TILL D£ATH DO US APART
(The•Devil•I•Loved)
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.
Copyright © 2025
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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
[Chicago, Hellfire Brothel]
Bobby planned to drown himself with alcohol till he’d forget little from his sadness, but it’s ineffective.
If anything, he’s getting sadder.
He has been in this brothel since he left Anthony’s Office last night. He got here even before Christmas fireworks blew the sky at 12am.
He had sniffed several wraps of dru&s, and the space below his nose has stains of different colours — red, yellow, green and white, all from the drugs he inhaled.
His laughter rang through the walls of the brothel like a singsong, there’s tears in his eyes.
Wendy didn’t cheat on him. She was set up—dru&ged. He caught her, and he had plans to marry her and punish her, but she was accidentally killed in the wedding ballroom.
Even after her death, he kept her body and tortured her in his Suite, he tortured her on the estate dark road. He even brought her body to this clubhouse to beat and disgrace.
He let out a laughter of regret, and the tears hung below his eyeballs as his head swung back. A bottle of beer pressed his lips, and he drained everything before crashing the bottle on the ground.
He held his head, dragging it tight till several strands of his hair pulled out to his palm. His scalp bled.
“Wen….Dy….” He muttered, taking off his shoes.
He doesn’t even know know what he’s doing anymore. Normally, his tolerance for drug is much. He might sniff a mix of ten different drugs and his highness won’t last ten minutes, but it’s different tonight.
He’s crazy already.
His shoes went off his feet, and he started roaming around in a circle. His bare feet got stabbed by the pieces of broken bottle on the ground. He didn’t care.
Even when his feet started bleeding, he continued his barefoot walk, grabbing another pack of the drug.
The courtesans just sat around the brothel, watching him.
No one dared go closer to him. Bobby would kill without a reason at all, so now that he’s acting mad, it’s better to stay clear of him.
He unwrapped the dru& paper—velkrona, and he was about to sniff it when the topper of the mobsters from the warehouse came over.
He held Bobby’s two hands, shaking the paper away.
“Mister Bob, you can’t inhale more, you’re at risk of entering the psych ward at this point. Please…”
Bobby’s yellow eyes rounded his eye sockets, but he didn’t even look at the mobster in front of him.
He stared into space.
“He killed her… Wendy…. He set her up, she died, and I tortured her dead body!!!! I did…it …” Bobby muttered.
He broke free from the mobster and finally looked at him.
“My granddad…he killed her, literally.” He muttered, his tears finally rolling down his jaw.
He drank from the beer bottle, staggering sideways as he looked for his way out of the brothel.
He fell by the door, and the beer bottle he’s holding broke. The shards entered his palm, and the palm started bleeding like his foot.
The topper mobster quickly ran over to help him him.
“I don’t need help!” Bobby pushed him, standing on his own.
He was toppling on his toes as he left the brothel.
—
[House Of Esposito, Hilda’s Apartment]
“Merry Christmas, buddies!” Tierney shouted, pouring a bunch of red envelopes on the table.
He gave Hilda her envelope first, then Ginny, then Nino and Robert who’re also present.
He kept Ivanna’s envelope in his pocket, intending to give her when she comes back from Britain.
Everyone began opening their envelopes…one after the other.
“You gave me ten dollars?” Hilda smiled, counting.
“You deserve it,” Tierney winked.
“Eight dollars?” Ginny blinked.
“You’re my closest, so you don’t have to say thank you!” Tierney replied proudly, and Ginny scoffed, fanning herself with the dollar notes.
“Five dollars?” Nino and Robert chorused.
“What? You both are like my big brothers, so….” Tierney shrugged.
“This boy….” Nino pointed a finger at him, and he laughed.
“How much did you put in Ivanna’s envelope?” Ginny asked.
“I was just about to ask that!” Robert added, spreading his palm.
“Why would I give you my big sissy’s envelope to check?” Tierney shifted back, and Hilda nearly snatched Ivanna’s envelope from his pocket.
He shifted to another angle.
“Don’t be nosy!” He said dramatically, and Hilda laughed, picking a glass of mimosa from the table.
Everyone picked their glasses too.
“I can’t believe I used to buy the fake mimosa drink when I was still at home cos the real one was too expensive, who knew I’d get to drink the real mimosa in here? My favorite drink!” Ginny squealed.
“Merry Christmas!!” They all chorused, clinked glasses and drank.
“When is food gonna be ready at the estate kitchen? I’m starving…” Tierney held his tummy.
“Glutton, I’ll go check.” Hilda replied and left the apartment.
“Am I the only one happy that Ghost isn’t around? I even heard the Padrino isn’t in the country presently too. No wonder this Christmas feels peaceful and sweet!” Ginny jumped.
