Chapter 38 - A Night of Bitterness

The bar was dimly lit, with a few scattered patrons nursing their drinks in quiet corners. The heavy smell of alcohol mixed with cigarette smoke lingered in the air. Dario sat at the back, swirling his glass of whiskey, his eyes dark and brooding. He took a long sip, trying to drown out the fury boiling inside him. His mind was a storm of rage, replaying the news of Hardin’s latest victory over and over.

"Vacation?" he muttered to himself, his grip tightening on the glass. "That smug bastard’s on vacation while he ruins everything I've worked for?"

Just then, the door creaked open, and Jane Smith, dressed in a sleek black coat, slipped into the bar. She spotted Dario and strode over to his table, sliding into the seat across from him. She raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension radiating off him.

“You look like you could kill someone.”

Dario’s eyes flicked up to meet hers, a dangerous glint in them as he downed the rest of his drink.

Dario grits his teeth.

“It’s that damn Hardin. He