At a private airport, the rumble of a plane engine gradually faded as it came to a halt on the runway. The doors opened, and heavily armed men stepped out first, scanning the area with sharp, trained eyes. Then an old man appeared, stepping onto the tarmac with the casual confidence of someone who had seen it all. A cigar hung from his lips, its ember glowing faintly in the dusk light.Victor stood near the hangar, his posture respectful but firm. He held a bouquet of fresh flowers, an unusual but calculated gesture of deference. As the old man approached, Victor extended the bouquet toward him."Mr. Delgado," Victor said with a polite nod. "Itās an honor to see you again after all these years."The old man took the flowers, a faint smirk curling his lips as he examined them briefly before looking back at Victor. "Nice touch, Vic. Youāve grown into a proper man, havenāt you? Your father would be proud.""The pleasureās all mine, sir," Victor replied smoothly. "Welcome back. Weāve prep
Victor adjusted his cufflinks as he walked toward the Golden Gala Hall, his tailored suit reflecting his usual precision. The valet quickly opened the car door for him."Keep it close," Victor instructed, handing over the keys before striding inside.The hall was alive with music and laughter. On the stage, the bride and groom danced under the sparkling chandeliers. Delgado sat at a prominent table, his guards stationed strategically around him. Victor moved through the crowd with purpose, nodding politely at familiar faces."Mr. Delgado," Victor said as he approached. Delgado turned, a broad smile lighting his face."Vic," Delgado greeted warmly. "I hope you're not here to talk business. Tonight's about family and celebration."Victor offered a small smile. "Of course, sir. Just wanted to let you know the containers have been moved to a more secure location. Everything's under control."Delgadoās grin widened. "Thatās why I trust you, Vic. Youāre your fatherās son through and through
Victor spun around, meeting Danteās calm gaze. He tightened his fists, his voice cold. "You better not mess this up, Dante."Dante chuckled lightly, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Relax, Vic. I didnāt, and Iām not planning to. Just here to enjoy the moment."Victorās jaw tightened as he caught movement behind Dante. His men rushed in, encircling them quietly. A faint smile tugged at Victor's lips as he stepped closer to Dante. "You see, Dante, I could get rid of you right now. A snap of my fingers, and you'd disappear. No one would notice a thing."Danteās smirk didnāt falter. He tilted his head slightly. "You could, but Iād advise against it. Unless, of course, youāve accounted for everything Iāve been keeping an eye on."Victorās eyes narrowed, his voice a deadly whisper. "What the hell are you talking about?"Before Dante could answer, Delgadoās voice boomed behind them. "Victor! Whatās going on here?"Victor stiffened, quickly masking his annoyance with a forced smile. "Noth
āPlease, you have to believe me!ā Danteās voice cracked as he dropped to his knees on the marble floor, his hands trembling. āI didnāt do this. I swear!āThe room was deathly silent, save for the faint ticking of the grandfather clock. His father, Thomas Sinclair, sat stone-faced at the head of the long dining table, his once-proud eyes now filled with cold disappointment. Across from him, Danteās brother, Victor, leaned back in his chair, smug and calm, while Lucas, their cousin, feigned shock, shaking his head.āYou expect us to believe that?ā Victorās voice dripped with mockery. He pushed a thick file toward their father. āThe proof is all here. Bank records. Offshore accounts. Money missingāmillions, Father. Millions Dante stole.āāI didnātāāāAnd,ā Lucas cut in, voice soft, dangerous, āwhat about the photos, Dante? Youā¦ and Richard Morettiās wife. Care to explain those?ā He slid a glossy photo across the table.Danteās stomach dropped as he caught sight of the image: him shaking
Fired. It felt like the floor had dropped out from under him. $500. Gone. His thoughts spiraled. Heād promised herāheād promised.The wig, he thought, the birthday gift I promised her. Sheās been so patient with me, always supporting me when no one else would. How can I face her now? How can I keep disappointing her?He thought about his girlfriend, Mia. Few years together, and not once had she ever made him feel like he wasnāt enough. Despite all the snide remarks, the people who looked down on him, and the humiliating jobs heād taken just to get by, she never once turned her back on him. She really loves me. I know it. Even when he had nothingāwhen he was scraping the bottom, she was there, cheering him on, reminding him that one day things would get better..What am I going to say to her?He pictured her faceāthe way she always smiled at him, even when he had nothing to offer. āIāll make it right,ā heād promised. But how could he?He stopped in front of her door. He stood there for
Lucas smiled, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement as he studied Dante. His gaze traveled up and down Danteās figure, taking in the faded clothes, the unkempt hair, the weariness etched on his face. āYou really let yourself go, didnāt you?ā Lucas said, his voice dripping with mockery. He couldnāt hide his amusement. āI canāt believe youāre still standing, Dante. Honestly, I thought youād be gone by now. You always were good at disappointing everyone.ā Danteās fists clenched, but he said nothing. āLook at you,ā Lucas continued, stepping closer, his designer clothes gleaming in the dim light. āI guess I never understood what Mia saw in you. But now... itās pretty clear, isnāt it? Youāve been nothing but a wallet, a paycheck. You were useful for a while, but now? Youāre just... pathetic.ā Mia stood behind Lucas, arms crossed, her expression as cold as ice. There was no warmth in her eyes, no hint of regret. Only the bitter truth. āYou know, Dante, I really tried to make it