“I understand your fear of the Padrino—I’m scared of that mad man too, but Ghost? Fine, he’s a mad man too, but I think he’s got the hots for your sister, so don’t get scared. Instead, start thinking of ways to bill him. He’s loaded!” Tierney said.
“What do you mean? He doesn’t look like someone who’d ever love a woman, and besides, I don’t want such devilish man who shot me for my Anna. Even our parents would disagree, trust me” Ginny shrugged, drinking gently from her mimosa.
“Does it matter? I think your sister is feeling him too. That race to his Citadel yesterday was insane.” Tierney whispered.
Ginny pushed his head back.
“Can you stop talking about my sis? Let’s play a little game,” Ginny set her cup on the table, taking her laptop.
“You finally finished developing your new game?” Tierney sat with her on the ground, taking his own laptop on the table too.
“Of course, let’s see if you’d beat me in my own game or if you’d be able to hack this!” She winked.
She shared the game with him, and they started their crazy competition again, the sound of their fingers on laptop keys so fast.
Robert and Nino are across, both holding their cups with an hand and their second hands in their pockets.
“You said you saw your ex at the Toga club? And cos of that, you aborted your mission?” Nino talked.
“It wasn’t really aborted, but Miss Bacardi left before we could even start,” Robert clarified.
“Or…she left immediately Alexa arrived?” Nino said suspiciously.
“Fine, that’s it, but why would she leave? Not like I was gonna start kissing Alexa right in front of her.” Robert blinked.
“Wait…you still in love with your rich ex?” Nino faced him.
“Are you crazy? No! Why would I still be? I’m not, but Alexa is kind, or was kind when we were dating, so now.. destroying her father’s cartel feels wrong.” Robert explained.
Nino placed an hand on his shoulder.
“Look, in this place, you have to be ready to betray even your own family for the mob and kill your friends for the benefit of the empire. Meet up with Miss Bacardi, talk it out with her and schedule another day for the mission cos if the Padrino comes back and the mission is still incomplete…..”
Nino squeezed Robert’s shoulder at this point.
“I know, I’ll settle things.” Robert said, already going for the door.
“About Ivanna,” Nino said.
Robert turned.
“Hilda told me you said something about—”
“Calling Ivanna my big sis?” Robert cut him off.
Nino nodded.
“Cos she’s really my senior. She’s 27, I’m 24.” Robert said.
“She’s older than me too! Then why are you making everyone believe you’re the senior?” Nino gasped.
“It’s a long story, Nino.” Robert replied and stepped out.
—
[Bacardi’s Planet]
Bacardi’s strip men are back. The neon lights, the loud music, the sin.
Nakedness and Wildness.
She wore a really small jacket on top of her bra, and a micro skirt which she opened the zip in the front, so her underwear is showing.
She held two cigarettes together between her left fingers, and smokes followed her around the Planet as she strolled, checking out the n+ked dancing males.
“Your arse is hard! It’s not bouncing!” She laughed as her palm smacked the male’s @s$ soundly.
She lifted the dî+k of another one, bouncing it on her palm. She squeezed the balls.
“Mm, Impressive.”
She lifted the chin of the next one and poured raw lime water inside till it leaked off his lips.
When raw lime finished in that bottle, she went to the bar for another bottle, but the door opened, and Robert stepped inside.
She stopped what she was doing and came to him, blocking his way.
“You still have the keycard? I thought I took it from you?” She glared.
Robert pushed her aside and walked in fully, punching the music player.
The music stopped, and he had a deep intake of the smoky air before facing the strippers.
“Fly,” he ordered.
They exchanged glances, then they looked at Bacardi, waiting for what she has to say.
She said nothing.
“Fly away!” Robert shouted, his voice getting deeper… resonating.
They all scurried around to gather their clothes, and they rushed out of the Planet.
Then… Robert faced Bacardi.
“What are you doing here?” She questioned, expression unfriendly.
“You’re not easy to deal with, and it just gets exhausting everytime. Now the strippers are back in your planet? You’re making contacts with them and even—”
“Please. You don’t see me complaining when you were being touchy-touchy with the Alexa wench last night, and now you’re here to rant?” She intruded.
“It’s basic social skill to hug friends whom you haven’t seen for a long time!” He shouted.
“She’s not a friend! She’s your ex, the rich ex you told me about!” She yelled back, her jacket slipping off her shoulders to hand on her mid-arms.
Jealousy razed her eyes down, she was trembling with it.
Robert scoffed.
“Last night, we were supposed to be staying away from each other. Last night, I was supposed to be avoiding you and calling you Miss like you wanted, but that same last night, I hugged my ex and you blew up? You left me at the club and I had to come back to the estate in a f+kin taxi!”
“You made these rules, I followed them, and somehow, I’m still the one in the wrong? Maybe my ex would be a better option after all. “You are reading from www.mhiztaemy.com.ng” Alexa isn’t a problematic freak like you who won’t even admit to her damn mistakes! Fûck you, Cardi!”
