LOGINRENZO 103:He had just arrived, wearing a tailored navy suit and an expression that balanced concern and composure. Beside him walked Elix in a green dress that showed off her bony curves. Her hands were folded, and her eyes were slightly red as if she had been crying.The microphones turned toward them immediately.“Mr Vescari, what is your position on Renzo’s charges?”Emilio shook his head slowly. “Richard Dominico has been a kind man to many families, including mine. He has built employment and stability. Renzo is trying to shield his father from accusations that are not proven. As a father-in-law, it is my duty to stand by my family.”My jaw tightened slightly.Father-in-law indeed. What in God's name was here? And she.Elix stepped forward softly. “I have been praying,” she said, her voice trembling just enough to appear sincere. “Renzo is a good man. We are getting married soon. We believe truth will prevail.”The cameras adored the sound of our marriage. Truthfully, I had f
RENZO 102:Delt’s jaw tightened at the mention of that name.He nodded. “I understand.”When the door closed behind them, I walked back to the window and rested my palm against the cool glass, watching the city lights shimmer against the dark sky. From a distance, everything looked calm and orderly, but I had lived long enough to recognize how easily this peace could be disrupted.China was no longer a matter of adjusting dates on a calendar. It was becoming a place I might not see for a very long time. Travel restrictions were tightening around me, and the government had already begun its slow process of reviewing every account, every transaction, every partnership tied to my name. They would question me repeatedly and sift through my history in search of proof that matched the story forming in public.While I remained here answering accusations, others would continue their movements freely beyond my reach. That was the part that unsettled me most, not the noise of reporters or th
ZARIA 101:A thin line of suspicion crept into my thoughts.I straightened slowly.Perhaps I was reading too much into it. After all, the village often held events. There could be reasons.Still, nothing passed in this village without me knowing. I had made it my duty to understand every movement here. Why had I not heard of anything that required disguise kits?I opened the door and stepped back into the room.Gerald looked up at once. “Are you comfortable?” he asked.“I am fine,” I replied calmly, returning to sit on the edge of the bed.Eric handed me a glass of water. “Drink slowly.”I did, letting the coolness settle in my throat.“Where are the rest of the men?” I asked casually.Gerald answered first. “They stepped out.”“At this hour?”He shrugged lightly. “Preparations.”“For what?”There was a brief pause, so slight that someone less observant might not notice.“For the village show next weekend,” Eric said smoothly. “We were asked to assist.”I tilted my head slightly. “A
ZARIA 100:“Get in!” he shouted.More shots rang out from above as we rushed toward the truck. We jumped inside, and Big Chen slammed his foot down on the accelerator without looking back. The truck roared forward, tires screeching as we sped through the streets. Cars swerved out of our path, horns blaring loudly. I glanced back and saw another vehicle chasing us, gaining speed.Big Chen did not panic. He took a sudden sharp turn into a narrow street that only locals would know. The pursuing car tried to follow but lost control on the tight corner and crashed into a pole with a loud metallic crash.We did not slow down.Only when the city lights faded behind us and the road grew quieter did Big Chen ease his foot off the accelerator.“You are bleeding,” he said, glancing at my arm.I looked down and saw that blood had soaked through my sleeve, dark and spreading.“It is nothing,” I said, though my arm throbbed with steady pain.Renzo… my idiotic man, what did you do this time? My t
RENZO 99:“No. And do not retaliate. Not until I say so. Am I clear?”The knock came again, louder this time.I frowned slightly.“I will call again at dawn,” I said.“Boss,” Asher said hesitantly, “are you sure you are alright?”I let out a breath.“I am fine.”That was not entirely true.But it was enough._________________On the other end of the call, I heard Zaria exhale slowly, and the sound was soft and tired, like someone who had fought too hard and finally allowed sleep to carry her away. I did not speak again because I did not want to disturb her rest, and I did not want the men to say my name and make her worry. I simply held the phone close to my ear for one more second so that I could be sure she was still breathing, and then I ended the call.The silence in my study felt heavy the moment the line went dead. I remained seated for a brief moment, staring at nothing in particular while my thoughts moved quickly.“Come in,” I said absent-mindedly. I was still thinking abou
RENZO 98:Night had already settled heavily over my estate when my phone began to vibrate on the desk beside me.I had been standing near the window in my study, staring at the dark sky and thinking about China. The trip had been planned carefully. Every fucking meeting had been arranged… It was not a visit that could be delayed easily.However, my phone kept vibrating.I turned slowly and looked at the screen.It was Gerald—Asher.I answered at once. “What is it?” On the other end, the room sounded rather tense. I could hear heavy breathing, movement, and someone whispering in silence.“Boss,” Asher said quickly, “Zaria is injured. She came here bleeding and then fainted at the door.”My hands tightened slightly around the phone. “How bad?” I asked, surprised at how calmly my tone was. Because the moment I panicked, my men would lose their state of composure.“It is a gunshot wound,” Eric—Hawk’s voice joined in. He sounded cool, but I could hear the strain beneath it. “The bullet pa
ZARIA Work resumed in a way that felt almost surreal.After the rush of adrenaline, and the bright satisfaction of finally scoring a strategic goal against Rosita Dominico, life simply… went on. I couldn't place it.Normal was the best way to describe it.The patients we desperately wanted— came
RENZO I laughed quietly. “It doesn’t.”“It should,” he said. “Next time, you might not wake up to a snoring nurse.”My gaze drifted to the door.Somewhere outside, voices murmured. My men were waiting and watching.I closed my eyes briefly. Shit. It was too early to die. There were too many loose
RENZO His jaw dropped. “What the—”I laughed, even as the nurse—Sabrina plunged a needle into my arm. The medicine burned, but my smile didn’t fade.“Do it,” I said softly.Asher didn’t argue again, not after the look I gave him. He stepped away from the bed while Sabrina finished taping the IV li
ZARIA I will never forget Rosita Dominico.Even if I lived a hundred lifetimes, even if I scrubbed Renzo’s name out of my mouth and memory until it tasted like nothing, Rosita would remain. She had a way of existing in the background that made her more oppressive than any presence. Rosita wasn't







