. Without a second thought, he raises his gun and fires, certain that none of their men would move with such secrecy. If they had discovered access to a concealed upper floor, they would h
The Bloody Sapphire were taken completely by surprise when Alexander and his team arrived at their location shortly after three in the morning. They had sent two men ahead to release poison gas into the tavern, with Lemuel assisting the team in fitting their sleek gas masks securely before they entered, allowing the gas time to disperse.Inside, nearly every man in the main area of the bar was found slumped over tables or crumpled on the floor. Alexander's team swiftly eliminated them with silenced bullets, avoiding any unnecessary delays. True to his promise, Alexander ensured the women were left unharmed. He noticed them collapsed over the men, some unconscious with a man's hand inappropriately placed.The women were carefully removed from the pile of bodies and moved to the side, where they were handcuffed to a radiator, in case any harbored loyalties to their group. After the situation was controlled, they planned to bring Jenny in to speak with them, hoping they would recognize h
Jenny catches a glimpse of Dolf and Julius still clashing across the room but disregards them as she lunges at her father's legs, knocking him down hard. She hears the sound of his chin hitting the ground along with a muffled curse before scrambling back on top of him. This time, she aims for his eyes, but he raises his forearms to block her fingers. A primal rage surges through her, a tidal wave of anger.As she lashes out, the memories of all he's put her through flood her mind: Julius's assault, the constant surveillance from the bodyguards, his refusal to believe her even when the truth was self-evident, blaming her for her mother's death, and punishing her by sending her to work for the Bloody Sapphire as if it were an appropriate response.Jenny rains down her fists and elbows upon him, aware that she's screaming but feeling disconnected from the sound escaping her throat. She feels like a whirlwind, a tornado, a storm poised to engulf him. She wants him to experience every ounc