Robert angrily kicked the stool standing in front of him and waltzed towards the door, fast.
Bacardi’s arms fell, eyes slightly wide.
She heard everything he said, but the most important one to her is the last word…. Cardi.
He called her Cardi.
“Rob,” she called.
Robert didn’t turn.
“Rob! Rob!”
She rushed after him, her steps overtaking the last.
“Rob!”
He already opened the door when she got to him, but she pushed the door close, and she hugged him from behind, tightly. Her arms claimed him wholly.
Her nails were almost digging into his tummy as they both stilled.
“I know I did wrong, and I know I was being a bîtch for wanting to push the blames on you. I really told you the ‘stay away’ line only because I was scared of what my granddad might do to you, and I didn’t want you to get hurt, but in the whirlpool of it, I realized it was a mistake. You really stayed away, and I had to start snooping around you like a fool just to catch a glimpse. Rob, I’m not using you for cruise, believe me. I fancy you, which is why I’ve been—”
She stopped talking cos Robert wanted to unclamp her fingers from his tummy. She tightened it.
“I won’t run away,” he replied softly, and she eventually let go.
He faced her, and she drove her face to the ground in shame.
With the curve of his fingers, Robert lifted her face.
When their eyes met, she looks heavily guilty, and that was enough for him. His anger subsided.
“I’m strong enough to protect myself if danger pops up. Yes, I’m scared-stiff of your granddad too, but even at that, I don’t want to give you up, Cardi. I won’t” He whispered.
She went silent, and slowly, the guiltiness was replaced by a pretty smile which carved her pointed chin.
Silence hung between them, the only connection being her hand on his sweatshirt and his own on her chin.
“So…. Is this the part where you kiss me? I’ve never been kissed and I badly want to exper—”
Robert’s lips were faster than her words, and her hand on his sweatshirt tightened when she felt it on hers, hard and right.
It felt right. It felt hers. Personal.
She kissed him, followed his pace, replicated his style. She learned the art of sharing through lips.
Robert’s hands pulled her jacket from her mid-arms out of her arms completely. He threw it.
He pulled her br@ straps out of the br@, destroying the pins and hooks. Her br@ fell off her body.
The lace material was easy to get his hands on, and her bottom lip was still inside his mouth when he glanced at her chest, breathlessly.
His eyes got caught in the moderate sizes. The way they’re already trembling for him. The way they’re temptingly succulent.
His eyes went back to hers, and her back pressed against the wall, her breaths mixing with his grunt.
“Can I touch?” He whispered, his eyes seeking hers as if the answer is written in the balls.
“They’re all yours, Rob. Don’t hold back. Punish me for saying that to you…” She gave him his reply.
He picked her br@ strap from the ground and tied the two together, making it longer, then he used the double straps to bind her wrists together, behind her.
He went down in front of her and pulled down her micro skirt.
No panty, so her n+kedne$s greeted his eyes, especially the p+×xy hiding between her thick thighs.
He took an handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped it around her mouth, tying it tight.
He pushed her once, and her body met the door roughly. He tightly trapped her there, the gag on her mouth and her tied hands gave her the look of a kidnapped refugee.
Her body shook with wild anticipation, her eyes blinked helplessly—at his mercy.
Robert zipped down his trousers, now left in his boxers.
He didn’t lower the boxers, he just held his c+k with the boxers. The longness showed as the shape was carved out through the boxer fabric.
“I am going to tease you with this wrapped c+k, and you’re going to cry for me to f+k you,” he said, as if giving her the needed introduction.
Bacardi just blinked since talking or touching him is impossible.
Then…he moved.
He placed the boxer-wrapped c+k on her p+×xy, rubbing it from the low slit up to the top of her l@bia.
His second hand slightly brushed her br+àsts before he moved the wrapped d+k from the base to the top of her p+xxy again.
He held eyes with her as the third move happened, and when he saw a bead of wetness crawling out of her opening, he smiled harshly.
Bacardi wants to scream, wants to touch, wants to spread her legs for more feel of him, wants to tell him to just unwrap his d+k and f+k her straight, but she couldn’t.
Her tied mouth is painful.
This is why he called this a punishment, cos there’s a limit to the pleasure. He’s edging her intentionally.
She begged with her eyes, but he wickedly continued his rubs.
By the twentieth rub, her wetness already soaked his boxers tip.
Her legs were shaking, her saliva soaked the handkerchief on her mouth. She let out tears.
“I love your tears, strangely. Cry for me, Cardi.” Robert smiled, caressing her br+àsts with the back of his hand while doing the 21st rub on her cl1+.
—
[Estate Dungeon]
Since the Padrino isn’t in the country, Don Anthony took it as an opportunity to bring food to Felicia.
