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The Return of the Hades 115
115 Kaida slipped through the shadows on her return to Gangatsu's compound, her mind racing with the information she had gathered. As she approached the secure facility, the hum of heightened security buzzed in the air. She knew every corner of this place, every face that moved within its walls. She found Gangatsu in his private office, the room dimly lit by a single lamp. The heavy curtains were drawn, and the air smelled of incense and aged leather. He sat behind a massive oak desk, his fingers steepled, deep in thought. "Gangatsu," Kaida began, her voice low and even, "I have news from the coffee shop." Her eyes, sharp and observant, watched him closely for any shift in emotion. Gangatsu looked up, his expression unreadable. "Speak," he commanded softly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They know about the monkshood," Kaida reported, standing rigid, her hands clasped behind her back. "Darien and his associate, they are probing, seeking ways to access it." A slow smile crept acros
The Return of the Hades 116
116The morning sun rose over the city as Darien woke, determined yet wary.Lavinia, armed and vigilant, checked her equipment twice. "You're sure about this? Going in alone?" she asked, her concern thinly veiled.Darien adjusted the concealed holster under his jacket. "Yes, it's the only way Gangatsu will respect this meeting. Any sign of a group, and he'll either walk away or worse."She nodded, her expression tight. "Alright, but I'll be nearby. If things go south—""—you'll be the first I call," Darien finished, offering a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. After a quiet breakfast with Lavinia going over plans one last time, he made his way to the old mill. The building sat empty, the machinery long gone, nothing but dust and echoes within the walls. Darien arrived early and did a sweep, senses on high alert for any signs of ambush. Finding nothing amiss, he stood in the center of the main room to wait. Noon came, and right on time, Darien heard the crunch of ti
The Return of the Hades 117
117Gangatsu chuckled coldly. "I highly doubt that. But by all means, amuse me with your brave last stand."At a nod from Gangatsu, the room erupted into chaos. Men surged forward, weapons drawn. Darien moved with a fluid grace that belied the danger, drawing his gun and firing in swift, precise shots. One by one, Gangatsu's men fell, their attacks futile against Darien's superior speed and skill.As the gunfire echoed off the walls, Gangatsu's face twisted into a mask of fury and disbelief. "Impossible!" he hissed, stepping back as his men continued to drop.Darien's smirk widened. "You should've brought more men," he quipped, dodging a desperate punch and countering with a brutal strike to his attacker's neck.From the shadows, Kaida emerged, her eyes narrowing as she watched Darien dismantle their carefully laid plans. Stepping forward with a cold smile, she called out, "You're quite the performer, French. But this dance isn't over yet."Darien turned to face her, his back to Ganga
The Return of the Hades 118
118Darien kept his gun trained on gangatsu, his sense sharp, ready for any move the crime Lord might make.Gangatsu, though visibly frustrated maintened a veneer of calm arrogance."You've made your point, Mr. French," Gangatsu said, his voice laced with disdain. "But you underestimate the lengths I'm willing to go to protect what's mine."Darien's grip tightened on his weapon. "I'm not underestimating anything, Gangatsu. I know exactly what you're capable of. That's why I'm here."Gangatsu smirked, his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge. "Oh, you think you do, do you? You are not the first to come seeking what I possess, and you won't be the last. But mark my words, you'll regret crossing me."Darien scoffed, his tone dripping with defiance. "I don't regret anything. I came to do what's right, to reclaim what's been misused. And I won't let anything–or anyone–stand in my way."Gangatsu smile turned sinister. "Bold words for a man staring down the barrel of my gun."Darien jaw clenc
The Return of the Hades 119
119 Darien crumpled the mocking note in his fist, his anger boiling over. How dare Gangatsu toy with him like this? He was seething as he pulled out his phone with trembling hands and called Lavinia. She picked up after the first ring. "Darien? What happened? Are you okay?" "I'm fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "But Gangatsu got the slip on me. He gassed me and left me here as some sort of twisted game." Lavinia sighed in exasperation. "I tried to warn you it could be a trap. What did that note say?" Darien recounted Gangatsu's taunting words, his jaw clenching tighter with each mocking sentence. Lavinia made a sound of disgust. "Ugh, what an arrogant fool. He really thinks he's got you beaten, doesn't he?" "Not for long," Darien seethed, balling his free hand into a fist. "I won't let him get away with this." "Calm down, we'll figure something out," Lavinia soothed. "Where are you now?" Darien took a deep breath to steady his frazzled nerves. "Still at the mill. Mee
The Return of the Hades 120
120Darien's mind reeled as the pieces came crashing together. A daughter? All this time and she was only just now telling him? His hands trembled with a torrent of emotions—shock, anger, confusion—as he stared into the eyes of the little girl smiling back from the photos. "Why are you telling me this now?" he demanded through gritted teeth. Cynthia wiped tears from her eyes. "I was young and scared back then. Didn't think I could raise a baby on my own." She reached for his hand again but he yanked it away. "So you kept my child from me for five years? How could you do that?" His voice shook with barely contained rage. "I know I have no right to ask anything of you anymore," she sobbed. "But Sophia deserves to know her father. Please, just meet her. That's all I'm asking."Darien's mind was reeling, trying to process this bombshell. A daughter. All this time he had a daughter and didn't even know. Did he dare open his heart to the possibility of parental love after being betrayed
The Return of the Hades 121
121The weekend arrived with a weight of anticipation and uncertainty for Darien. As he prepared himself for Cynthia's party at the Leveling Fiesta Bar, his mind was consumed by conflicting emotions and unanswered questions.Arriving at the bar, Darien couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu as he stepped through the familiar entrance. The pulsing beat of music and chatter of the crowd surrounded him. His heart pounded in his chest, nerves and anticipation intertwining within him. As Darien scanned the room, his eyes darted nervously, searching for Cynthia amidst the crowd. He spotted her in a corner, surrounded by friends, but his attention was abruptly diverted when he felt a gaze burning into him. He turned slowly, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach, to find Ryan's eyes locked onto his.Ryan's presence was like a dark cloud overshadowing the room, his disdain for Darien palpable even from across the bar. Darien clenched his fists, trying to quell the surge of anger that threat
The Return of the Hades 122
122As Darien and Ryan faced off, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. People turned their heads, drawn by the brewing confrontation like moths to a flame. Some whispered in hushed tones, others exchanged knowing glances, eager for the drama unfolding before them."I knew something was going to go down tonight," whispered one bystander to another, eyes glued to the scene unfolding before them."Whoa, looks like both of them are about to throw down," remarked a nearby patron, excitement evident in their voice."I can't believe they're doing this here," muttered a concerned onlooker, glancing around nervously."I bet Cynthia is regretting inviting both of them," speculated another, shaking their head in disbelief."Should we intervene?" asked one person, casting a worried glance at the bouncers stationed nearby."Nah, let them sort it out themselves," replied their companion, leaning in closer to catch every word of the exchange."I wonder what started all this," pondered a cur