Chapter 30 – Betrayal

“Sir…”

Edric opened the door to Leonel’s office cautiously.

The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a low-hanging chandelier in the center. The scent of expensive cigars still lingered heavily in the air.

Leonel sat behind a massive teakwood desk, his hand gripping a crystal glass filled with untouched whiskey. His eyes stared blankly out the window, watching the glittering expanse of the city in the distance.

“Speak,” Leonel said without turning. His voice was deep and cold. “What’s the latest update?”

Edric stepped forward, standing straight in front of his boss.

“It’s confirmed, sir. That sudden inspection wasn’t a coincidence. We’ve been betrayed. Someone—or more than one person—leaked our shipment schedule to outside parties. Possibly the police… or a rival organization.”

Leonel placed the glass down on the table with a sharp clink. His breathing grew heavier, slower. His eyes blazed like embers igniting into fire.

“Who?” he whispered.

That single word made the air in the room feel heavier.

“We haven’t confirmed the culprit yet,” Edric replied, bowing slightly. “But we’re rechecking every point of information distribution. There are two suspicious names. Reno… has been dealt with. But the other, Niki… she’s been missing for two days. Most likely fled.”

Leonel rose slowly to his feet, his tall, commanding figure dominating the room. He walked over to a weapon rack on the wall, his fingers brushing across neatly arranged rifles and pistols.

“Find Niki. Dead or alive, I want her in front of me before the night ends,” he said flatly.

“Yes, sir.”

“And Edric…” Leonel turned, his gaze piercing. “Make sure there are no more leaks. If necessary, investigate those closest to us.”

Edric hesitated. “Even…?”

Leonel didn’t answer. He just stared at Edric, and the silent message in his gaze was more terrifying than any spoken threat.

Edric nodded quickly, understanding perfectly.

After Edric left, Leonel sat back down. He lit a cigar slowly, then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke into the air.

“If there’s one rat… there’s a whole nest.”

***

The smell of the harbor was sharp—fish, diesel, and rust mingled into a pungent stench. Dim lights flickered as Leonel’s black car stopped in front of Warehouse 17, the temporary holding site for their shipment before distribution.

Leonel stepped out and walked into the warehouse. His shoes echoed on the damp concrete floor, the sound heavy in the silence. A hanging lamp swung slightly in the wind, casting wild shadows on the walls.

He stopped in front of a wooden crate. With one swift motion, he opened it.

Inside were neatly stacked vacuum-sealed packets of white powder. Leonel’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched.

“How much was saved?” he asked without turning.

Edric swallowed hard. “Nearly eighty percent, sir. The rest… we had to dump to avoid arrest. Including two containers from the western route.”

Leonel exhaled slowly, then clenched his fists.

“We lost billions overnight because of one slippery little traitor.”

The tension in the warehouse was palpable. A few of his men near the entrance exchanged anxious glances but dared not speak.

“Niki still hasn’t been found?” he asked sharply.

“No, sir. But our last signal trace on her phone was at the southern border. She may have tried escaping through a small sea route.”

Leonel scoffed. “That cunning rat planned everything. She’s not acting alone.”

He walked to the far end of the warehouse, where a wall was covered with maps of distribution routes. His eyes followed the red lines—paths that now had to be redrawn.

“Move the remaining goods to the backup location. The old warehouse in Santerra.”

Edric looked surprised. “But sir, that place—”

“—hasn’t been used in years, and that’s what makes it perfect,” Leonel interrupted. “Clean it up tonight. I don’t want a single trace left for the authorities to find.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leonel closed his eyes briefly, trying to calm the fury boiling inside him. When he opened them again, they were sharp as blades.

“And one more thing, Edric. I want Reno and Niki brought in alive. I’ll cut out their tongues and hands myself.”

“Understood, sir.”

“And make sure the transfer runs smoothly. I don’t want to suffer another loss!” Leonel added, his tone laced with warning.

Edric immediately radioed in commands. Within minutes, several unmarked box trucks began approaching the warehouse. Leonel’s men, dressed in all black and heavily armed, moved with precision and urgency, transferring crates under the cover of night.

Meanwhile, Leonel remained standing still, watching every movement.

“Sir, should we divert the authorities’ attention with a small incident on the eastern route?” Edric asked cautiously.