He brought a full tray from the kitchen and came here discreetly, set the tray down in front of the cell.
He’s currently feeding her, and Felicia is struggling to take every bite of the pecan pie.
“If anyone told me we’d be celebrating Christmas like this, I’d have denied it.” She said.
Anthony halted the feeding.
“And if anyone told me I’d die after Christmas, I’d deny it too.” She continued.
“You’re not dying, Felly. I would have taken you out of here now that Marko isn’t around, but he has networks around this country and the countries we’d have ran to. My whole life is built on his empire, so I can’t even run unless he says so, but don’t worry, I have help.” He said.
“Help from where?” Felicia asked.
“You don’t have to worry about that, but just know I have help, and once Marko returns, you’ll get out of here.” Anthony said.
He inserted straw into the bottled water and passed the straw into the cell so she’d drink.
She was still drinking when Sandra entered the dungeon.
Anthony stood from where he sat on the bare ground.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Before Leo left, he asked me to keep an eye on you so you won’t make the wrong move, and I’ve been doing that, so yes… I’d know.” Sandra shrugged, giving Felicia a glance inside her cell.
Anthony smiled smoothly. “Why are you here though?”
“The Armandos are here, taking their money from the vault, but they’re claiming their money is incomplete, short by a billion.” Sandra said.
“What!” Anthony frowned.
“How could that happen? The vault is the most secured place in this estate, how could a billion go missing?” Felicia said.
Sandra said nothing anymore, so Anthony rushed out of the dungeon.
Sandra wanted to follow him, but Felicia quickly talked.
“I’m sorry I didn’t turn out to be the mother you wanted. I promise I was only blinded by my love for Island and my loyalty to Penny, but now I know better.” She said.
“No, it’s fine, Felicia.” Sandra nodded, and Felicia held the cell metals tight.
Felicia, not mother.
“You only just showed that no one can be mum. Mum might be heartless, but she’s still mum, and she was only heartless to Leo. You can never replace her.” Sandra finished her statement and left.
Felicia sat on the prison ground, the food suddenly felt bitter in her stomach.
—
[Vault Building]
When Don Anthony arrived there, it’s indeed as Sandra said.
A billion is missing from the money. The counting machine never lies, so he’s seeing the shortness of one billion very clearly.
Penny and Thaddeus are with the truck, and they’re both staring daggers at him.
If looks could murder.
“How do you explain this, Don Anthony?” Thaddeus said, picking a cigar box from his wife’s handbag.
He picked a cigar and was trying to put fire on it when Anthony talked…
“The vault is the most guarded place in this estate, it has never been—”
“Where is my one billion, Anthony Coker?” Thaddeus cut him off.
He already put fire on his cigar, so he took a large drag and gave his wife the remaining pack.
“The Cooper siblings entered this clan some months ago only because they wanted to steal that money. They must have stolen it after all,” he said.
“No! After they tried to steal it, the vault formation was hardened, so there’s no way they’d have stolen it!” Don Anthony defended.
Penny threw the cigar pack with her away and came to Anthony’s face, swinging her hand to his face.
She slapped him.
Anthony’s eyes widened, and Thaddeus cracked a laughter behind, the smokes from his mouth curling in the air in front of his face.
“Right now, you’re just a Don by title… nothing more cos the Padrino has taken all power from you and you can’t even spend a cent from the estate accounts without his permission. Also, you still have to repay the billions Monika sucked from the account in your wife’s name. Where are you gonna see that? Cos even your account is in the Padrino’s care now and you also can’t spend from there without his permission. How are you gonna pay our money back!” She demanded.
When Anthony was taking too long to reply, she raised her hand on him again, but the man pushed her off before she could slap him.
Seeing that, Thaddeus barged forward, wanting to punch Anthony to death, but Sandra joined the gathering, covering her father.
Thaddeus stopped.
“What were you going to do? Hit him?” Sandra’s eyes blazed.
Thaddeus stepped back.
“I know you grew battalion wings since you became the top brigadier and granddad made you his most trusted man, but take classes on how to flap those wings and don’t do it around my dad!” Sandra said.
“Aren’t you too pathetic right now, Anthony?” Thaddeus grinned.
“You now hide under the protection of your kids, how shameful…”
“You can’t blame him…the son of sheepfold owners have no dignity to uphold.” Penny supported.
“Five days, and that’s me being generous. You have five days to refund the one billion.” Thaddeus said threateningly.
The five trucks carrying their money drove out of the estate first, then Thaddeus and Penny drove after the trucks in their phantom.
“Dad…” Sandra faced Anthony.
“You have an idea who might be behind the stolen money?” He asked.
“The Cooper siblings?” Sandra said.
“No. I know you dislike them, but they didn’t. Think of another unsuspicious possibility. Come with me to my office.” Anthony replied and led the way.
