Silence reigned in the grand hall, the air thick with Cassius’s question as it hung in the air. One could hear a pin drop.
The mobsters murmured among themselves.
Who the hell is this guy?
Challenging one of the most ruthless mafia bosses in the city in his own domain? He’s got some nerve!
Breaths were held, and some even broke into a cold sweat as they waited for Cassius to show a sign of fear. But it never happened. The man stood boldly, staring dead into Valentino’s eyes.
They waited for Valentino’s deadly reaction to Cassius’s dare. But the next thing that happened shocked them to the bone.
Valentino burst into laughter, his thick voice piercing the air. The mobsters exchanged looks.
Jaxon didn’t look too surprised, since he knew deep down that Valentino was only messing with Cassius.
Cassius’s face remained cold as Valentino threw his arm around his neck.
“Damn! I haven’t met a man like you in forever! No one has ever challenged me the way you just did, and that alone makes me so fucking excited!” Valentino’s eyes lit up with excitement. “You’re my best friend from now on.”
When Cassius’s gaze remained cold, Valentino spoke up again.
“Easy, man, I was only teasing you about your wife. I wanted to see how the famous Mr. King would react. You’re just like your grandfather and me-protective of our women.” Valentino gave Maria a look as she approached him.
Valentino took her hand and gave her knuckle a gentle kiss.
Cassius’s face finally softened.
“Let’s have a drink together, best friend,” Valentino tapped Cassius’s shoulder gently.
“I’m not interested.”
“You want me to help you beat the Wallingtons, don’t you? Let’s have a drink, and I’ll help you. That’s all I want, bestie!”
“Don’t call me that,” Cassius muttered.
“Ah! C’mon, Mr. King! You’re still mad at me? I’m just trying to break the ice. You don’t think I would actually poison you, huh? I’m an overlord; what would people think if I did that? I prefer spilling out my opponent’s blood… And I’m sure you, my best friend, are no different…”
“The old man never mentioned you talked a lot,” Cassius sighed.
“I’m thankful to your old man for letting me meet you.”
“Please have a drink with us, Mr. King. I’ll have the maids bring dinner too,” Maria smiled sweetly.
Cassius sighed and finally gave in. “Fine.”
—
[SPAIN]
“Tatie? Tatie, can you hear me?” Stacy asked impatiently into her earpiece.
“Shit,” she cursed under her breath when she got no reply. She connected to Parker. “Parker, I can’t reach Tatie, and Salome just arrived at the brothel. She’s heading to the gate.”
Parker, who was in disguise, darted his eyes around the place. “Tatie is not with me yet.”
“I think this is a trap. I think they knew we were coming. You need to find a way to get Tatiana out of there. I’ll try to delay my sister.”
“What? No, Stacy, no, you can’t face that bitch. If I remember clearly, this bitch is trying to kill you. It’s been years, I know… But Rosa made it clear that she’s still that fucking bitch…”
“Then what am I supposed to do, sit my ass here and watch? Tatie isn’t responding; she might be in trouble…” Stacy saw that Salome was about to cross the gate. “Shit, I gotta go!”
“Sta-” Parker’s voice trailed off in the earpiece as Stacy disconnected.
“Salome!” Stacy called out the name that hadn’t left her lips for several years.
The red-haired woman stopped and slowly turned to her. Confusion and disbelief immediately swirled in her gaze.
“Long time,” Stacy swallowed hard, having no idea what she was doing.
“Well, well, well, look who we have here. Stacy, my little sister,” Salome’s eyes lit up.
—
“This is crazy, this is crazy, this is insane. Fuck,” Parker mumbled to himself. He looked around, trying to figure out where to go.
The brothel was way too big; someone could get lost in it.
But he needed to find Tatiana, no matter what.
“Urgh!” Tatiana groaned as Tristan roughly pinned her head to the wall. Her head, nose, and lips were dripping with blood. Her body ached from the several hits he’d given her.
Tristan had grown stronger over the years. Her strength was no match for his, but she wasn’t going to give up.
Her eyes shifted down to Tristan’s leg.
“You think this is some kind of movie project? Those stupid moves won’t work on me. Come to think of it, how much would those devious clients pay to fuck a celebrity…”
“Asshole,” Tatiana muttered and stepped hard on Tristan’s left foot with her heel.
Tristan groaned, and immediately his hand on her head loosened. Tatiana swung her head backward, colliding it with his.
“Bitch,” Tristan’s nose bled, but he caught Tatiana’s next attack. She was getting weak, and that gave him the upper hand.
He hit her so hard she fell to the floor and spat out blood.
Tatiana’s sight was blurred, her blood covering her face. She was forcing herself to hold on.
She needed to save Isabella, she needed to save those women who had suffered at the hands of her father. She needed to break the human trafficking ring once and for all. She needed to be with her family.
She just couldn’t give up yet!
Her eyes shifted to Isabella, crying in the corner. She looked terrified and shocked.
“She won’t help. I’ve taught her how to be a good girl,” Tristan said.
Tatiana groaned, not because of pain, but because of the anger she felt at Tristan’s words. Her eyes fell on the knife lying on the floor.
Tristan continued, “She was feisty at first, but I got to have men fuck sense into that dumb brain of hers…”
A surge of adrenaline rushed into Tatiana, and she used her last ounce of strength to take the knife and launch at Tristan. She swung the knife wildly, aiming for Tristan’s neck.
A human like him deserves death!
Though Tristan was ready for her, the knife still gave him a cut on his cheek. His eyes widened at Tatiana’s speed.
He caught her wrist, his grip like a vice, and slammed her back into the wall. Tatiana’s head cracked against the hard surface, and her vision turned dark for a moment.
She suddenly felt a sharp object piercing through her stomach.
Her eyes widened, and a loud cry left her lips. Her blood soaked her clothing as Tristan held the knife he had plunged into her stomach.
Tatiana screamed again, her voice hitting the four corners of the room. The pain was hellish; it made her head spin.
“How does that feel, niece…” Tristan’s voice was cut off when Isabella smashed a vase on his head.
Tatiana slid down to the floor, clutching her stomach, the knife still embedded in it.
A gasp left her lips as she struggled to breathe.