Leonel thought for a moment. Then he nodded.

“Yes. Burn the empty warehouse at Block 9. Make it look like our main hideout. Ensure there are ‘witnesses’ who see someone escaping with a suitcase.”

“Understood.”

The harbor instantly transformed into a scene of tense, organized chaos.

Leonel lit a cigarette. The smoke curled around his face, tense and lined with bitterness.

“This isn’t over,” he muttered. “Reno, Niki… you think you can run? That you can destroy me with petty evidence and a report? You don’t understand what betrayal means in this world.”

He flicked ash onto the floor.

“If I have to, I’ll burn the entire southern border to catch you.”

“Edric, handle the transfer. And inform me the moment Reno and Niki are captured.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leonel walked back toward his car. He had decided to visit Jeslyn. Yes, she was the only solace he had left tonight.

His steps were steady under the dim harbor lights. His black shoes echoed faintly across the wet cement, cutting through the gruff voices of men hauling crates. His mind was buzzing—a storm of fury and exhaustion that never seemed to end.

When he opened the car door, his driver was already alert.

“To Jeslyn’s apartment,” he ordered.

The driver nodded and started the engine. The black car glided through the quiet streets of the city.

Beneath his cold exterior, Leonel had one purpose—Jeslyn. Not for business, not for lust, but because somehow, she was the only thing that could silence the chaos in his soul. Just seeing her eyes made the world seem… less rotten.

The car turned into a residential area and pulled up in front of Jeslyn’s apartment building.

Leonel stepped out and entered silently.

His footsteps echoed in the hallway, deliberate and heavy.

The elevator doors opened. He stepped in and pressed the floor number to Jeslyn’s unit. Leaning against the wall, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. The exhaustion from the day was catching up with him.

Ding.

The elevator opened, and Leonel stepped out, walking toward Jeslyn’s door.

It was late. He didn’t want to wake or disturb her. Quietly, he entered the apartment code. Jeslyn had never told him the password—but somehow, he knew it without needing to guess.

Beep.

A soft green light lit up, and the lock clicked open.

He pushed the door gently, careful not to make noise. The apartment was peaceful, filled with the soft hum of the air conditioner and the ticking of a wall clock.

Moonlight spilled in through the large windows, casting soft shadows on Leonel’s tired face. He took in the familiar surroundings—the neatly arranged cushions, the lavender-scented diffuser, the blanket folded on the couch.

Without a word, he placed his phone and black coat on a chair. He walked to the small kitchen, poured himself a glass of cold water, then headed toward the bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open quietly and entered.

Jeslyn was fast asleep, wrapped in a thin blanket, her face serene.

Leonel stood by the bed for a moment, savoring the rare stillness. The world outside was full of blood and betrayal, but here… here, he could breathe.

He sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb the mattress. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from Jeslyn’s face, tucking it behind her ear.

“I’m tired, Jes…” he whispered, almost inaudibly.

Jeslyn stirred slightly, murmuring in her sleep, pulling the blanket tighter.

He looked at her for a long moment, then leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly. A brief, meaningful touch.

Not wanting to wake her, he got up to shower, then returned and slipped under the same blanket.

He gently pulled Jeslyn closer to him. Whether it was instinct or comfort, Jeslyn responded immediately, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his strong arm.

Leonel froze for a moment. Her embrace felt so natural—like their bodies knew where they belonged. His heartbeat stalled for one beat, then resumed, slower… heavier. As if surrendering to the calm only she could bring.

The room felt warmer. Her scent—clean and soft—chased away the harbor, the smoke, and the blood that clung faintly to his mind.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her even closer. Jeslyn murmured something in her sleep and placed a soft kiss on his chest—right over his restless heart.

“I just want this night to stop here,” Leonel thought.

In a world where trust could be bought and lives were cheap, Jeslyn was the one thing he could never put a price on. He couldn’t. Because if she ever disappeared from his life, everything he fought for would collapse.

He stared at the ceiling briefly… then finally closed his eyes.

For the first time in a long while—after being consumed by rage—Leonel could breathe without the urge to kill.

And in the quietest hours of the night, where sleep never came easy for him, Leonel finally drifted off… in peace.

***