Sandra stood there, watching him leave for a minute, and she noticed he lost flesh. He’s obviously lean.
“Sand?” Anthony turned.
She rushed to meet up, walking side by side with him.
“If Leo were here, we’d be having the family meal under the oak tree right now, but you and me and Cardi and Bob can still have dinner together this night, right?” She said stylishly.
Anthony looked at her, smiling slightly. He touched her hair.
“Of course,”
Sandra smiled back as they entered his office together.
—
As Thaddeus and Penny drove back on their way, Thaddeus has grunted three times in anger, and Penny just sat wordless beside him.
Thaddeus grunted again.
“I told you to be careful—plan well. If the Padrino finds out you’re planning to kill his favorite grandson, you’d ruin us!” Penny finally talked.
“I was careful! My messenger was careful too! He knew Leo would be leaving the hotel at 8, so he set the blow up to 7:35, but Leo left the hotel at 7:30, and it just ruined things. Leo escaped the bombing and another person got hit..” Thaddeus said.
“Who?” Penny asked.
—
[Suburbs]
Lissa came here with Emma and Island in search of the new family member of the Cooper family.
Emma drove in the front while Island sat beside her on the passenger seat.
Lissa sat at the back, eating plums like a paid model. Her headphones is on, and she’s listening to heavy jazz.
She’s the happiest alive today cos things are finally working in her favor—things are finally on the right side of the board.
She’s even unaware of what’s happening in front of the car cos right now, Emma and Island are glaring at each other.
But there’s a smile of mockery uplifting Emma’s glare.
“Felicia was a barmaid who found you—a nameless child on the streets of Chicago. She took you in, catered for you, but you betrayed her? Well….I don’t blame you, even dogs bite their owner when they grow too wild.” Emma said.
“And you?” Island inched forward. “I heard Miss Lissa killed all your family. Your family is a rich law family of judges and attorneys, but she killed them all and took you as her maid just because you… bought the only latest edition of bag from her favorite brand in this country?”
“I’m glad you know the story, now weigh it with yours and tell me which is more pathetic! Of course it’s yours, Lieland!” Emma laughed.
Island angrily snatched the wheel from her, wanting to drive them to a wall, but Emma was professional enough to take it back.
She drove the car back to the road, and immediately she stopped it, she came down and rounded it, throwing the door open.
She dragged Island out of the car and plunged her to the ground.
Island might be trained too, but Emma was personally trained by Lissa, so there’s a huge difference.
Island landed on the ground, and Emma kicked her.
Island rolled under the car, hitting her head on the engines.
Lissa came out of the car and dragged Island out from under it.
She didn’t ask what the issue was, she just brought Island’s head down to the car bonet, slamming it.
Island bled, cried.
“Miss Lissa, Emma was…
Lissa slammed her head again, and Island’s tongue got hooked between her teeth. She bled again.
“The respect you give to me, accord the same to Emmaline, ok? Or I’ll kill you and make your body rot. You were ready to use my name as the one who gave you your leopard skin ointment, so you should be ready to pay the price and act accordingly!” Lissa addressed sternly.
Emma smiled behind.
“I… understand.” Island talked, blood dropping off her lips.
Lissa threw her back to the ground, and she wiped her hand with an hanky before facing Emma.
“We’re here, this is the house…” Emma said, pointing at the house they’re in front of.
It’s like the only house in that side of the subs cos houses are scattered here, not clustered.
Lissa went in with Emma, and they only met an old legless man on a wheelchair. He’s with his young son, and the son is feeding him.
Lissa pushed the son away from the father, so she viewed him better.
“Are you a brother to Leroy Cooper?”
“No. My surname is Hale, I don’t know what you’re talking about” the man denied.
Lissa pulled him up by the collar, his cut legs dangling halfway.
“Don’t hurt him!” The son shouted, and Emma kicked him back.
“Don’t hurt my father!!” He cried.
“My surname is really Hale, you can check my ID!” The old man shouted desperately.
Emma took his ID from the son, and it’s really Hale on the surname column.
“True,” she said.
Lissa let go of the man and left the house with Emma immediately.
Island is still bleeding outside, but she quickly entered the car with them so they won’t leave her behind.
“Is this a trap?” Lissa asked Emma.
“I can’t say for sure, but even if it’s a trap, we’re prepared.” Emma smiled.
Lissa chuckled, and they drove off.
Inside the house, the old man whistled with his fingers between his mouth, and a man came out of the backroom, wearing a cap.
A spy.
He pulled out his phone and dialled Leo’s line, but it’s unavailable.
—
[Phoenix Valley]
Renata went out for a Christmas shopping spree since 9, and when she came back, she expected to meet the same quiet and peace she left the valley at when she was departing, but it’s different now.
Bobby sat beside the lawn pond. His legs are inside the pond, and his blood is leaking inside.
Nearly all the fishes inside the pond are dead, and he just sat there, gazing.