Lucas stood over Dante, a smug grin plastered on his face as he watched him struggle to move after being discarded like a piece of trash. The moment was bitterly satisfying, and he savored it. "Look at you," Lucas sneered, bending down just enough to whisper in Dante's ear. "You're nothing. Just like your father, in the end. I poisoned him, Dante. Did you ever wonder why he died the way he did? It was me. Your old man thought he was dying of some illness. Too bad, right? He never saw the real enemy." Danteās vision blurred, not just from the pain, but from the shock of hearing Lucasās confession. His chest tightened, the betrayal weighing heavier than his physical injuries. His father... poisoned by Lucas? The world felt like it was spinning out of control. "What... what do you mean?" Dante gasped, his breath coming in short, painful bursts. He couldnāt grasp the depth of what Lucas was saying. It made no sense. It couldnāt be true. Lucas chuckled, his voice dark and mocking. "He
His uncle.The man who had taken him in after his mother died, who had fed him, clothed him, and protected him when his father had been too busy chasing his ambitions to care. Marley had been his rock, his family, the only constant in a childhood torn apart by loss and abandonment.And now, the system wanted him dead."No..." Dante whispered, shaking his head. "This canāt be real."[It is real, Dante.]The voice of the system returned, calm and cold, cutting through his denial like a blade."You donāt understand," Dante said, his voice trembling. "Marley... heās not just some name. Heās my family. He raised me. I canātā"[Mission parameters are non-negotiable. Marley Sinclair is your target. Failure to complete the mission will result in consequences.]"Consequences?" Danteās voice rose in panic. "What consequences?"The holographic screen flickered, and suddenly, new images filled the air around him. Visions of chaos and pain.A suffocating darkness engulfed him as the systemās voice
Victor spun around, meeting Danteās calm gaze. He tightened his fists, his voice cold. "You better not mess this up, Dante."Dante chuckled lightly, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Relax, Vic. I didnāt, and Iām not planning to. Just here to enjoy the moment."Victorās jaw tightened as he caught movement behind Dante. His men rushed in, encircling them quietly. A faint smile tugged at Victor's lips as he stepped closer to Dante. "You see, Dante, I could get rid of you right now. A snap of my fingers, and you'd disappear. No one would notice a thing."Danteās smirk didnāt falter. He tilted his head slightly. "You could, but Iād advise against it. Unless, of course, youāve accounted for everything Iāve been keeping an eye on."Victorās eyes narrowed, his voice a deadly whisper. "What the hell are you talking about?"Before Dante could answer, Delgadoās voice boomed behind them. "Victor! Whatās going on here?"Victor stiffened, quickly masking his annoyance with a forced smile. "Noth
Victor adjusted his cufflinks as he walked toward the Golden Gala Hall, his tailored suit reflecting his usual precision. The valet quickly opened the car door for him."Keep it close," Victor instructed, handing over the keys before striding inside.The hall was alive with music and laughter. On the stage, the bride and groom danced under the sparkling chandeliers. Delgado sat at a prominent table, his guards stationed strategically around him. Victor moved through the crowd with purpose, nodding politely at familiar faces."Mr. Delgado," Victor said as he approached. Delgado turned, a broad smile lighting his face."Vic," Delgado greeted warmly. "I hope you're not here to talk business. Tonight's about family and celebration."Victor offered a small smile. "Of course, sir. Just wanted to let you know the containers have been moved to a more secure location. Everything's under control."Delgadoās grin widened. "Thatās why I trust you, Vic. Youāre your fatherās son through and through
At a private airport, the rumble of a plane engine gradually faded as it came to a halt on the runway. The doors opened, and heavily armed men stepped out first, scanning the area with sharp, trained eyes. Then an old man appeared, stepping onto the tarmac with the casual confidence of someone who had seen it all. A cigar hung from his lips, its ember glowing faintly in the dusk light.Victor stood near the hangar, his posture respectful but firm. He held a bouquet of fresh flowers, an unusual but calculated gesture of deference. As the old man approached, Victor extended the bouquet toward him."Mr. Delgado," Victor said with a polite nod. "Itās an honor to see you again after all these years."The old man took the flowers, a faint smirk curling his lips as he examined them briefly before looking back at Victor. "Nice touch, Vic. Youāve grown into a proper man, havenāt you? Your father would be proud.""The pleasureās all mine, sir," Victor replied smoothly. "Welcome back. Weāve prep
