"What are you talking about?" Rose stammered. Was Tony referring to Victor?"The situation is exactly what I described," Tony replied, his words fast and ruthless. "Your loved one is in my crosshairs. If you don't want him to die a painful death, hand over controlling shares of your company to me!"Rose felt a knot forming in her throat. What had she done? Why had she trusted a Blackwell family member with sensitive information? What possessed her to give Victor's residential address to a shady man like Tony?"This is criminal behavior…" she mumbled. "Do you think you'll get away with such an act? I'll inform the authorities!"Tony let out a mocking laugh. "The city's cops are all corrupt, sweetheart. Besides, who would dare go against the Blackwell family? Do they have a death wish? Anyway… Stop stalling. Your guy will die if you don't give in to my demands! Tick Tock! Time is running out…""He can handle himself," the beauty said with confidence. Claire had told her how Victor defea
"Look at this guy," another gang member said, pointing at Victor with derision. "He seems too comfortable and chilled for someone about to be tortured to death. Is he in shock, or has he lost his mind? I can't believe that the Rose Atelier woman is offering herself to our boss to save this pathetic man!"The assassins laughed, but Victor raised an eyebrow. Did the hoodlum just mention Rose? His computer brain processed the information at lightning speed. Most likely, the goons did not know who he really was. Their boss had blackmailed Rose for ransom. It must be someone really cunning, a trickster. Victor reached these conclusions after considering the boss had sent his goons to kill him even though Rose was willing to fulfill his demands. This indicated that he was not a regular extortionist. The boss intended to destroy Rose. He had set the perfect trap of deception, knowing that the beauty would sacrifice anything to save Victor. Rose was in grave danger."Who is your boss?" Vict
Carol was in a good mood. Her executives surrounded her in C&A's conference hall. The team was bustling, hurriedly taking notes of her instructions, making suggestions, getting feedback, and deliberating among themselves. C&A was drafting the ultimate plan to launch Venus Skincare, a retail brand that was Carol's brainchild.Now that Haley B had agreed to be their brand ambassador, every investor, promoter, and advertisement company wanted to be part of the launch. Carol was shocked to learn about the celebrity's decision. She wondered whether Damien had taken her out to dinner, as agreed.Carol turned her attention back to the C&A team. They were hammering out the final rollout plan to be executed the next month.The conference room's double doors swiveled open. A group of sharp-looking men dressed in black suits entered. Carol was annoyed by the interruption, but she knew who they were—the Human Resources Department."Don't you guys have any manners?" she snapped at them angrily. "I
"I…" Rose mumbled. Did Tony want privacy because their dealing was covert?"Your boyfriend is waiting for you," the receptionist said with a wink.The beauty wanted to correct her, saying Tony was a business partner, but she had no time to lose. She grabbed the key and rushed into the lift, wishing to God that Victor was still out of harm.Rose knocked on Room 403's door, but there was no answer. Was Tony not there yet? She used the key to open the lock and admitted herself in.There was no one inside. However, there were signs of someone using the room. It was a honeymoon suite; the bed had been set for two, with dim, pleasing lights. A gramophone played a slow, romantic tune in the background.Rose bit her lip. Did she come to the wrong room? She was about to leave when the bathroom door opened.Tony Blackwell stepped out in a bath towel, ruffling his hair. He was a lean young man with an athletic build. Rose turned her eyes away in embarrassment. What a shameless fellow!"I can com
"Oh, do you claim to be the agent of my death?" Tony asked with a pompous tone. "Let me pose a question to you, stranger! Before interrupting my romantic night, did you take a moment to consider who I am? I belong to the Blackwell family! You heard it right! Do you now realize what consequences await you? Now cower before me and kiss my feet, or I will have you and your family tortured to death!"The masked man did not respond to Tony's humiliating suggestion. He walked towards the young man at a leisurely but dramatic pace.The assailant's visage triggered a memory in Tony. He remembered Joe Savage's report after the gangster barely escaped alive from a deadly attack last month. A mysterious man in a carnival mask massacred an entire army of goons. The latter was so powerful that he defeated Joe Savage and killed the legendary Titus Chrome. The event had terrorized the mafia gangs, even making the Puppetmaster's minions restless.Was this masked guy the same person? The thought sent
Tony aimed the gun at Victor's head and pulled the trigger. Bang! The powerful shot was enough to kill a man. However, the weapon's fire did not halt Victor's progress. Tony watched with a gaping mouth as the man held up a smoking, misshapen bullet in his hand. "It's a weak gun with no firepower," he pronounced. "A child's plaything."Tony's jaw dropped. Did Victor catch the fired bullet? No, that was not possible! Perhaps he missed, and Victor was playing a trick to unsettle him. He cocked the gun quickly and fired three more shots. It would be impossible to dodge or miss at such a short distance.Bang! Bang! Bang!Victor's arms moved so fast that they resembled the blades of a rotating fan. Three metal slugs dropped noisily to the floor at the gunfire's end."You don't learn, do you?"Tony digested the scene unfolding before him, and his legs began trembling. "What are you…" he stammered, thinking he had somehow entered a surreal nightmare.Victor reached the young man, took his we
Kurt bowed, exhilarated by the praise from his master.Meesho broke into tears. The heads belonged to able men he had trained for years. "Sir… I beg for your mercy! Let the rest of my gang live! We will serve you till the end of days! Please, sir!"Victor considered his pleas for a moment. "I forgive you, Meesho," he said. "Now get out of my sight and take your lieutenants with you. Keep them as a reminder of what happens to those who offend me!" The gang leader breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed. He jumped to his feet, took the bag full of heads from Kurt, and escaped the room."You guys don't know me!!" Tony exclaimed, slipping into insanity. "I would have satisfied Rose! I am the perfect man with the perfect body! She would have been grateful!"Victor turned to Kurt Bane. "This man is too pathetic for me to kill. Take care of him."Kurt bowed to Victor for the opportunity and grabbed Tony. The young man flailed and struggled desperately, howling wildly, but the powerful arms o
Carmine City was famously known as the Blood Vein City. It was established over one hundred and thirty years ago. A large mining group discovered a rich treasure trove of gold in the Carmine hills. They fought over the gold vein leading to bloodshed. Only a few survived in the end, but it was said that the slopes were covered with blood. The gory event inspired the name Carmine.The few surviving families prospered from the trade and eventually built a city around the area. The settlement was carved into the hills and yet had the state's most advanced roads and public infrastructure. This development was due to the benevolence of the affluent mining families. The Blackwells were the wealthiest and most influential among them. One could only imagine what crimes they had to commit to stay at the top.Carol gaped in amazement as her car climbed up a slope of Carmine hills. A castle-like establishment was built on its peak with a massive black dragon sigil on the gate. Carol had not info