Third Person’s POVMiley no longer knew where she and Oliver were. The car had been circling endlessly, yet they still hadn’t found the place Aurelius supposedly stayed.“Are you sure this is the right address?” she asked, her voice tight with unease.“This is it. There’s no other,” he answered firmly.But all she could see was darkness. The place looked like an abandoned subdivision swallowed by shadows.She glanced at her phone—it was past three in the morning. They had been driving in circles for nearly thirty minutes.“Oliver, I don’t think this is the right address. Maybe I should call Clifford again—”She flinched when Oliver suddenly snatched the phone from her hand. His aura shifted, no longer the same man she had once met at the party.“You won’t be needing this anymore, Miley. You’ve got me. We’ll find him together,” he said in a mocking tone.“W-What do you mean? Take me home now, Oliver,” she demanded.“You don’t give me orders. I decide when you go home. Understand?”Mile
Clifford’s POVAurelius lay sprawled on the floor, bleeding out, helpless. I sat on the edge of the bed, wiping blood from my knuckles. I hadn’t just beaten him—I’d been trying to pound the truth out of him. I wanted him to admit to Horacio that he was the traitor. But he was stubborn, choosing pain over confession.“I’m not going to ask again, Aurelius. Call Horacio and admit you’re the snake who betrayed him…” I said, glaring down at him. His face was so battered with blood I could hardly recognize him.He chuckled weakly, forcing himself up against the bedside table, shaking his head.“Don’t waste your breath, Steel. You can’t break me. I know you—you don’t have it in you to kill me—”“And what makes you so sure?” I snapped. “I could end you right here.”He laughed again, low and devilish. My ears burned, and I slammed the butt of my gun into his skull.Blood trickled down his temple, yet instead of fury, he only grinned wider.“Just accept your fate, Steel. If only you’d handed th
Clifford’s POVMy steps were heavy as I made my way to Aurelius’s hideout. That bastard owes me an explanation. Even before I got there, my fists were already clenched, my jaw grinding in fury.Everything happening to me now somehow ties back to him. Long before I reached the main door, his men tried to block my path—but I landed a solid punch on one of them.Another pulled a gun, but I struck him across the head, sending him crashing to the ground. One got lucky, landing a blow on my face.My head snapped to the side from the force, but I quickly regained my balance and retaliated with a kick.Moments later, I was inside the two-story house. A few of his men were fast asleep in the living room, clueless about the storm that was about to tear their world apart.“Aurelius!” I bellowed, my jaw tight as stone.His men scrambled to their feet, groggy but already reaching for their guns. I beat them to it, firing a warning shot into the ceiling.“Don’t even think about moving unless you wa
Miley’s POVIt was past three in the morning—the so-called devil’s hour. I had been pacing the living room restlessly, my chest pounding with fear and anxiety. Clifford left at midnight, and yet he still hadn’t returned. I kept calling his phone, but it only rang endlessly.All I knew was that someone had called him, and moments later, he rushed out in a panic. But one thing caught my attention—the gun he had tucked at his side before leaving.Little by little, fear and dread consumed me. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, each one darker than the last. I didn’t know who else I could turn to. And then, suddenly, Chanda came to mind.I wasted no time and dialed her number. After just a few rings, she answered.“What do you want? You’re bothering me,” she snapped. Judging by the loud noise in the background, she was clearly at a bar.“C-Chanda, I-I need your help,” I forced myself to say.“What? I can’t hear you! Speak louder,” she barked back.“I—I think Clifford’s in danger. I
Clifford's POV.“Gustav, what happened?” I asked breathlessly the moment I entered the rest house. I found him sprawled on the cold floor of the living room, a gunshot wound bleeding heavily from his left chest. He was barely conscious, drowning in his own blood.I had received a call from him in the middle of the night, but I couldn’t make out his words—only the deafening sound of gunfire.“Secure the perimeter. Check if there are still enemies around,” I ordered, helping him onto the sofa.My hand reached instinctively for the gun holstered at my side, ready to head out, when Gustav clutched at the hem of my jacket. His eyes fluttered, barely able to stay open, lips parting as though he wanted to speak.I knelt down, bringing my ear close to him.“B-Boss… i-it was the Big B-Boss… he did this…” he whispered, his voice ragged with pain.I nodded firmly. “I know, Gustav. And I won’t let him get away with this,” I replied before rising to my feet.Just then, the black van I had summoned
Clifford’s POVI nearly tore the entire study apart in anger and panic. Papers scattered across the floor, the desk overturned, monitors flashing with the CCTV footage I’d been replaying. Clear as day, I saw Millicent leaving the house before dawn. Alone. No driver. No guard.My fists clenched so tight they ached as I stormed out of the room and down to the living room. My bodyguards stood waiting, heads bowed like condemned men.“Who was on duty last night?” My voice was cold but commanding. When no one answered, I grabbed one by the collar and snarled, “Who!” My roar shook the room.“M-Me, Boss,” came a meek reply from the far end of the line.In two strides, I reached him and delivered a sharp blow to his jaw. He hit the floor hard.“How the hell did you lose sight of her? Do I pay you to sleep?” I barked.“I-I’m sorry, Boss…”“Damn all of you!” I growled. “Get out there and find her. Now.” Because if anything happens to her, you’ll all be dead before sunrise.They scrambled away i