The valley guards are surrounding him. Obviously, they tried their best to stop him from doing this, but the dru& in his system was enough to empower him against them.
Renata dropped her bag and squatted beside him, touching his back.
“Bob?”
He faced her slowly, his eyes teary. Renata’s eyes widened.
“Bob…”
“My Leo isn’t around, so I came here to kill granddad alone, but he’s not around too, so I waited for you…” He said slowly.
“You found out?” She asked gently.
“How long have you known?” He asked calmly.
“Since the day it happened, I knew when dad was contacting that mobster and ordering him to poison Wendy, but I couldn’t inform you, cos my phone was confiscated in Italy back then, I couldn’t reach you.” She replied sincerely.
Bobby looked at the pond, sniffling without saying anything else.
But he has a map in his mind already—he’s killing Marko.
Renata went down on her knees, placing an hand on his back. She began patting him.
—
[Crimson Cave]
Monika always made Christmas enjoyable for the gangsters, and it’s the same this year.
The absence of Moo and Hayden wasn’t felt.
The gangsters sat on round tables for fours’, eating beef and broccoli and taking their fills since today is the only day they get to feast.
New Year’s day is nothing to Monika, so this Christmas is their only chance.
Bradshaw stood on the top pavement, watching them quietly.
He’s only drinking wine, so he’s with a cup of it, and his tablet is on his second hand. From there, he’s watching the Toga club.
He’s aware that Bacardi and Robert went there last night, and he’s also aware that they left without doing anything.
They’re probably gonna come back soon, so he’s staying vigilant.
He has alerted the Toga brothers that a burst is coming from The Outfit though, so he’s sure the attack will be evilly interesting.
He looked up from the tab slowly, realizing he hasn’t seen Monika today. She has been spending too much time in her distillery these days, what poison is she mixing?
—
[Distillery]
Monika’s locket is open, and her eyes are staring right into it—at the picture of a father carrying a child.
Her thumb rubbed the man in the picture, and she let a ghostly smile touch her dark lips.
“How’re you doing, Santos?”
Then…her thumb moved to the child …
“Where would you be right now, child?” She muttered.
Approaching footsteps made her return the locket to her pocket, and Bradshaw entered.
She stood from her stool.
“I was wondering what poison you’re making, but now that I see it…” He said, frowning as he stared at the conical flask on the workbench.
A bedbug is inside the flask, and there’s purple misty smoke inside the flask with the bug, like the stabilizer.
Next to the bug flask, there’s another flask containing a colourless liquid, but it looks as dangerous as he could imagine.
“Perfecto,” he said.
Monika took her eyes to the flasks too.
“Anyone bitten by the bug won’t last two hours, and the person won’t even be able to talk again till death will come in those two hours, that’s why I call it Silencer. As for the colourless liquid, leave the discussion for another day, Brad.” She said.
Bradshaw nodded.
—
[Britain, Umbra Hotel]
It’s 1pm when Hayden decided to leave the hotel. It’s finally time.
He made sure his apparel is all black plus the face cap and mask, so it’d be easy to blend in.
He was already walking down the hall when he felt he’s being followed, but he didn’t stop.
He just quickened his steps till he entered the elevator which took him to the down floor.
He came out and waited patiently beside the elevator wall, hiding till the elevator opened again after three minutes.
Moo came out, wearing a black apparel too.
With a violent drag, Hayden pulled her back, taking off her mask.
She smirked.
“You’re always proving to be ultra smart, it’s not even surprising anymore.” She said.
“Why the fûck are you in Britain? Why are you following me!” Hayden queried angrily.
“I was told to shadow you, but now that I’ve been found out, I guess I’ll step into the light with you!” She replied.
“I told you, I don’t need your saving or protection! I’m enough for myself!” He pushed her off and moved.
“No matter how determined you are, you still can’t undermine the fact that two heads are better than one, Hayden Woods! Take it or leave it, we work better together!” She shouted.
Hayden halted, but he didn’t look back, he just continued walking after a minute.
Moo followed him.
His darkly infused eyes didn’t push her off. She entered one of the hotel rides with him, and their journey to the private ranch started.
They drove in silence, and when their car drove past Hertfordshire hotel, they both looked out of the window.
The hotel is already burned down to ruins, claiming 20 lives this morning. The news is still all-over the country right now. One of the largest hotels in London was bombed by unknown perpetrators, it was a clean work.
They left the bombed hotel behind, and their drive stretched.
—
[Private Ranch]
The bombed hotel made the meeting shift on the clock, so it was rescheduled for now.
Leonardo came alone, carrying the bag of drugs like a career pack.
No sign of burns or wounds on him.
He did his walk of confidence—the walk of death, alone in the silent corridor which led to the meeting room. The ranch is wide—deep in the heart of London, feels like a place an enemy would bring you to just to kill you silently and bury you silently.
