𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 84 : 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝.

𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬°°°

Grinch’s gaze flicked to him, then back to the phone.

“What's wrong?”

A muscle ticked in Antonio's jaw, but he couldn't disclose a thing. “Handle here— I need to go somewhere else.”

“No,” Grinch objected, stepping closer, gun fastened behind his back. “At this rate we can't afford to be separated. If it's more urgent, we handle yours first.”

“Just shut up and do what I ask you to do” Antonio barked, unbuttoning his shirt.

Grinch swivel his head in submission, “Reckon that—”

But then, the entrance door screamed open, and Antonio aimed squarely at the proximity.

Sophia entered to their surprise and Grinch skeptically retreated from pulling his own gun out.

“POLICE—DROP THE WEAPON!”

Antonio didn’t flinch.

He gave a humorless breath, and lowered his gun low at his thigh, “Take care of her”

Grinch stepped half a pace forward. “Easy—”

“DOWN! BOTH OF YOU!” She cut in, lifting her rifle half an inch.

“Sophie listen to me” Grinch coaxed, voice lowering to a surprising mix.

“Don’t” She met his stare. “You don’t get to tell me how to do my work,”

She nodded at Antonio's gun. “Tell your boss to drop it.”

For a moment, it looked like Antonio wouldn’t drop it, but the moment floodlights detonated the darkness and SUVs poured into the driveway, he slowly set the pistol on the marble and kicked it away.

The click echoed louder than the engines dying in sequence outside the mansion.

Boots hit the floor in disciplined violence and soon red dots crawled over his chest, throat, face. At least twelve rifles.

From the wall of uniforms stepped Breanna.

Helmet off, hair pulled back and eyes cold as the North Pole.

“Antonio Hunt,” she called, raising the paper high “I have a warrant for your arrest. Murder. Organized criminal enterprise.”

She flicked it open, letting the seal catch the light. “You have the right to remain silent.”

Antonio looked at the warrant, eyes congested with offense. “Who signed the warrant?”

“Someone who loves justice more than I do” her response carried like a verdict. “Cuff him.”

Antonio casted brief gaze at his phone, still lit in his hand. Nevena’s message bleeding across the screen.

He exhaled and raised his hands— not in surrender, but concession.

As the steel cuffs snapped around his wrists, he leaned just enough to murmur to Breanna— alone.

“Someone breached this house today and my people are gone,” he whispered.

Breanna’s eyes didn’t change.

“The tourist is also in danger,” he continued, voice barely air. “Just give me some minutes, I will wrap things up there and come to you. Or maybe you can go to her fir—”

“That’s enough,” Breanna snapped.

She stepped back, raising her voice so it carried authority.

“Secure the premises. Full search. Every room.”

Antonio’s head snapped up.

“Breanna— listen to me.”

“It's late,” she barked. “This isn’t your regular sweep.”

Officers surged past them, boots pounding, radios crackling procedurally.

Cabinets torn open and flashlights carved walls as they searched. One team went up while the rest searched downstairs.

Antonio watched them go. “You don’t understand what you're doing,” he said flatly.

Breanna met his gaze squarely. “Worry for yourself. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into.”

“Can I have a word with you?” Grinch whispered as Sophia came to cuff him too. “Outside.”

Like an occupying force, Sophia clamped his hands and dragged him toward the door. “Ma’am! I will take him to the van.”

Breanna didn’t blink and she continued outside with him.

Silence pressed down with their absence, heavy enough to bruise.

“Ma'am” a voice crackled from upstairs. “We found something.”

Breanna gave a humorless breath. “It’s about to go down.” she tilted her head. “Lowell keep watch”

“Yes ma'am”

Antonio's expression didn’t change as she left — only his eyes hardened.

Upstairs, the men parted and she padded through, yanking open the door to the master’s bedroom.

“Jesus Christ!”

She gasped, her vision clouded by the striking colour of crimson.

She strode in quietly. Everything was red and gruesome, human parts butchered and scattered like beef on the bed.

She pulled her glove and examined only the intact bodies piled up. “This man is such a beast. Psychopath!”

“We also found arms, narcotics and contraband products.” one of the leading officers announced, gesturing at a hidden compartment.

“Seal up the building,” Breanna countered flatly "We have a case of massacre.”

------

Downstairs, Lowell shifted nervously, scrutinizing the situation.

Antonio nudged his head towards him. “What are you waiting for?” he asked hoarsely. “I need to go. Now”

Lowell hesitated, then drew his barrel, aiming not at him, but at his own team.

With them down, he uncuffed Antonio and submitted his gun. “All the cars outside are tempered.”

Antonio rubbed his fist and clenched the trigger, firing Lowell’s arm.

He groaned, falling back with a betrayed gaze.

“Breanna will question you. Don't overthink the shot.”

------

Upstairs..

Breanna heard the frantic shots and rushed out. To her dismay her men littered on the white tiled floor, brains splashed everywhere.

“Find that bastard” she roared, rushing down with the remaining squad.

Lowell, the only survivor, was carried out and sent straight to the hospital.

----

Outside, Sophia shoved Grinch against the side of the armored van, metal rattling on impact.

“Why do you like sticking to him,” she snapped, uncuffing him.

“We've been through thick and thin,” he jabbed deliberately.

“Spare me your riddles.” She slammed a fist at his chest. “On a serious note, Ma’am won't forgive me if she finds out about —”

A gunshot cracked from inside the mansion and she spun instinctively, rifle up.

Then another and a lot more. Her radio exploded next. “suspect loose—! Shot at sight”

“Bastard” She swore and glanced back at Grinch. “You knew this was going to happen?.” she accused.