Lucas stepped into the backyard, the cool breeze doing little to calm his frayed nerves. He pulled out his phone, dialing Victorās number with a sharp jab of his finger. Pacing the length of the garden, his tone was already laced with frustration when Victor answered."I told him, Victor," Lucas snapped, not waiting for a greeting. "I warned the damn doctor. I said thereād be consequences if he didnāt cooperate. But he ignored me, and now heās gone. Vanished! And no one knows where the hell he is."Victorās voice on the other end was steady but tense. "Calm down. We know who took him."Lucas stopped dead in his tracks, narrowing his eyes. "Who?"There was a brief pause before Victor said the name. "Dante."For a moment, Lucas was silent. Then he let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Dante? Of course, itās him. Heās like a damn roachāalways creeping back no matter how many times you think youāve crushed him. Whatās his problem now?"Victorās tone sharpened. "He kno
Three Days Later Lucas slammed the empty bottle on the table, his fourth for the day, and it wasnāt even noon. He muttered under his breath, his face red with frustration. āDante kills my father, and the authorities just let him walk. This is bullshit. Absolute bullshit!ā Mia entered the room quietly, her heels clicking against the marble floor. āLucas,ā she said softly, trying to sound calm, āyou need to take it easy. Drinking like this isnāt going to solve anything.ā He shot her a glare, his voice sharp. āTake it easy? Take it easy? My fatherās dead, and DanteāDante!āis out there celebrating like nothing happened! And you want me to take it easy?ā Mia hesitated, her voice faltering. āIām not saying itās fair, butā¦ā She paused, choosing her words carefully. āBecause of all this, the weddingā¦ itās been postponed until further notice.ā Lucas froze, then slowly stood, his eyes narrowing. āPostponed?ā His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. āYouāre postponing our wedding because o
Minutes later, the sirens screamed as a convoy of police cars surrounded the building. Dante stood there, handcuffed, still reeling from what he'd just done. His mind was blur. He had avenged his mother, but now, standing here in the aftermath, everything felt surreal.Lucas stood a few feet away, his face twisted with shock and anger. Mia, his girlfriend, leaned on his shoulder, her expression grim as she watched the unfolding chaos. She kept glancing at Dante, her eyes filled with doubt, unsure whether to feel relief or fear.The police officer approached Dante, his face a mix of sympathy and professionalism. "Sorry Mr Dante," he said, looking at the handcuffs, "we're sorry for what happened. You're free to go."Dante blinked, utterly confused. "What? I... I don't understand. What do you mean, I'm free to go?" He looked at the officer, his brow furrowing."The evidence... it's not what it seems. We found no handprints on the objects used on the deceased. Thereās no solid proof lin
Marley returned from the balcony, his phone call finished, and looked at Dante with a forced, almost tired smile."Look, kid," Marley began, pulling a chair closer and sitting down in front of Dante. "I know things have been tough. I know losing your parents, losing your mom-" He paused, his voice softening. "I know it hurts. I've been there too. It's never easy losing someone you love." Dante's chest tightened, but he said nothing, still staring at the phone on the table as if the answers he needed would come from it."I know how you feel, Dante," Marley continued, his voice laced with an almost sympathetic tone. "You think I don't? Losing your mother.. my sister..." His voice cracked slightly as he let out a slow breath, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. You know how it is, losing someone that close to you."Dante finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Youknow how it is, huh?" His voice was low, but thewords were sharp. "How exac
Miaās lips curled into a slight, almost sad smile as she watched Lucas kneel before her, the ring sparkling in the light. She took a long, quiet breath before nodding slowly, as if she had made a decision long ago.āYes,ā Mia said softly, her voice not as confident as she tried to make it seem. āIāll marry you.āDanteās heart dropped, his entire body seeming to freeze as he stared at her, feeling like the air was being sucked out of the room. The words hit him harder than he couldāve prepared for. His mind raced, a thousand thoughts flooding his chest, but they all collided into a single, painful truth: she was settling for him."Mia... please," Dante said, his voice cracking slightly. He reached out, but she pulled back, her gaze hardening. "I know you're not happy. This isnāt what you wanted. You canāt pretend it is. You donāt have to do this, Mia."She finally looked up at him, her eyes cold. Her lips parted, and for the first time, she spoke with real bitterness. "Oh, I donāt?"
Danteās hands trembled slightly as he balanced the tray. He wanted to avoid troubleāLucas wasnāt worth it. If he could just quietly drop off the champagne and leave, maybe he could get through this shift without incident.āWhereās the damn champagne I ordered?ā Lucasās voice boomed across the dining hall, sharp and demanding.Dante flinched. Of course, it had to be him.His grip on the tray tightened as he glanced around. There were no other servers in sight. Just his luck. He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves, and reluctantly made his way to Lucasās table.As he approached, Lucas looked upāand froze for a moment. Then his lips curled into a smirk.āWell, well, well,ā Lucas drawled, leaning back in his chair. āIf it isnāt Dante. What are the odds?āDante bit the inside of his cheek, ignoring the heat creeping up his neck. He placed the tray on the table carefully, trying to avoid eye contact.āDidnāt know you've started working here,ā Lucas said, his tone dripping with mocke