Leo’s hair sprawled on his right eye.
He might have gave it a trim, but not enough to keep it from falling.
It’s still full.
His white suit stayed fit to his body like it was custom-made for him, the long legs carried him effortlessly with the darkest charisma existing. He looks like a newly-enthroned pain.
Before he entered the hall, he undid his suit button, and he had to bend his head by the door since he’s taller than the frame.
He entered the room where the kingpin sat with his pack of security men like territorial wolves.
The kingpin who’s a near-bald man has a grin on his face as he gestured at a seat for Leonardo.
Leonardo sat, lips unmoved like a movement would be a deadly sin.
Straight to business, he opened the bag of drugs, and the kingpin snapped his fingers.
One of his men came forward to check the potency, stabbing one of the smaller packs with a knife to taste it and smell it.
He nodded, meaning originality.
“Your empire price says a few millions per kilo?” The kingpin said, looking at Leonardo in the eye.
The bag was weighted, and it turned out to be hundred.
He received a calculator and did the calculations, and he sighed when the total appeared on screen.
He picked up his phone and did the transfer, straight to the clan estate account in Chicago.
Leonardo received the evidence before standing to his feet.
“It’s like you were forbidden from talking to me, Leonardo Esposito, but not to worry, something that’d make you open up is almost here,” the kingpin stood.
Leonardo didn’t stop walking, and he has barely gotten to the door when the ceiling came crashing down suddenly, almost getting him.
He twisted, his suit following the flow of that move till he was a feet apart.
The ceiling carried sawdust and a large number of new men who’re all wearing black, and masks.
They kept jumping into the room, filling it up and caging Leonardo in the middle of the chaos.
There are fifty of them in that room.
The kingpin opened the window, revealing the outside hall. Another fifty is there. He’s practically surrounded.
“I’m a peaceful person, Leonardo. I really wanted just the dru& and wouldn’t want to mess with a daredevil like you, but your granddad gave me me a threat, and I had to follow his words. Don’t hold it against me in the future…” The kingpin said with a tricky smile then he walked out with his own men.
The room seemed to close in more, now that it’s just Leonardo and his granddad’s men.
“Granddad sure knows how to surprise me.” He muttered, saying the first sentence here today.
Hayden and Moo who’re in the middle of the men exchanged glances. They managed to sneak their way into the pack.
They were the first to jump forward in an unexpected attack, and the rest of the men followed.
Fifty on Leonardo alone. He faced off.
The first punch didn’t come from the front, Leonardo sensed it—air splitting behind his ear.
He twisted just enough for the fist to graze instead of land, then he answered with an elbow that cracked into a throat.
The man folded without a sound, then the room detonated.
Steel flashed, boots thundered. Fifty men surged like a single organism, and Leonardo met them head-on.
A blade skimmed his ribs—burning and shallow. He grabbed the wrist, snapped it backward until bone protested, then used the screaming body to cover himself as a shield against two coming attackers.
A gun went off, and a ceiling plaster exploded near his head, nearly crashing him down.
He escaped and drove his knee into the shooter’s stomach, ripped the weapon free, and smashed the butt of the gun across his face.
Teeth scattered, gum became pounded beyond recognition, and blood sprayed warm.
Hayden and Moo broke from the middle like wolves from a leash, coming at him at a time with planned accuracy and calculation.
Moo came in low, tackling for Leonardo’s legs.
Hayden followed high, vicious and fast, fists already red. Moo’s shoulder slammed into Leonardo’s thigh, almost toppling him, but Leonardo caught his balance, snarled, and brought his knee up hard.
His knee caught Moo square in the jaw. Clean and precise.
The sound was ugly.
With a loud thud, Moo hit the floor and didn’t get back up.
Hayden roared and lost all restraint.
He came swinging, wild but powerful. His rage sharpened every blow, the thought of every evil thing this man might have done to Ivanna blew up his strength.
Leonardo blocked his first punch, but the second one landed on his cheek, and he tasted iron.
Hayden drove him backward, punch after punch, forcing Leonardo to cover, to bend. A hook cracked into Leonardo’s ribs—deep, bruising.
Hayden pressed in, teeth bared.
Leonardo answered with his head. He headbutted him like his life meant a squeeze of paper.
The headbutt split Hayden’s eyebrow straight. Leonardo followed with a short, brutal uppercut, then a knee to the gut that emptied Hayden’s lungs.
Still, Hayden kept coming—grabbing, clawing, desperate. Leonardo twisted, broke the hold, and slammed him into the wall hard enough to spiderweb the plaster.
Blood split out of Hayden’s nose, and his mouth trembled.
With a single drag, Leonardo pulled off his mask, and his head tilted when he saw the face…
“I recognized those eyes, I knew it was you fuckface!” He slammed Hayden to the wall again.
Hayden slid down, unconscious but breathing.
The rest of the men didn’t hesitate.
Leonardo became something feral.
He moved through them like a blade—breaking arms, crushing windpipes, using walls, tables, bodies.
He disarmed one man and stabbed another with his own knife. He stomped a face until it stopped moving. When the last of the fifty men fell, the room looked wrecked—blood smeared, bodies piled wrong.
Leonardo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, chest heaving, then he ran.
He jumped over the window without slowing, meeting the remaining fifty men outside.
The outside hall erupted the moment
his boots hit stone.
They rushed him from both sides. Leonardo grabbed the first man and hurled him over the railing.
He tore through the next, snapped a neck, ducked a machete and buried his fist into a solar plexus.
He fought like he had nothing left to lose—like pain had become irrelevant.
Men fell. Screams echoed. The hall turned slick. It was easier than the first fifty inside the room.
When he ended them all, silence followed, just Leonardo’s breathing and the distant drip of blood.
Then…
Slow clapping.
From the far end of the hall, shadows shifted. Another number of men entered.
One hundred and for fifty this time.
Fresh. Armed. Smiling.
Leonardo straightened, then a chain from nowhere looped around his neck in a blink.
It was cold, biting, and yanked tight. Leonardo clawed at it, growling.
His shoes skidded on blood-slick stone. He tried to turn, to strike, but the chain jerked again, viciously,
It crushed his airway, and he went down hard.
The chain dragged him across the floor, skin scraping, breath tearing out of him in ragged gasps.
His fingers dug into the ground, nails breaking, leaving streaks behind him as he was hauled like a trophy.
Leonardo’s vision blurred at the edges, but his eyes stayed open—burning, furious.
The chain tightened again.
Leonardo rolled with it this time.
He let himself be dragged two more feet—then wrapped the chain around his forearm, skin tearing.
He yanked with everything left in him, and the man holding the chain stumbled forward.
Leonardo surged up, slammed his elbow backward, and tore the chain free, then he used the chain.
He swung it around, slamming it into their faces, throats, knees.
A blade entered his shoulder from one of them, it didn’t even stop him.
A metal pipe cracked against his spine. He roared and snapped the wielder’s wrist, then crushed his skull against the wall.
Someone tackled him from behind. He went down, rolled, dragged the man with him, and choked him out with the chain till he died.
Blood soaked Leonardo’s shirt, his vision doubled.
Still, he fought.
He used walls to stay upright, he used bodies to shield himself. When his fists failed, he used teeth.
When his legs shook, he rooted and dared them to come closer.
They did, and one by one, they fell.
By the time the last man hit the ground, Leonardo dropped with him.
He landed on his back, staring at the ceiling, his chest barely rising.
His hands trembled uncontrollably. One of his eye was swollen shut.
Blood ran freely from a gash at his temple, pooling beneath his head.
He didn’t move.
Then…
Boots echoed. Heavy, cruel echoes.
Leonardo knew those footsteps before he saw the person.
Marko stepped into view, immaculate as ever. He came with another hundred men.
His presence alone pressed down heavier than the numbers.
Marko looked at the carnage of bodies around, then at his grandson.
“Enough,” Marko said tightly,
Leonardo laughed, it came out sounding broken.
Marko crouched beside him, eyes cold, voice low and intimate.
“Look at you,” he murmured. “This is what defiance buys you.”
He leaned closer, almost tender.
“Give up, and listen to my rules! Be smart for once. Be an animal that knows when it’s beaten.”
Leonardo’s jaw clenched.
He tried to rise, but his body stayed down, too tired to move.
Marko straightened, his disappointment flickering across his scarred eyes. He grinned.
“You hear that?” he faced the men he came with. “That sound is a heart learning surrender.”
And then…
A crack came after his words.
The cracking sound split the air like thunder. Two men at the far back dropped dead on the ground before anyone understood why.
Another crack sounded, then two more cracks, making three.
Bodies hit the floor in quick succession—necks snapped sideways, backs torn open, legs buckling.
Ten men fell, and the hall froze.
A shadow moved inside behind Marko’s men.
Leather hissed again, precise and merciless.
Then she stepped forward.
Ivanna.
Her hair is loose, eyes blazing. Her whip coiled in her hand like an extension of her rage.
Blood stained the leather of the whip. Her chest rose steadily—no fear, no hesitation.
She looked past the fallen men, she looked past Marko, then she looked straight at Leonardo.
For a heartbeat, the hall went silent.
Marko slowly turned, disbelief hardening his face.
“…You,” he said.
Ivanna lifted the whip, pointing it at him without trembling.
“Step away from him.”
Leonardo dragged in a breath from the ground, trying to stand.
Ivanna’s voice dropped again, clear enough to reach him…
“Stay down, babe. I’ve got this.”
TBC.
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