One Hundred One

Cassandra stared at the computer screen, her eyes slightly tired. Last night, she barely got any sleep—not just because her body was still sore from Antonio’s relentless passion, but because her mind wouldn’t stop spinning. She was drowning in questions that refused to leave her alone. Was Antonio really behind her parents’ death?

She wanted to believe that he was innocent, that he was merely the heir of an empire built on crime long before he took control. But the more facts she uncovered, the more she doubted everything she once believed.

"Here it is," Alexander’s voice pulled her back to reality.

Cassandra snapped out of her thoughts, looking up to see him place a thick folder of classified documents on her desk. His expression was serious, but there was something else in his eyes—concern. Cassandra carefully picked up the file, flipping through the pages, only to feel her heart stop at what she found inside. The Silver Thorn existed long before Antonio took over.

"Where did you get this?" her voice was tighter than she intended.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her face.

"I have sources inside the system. This is part of an old archive that was never made public. Someone in the government tried to bury the fact that The Silver Thorn has been operating for far longer than we thought."

Cassandra frowned, her fingers running over a list of names. Some of them were unfamiliar, but one made her freeze. Marvin Baker. Her father. Her breath caught in her throat. Her grip on the paper tightened involuntarily. Did this mean her father was involved with The Silver Thorn?

"Alex..." her voice barely came out.

"My father’s name is in here." Alexander sighed deeply.

"I know this is hard for you, Cass. But I have to ask—are you sure Antonio is really the one who killed them?"

Cassandra swallowed hard, fighting the storm inside her chest.

"I don’t know..." she admitted.

"All I know is that the Silver Rose symbol was found at the scene of their deaths. I can’t ignore that."

Alexander studied her intently before speaking again, his voice softer.

"But what if this isn’t about Antonio? What if your father had his own connection to this world?"

Cassandra shook her head immediately, rejecting the thought.

"No. My father was a good man. He wasn’t a criminal."

"Facts are facts, Cass," Alexander insisted.

"The Silver Thorn isn’t some small organization. If your father’s name is here, it means he was involved—either as an ally or an enemy."

Cassandra shut her eyes briefly, trying to silence the whirlwind inside her mind. Everything she believed about her family was starting to crumble. She wanted to believe that her father was a victim—not a part of all this. But what if the truth wasn’t that simple?

Alexander leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on the desk.

"Cass, if you really want to know the truth, you have to prepare yourself for the possibility that it won’t be what you hoped for."

Cassandra met his gaze, and for the first time, she saw a raw sincerity in his eyes. She knew Alexander would never hurt her. But she also knew that he would always prioritize the truth, even if it destroyed her.

"I need to talk to Antonio,"

she murmured, mostly to herself. Alexander immediately shook his head.

"That’s dangerous. If he’s hiding something, he might not let you go after you find out."

Cassandra gave him a small, grateful smile.

"I’ll be fine."

But deep down, she wasn’t sure if she believed that herself. Across the desk, Alexander watched Cassandra as she immersed herself in the investigation files again. The soft glow of the desk lamp highlighted the delicate features of her face, the determination in her eyes, the unwavering need to uncover the truth—no matter how painful it was. He sighed quietly, leaning back in his chair, his eyes never leaving her. When did I fall in love with you?

The answer was obvious. Flashback – Their Childhood The afternoon sky over their elementary school yard was filled with the laughter of children running around. But in the far corner of the playground, a small, scrawny boy in a wrinkled uniform was surrounded by three older kids. Alexander.

"Look at him! Such a loser!"

one of the bigger boys grabbed Alexander’s collar, shoving him against the iron fence. Alexander stumbled, his heart pounding with fear. He didn’t know how to fight back.

"Why do you always stay quiet when we talk to you, huh?"

Another boy kicked his shin hard, making him yelp in pain as he dropped to his knees.

"I... I don’t want any trouble..." his small voice trembled. But instead of stopping, the boys only laughed louder.

"A weak little thing like you doesn’t belong here!"

The first boy raised his fist, ready to punch Alexander in the face—

"HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE!"

All heads snapped toward a girl standing just a few feet away. The little girl with long ponytailed hair stepped forward confidently, her fists clenched tightly. Her sharp eyes were filled with fury.

"What the hell is your problem with him?"

Cassandra demanded, her gaze locked onto the leader of the bullies. The boy scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"What’s it to you, Cassandra?"

Without hesitation, Cassandra marched closer, not a single trace of fear in her steps.

"I’m not going to stand by and watch you three act like cowards!"

One of the boys snickered, crossing his arms.

"And what are you gonna do about it, huh? You’re just a girl—"

BRUCK! BRUCK!

Before he could even finish his sentence, Cassandra slammed her fist into his face, knocking him flat on his ass. The whole place fell silent. Alexander’s eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

"YOU!" the boy clutched his bleeding lip, rage flashing in his eyes.

"You crazy bitch!"

He scrambled to his feet, ready to strike her back, but Cassandra was faster. With a swift movement, she swept his legs from under him, making him crash onto the ground again. Before he could recover, Cassandra straddled him, her knee pressing hard against his chest, pinning him down.

"What was that you said about girls?" her voice dripped with fury, but her confidence was unshaken.

The boy gasped for air, his face turning red—not just from pain, but from humiliation. His friends panicked. One of them grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"That’s enough! Let’s get the hell out of here!"

With pure embarrassment, the three of them ran off, disappearing down the corridor. Alexander remained on the ground, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Did you... did you just beat them up?" his voice was filled with disbelief. Cassandra sighed, extending her hand to help him up.

"Don’t just sit there and take a beating, Alex. You have to fight back."

Alexander hesitated before taking her hand, still feeling his heart pounding inside his chest. From that moment on, he knew. Cassandra wasn’t an ordinary girl. And from that moment on, he began to fall in love with her. The school hallway was filled with the sounds of laughter and footsteps, students pouring out of their classrooms after a long lesson. At the far end of the cafeteria, Alexander sat alone, trying to eat his lunch in peace. He never liked attention. He preferred to stay unnoticed. But today, trouble found him anyway.

"Hey, nerd! Eating alone again?"

A loud, mocking voice echoed behind him. Alexander looked up, and his stomach dropped. Tyler. Tyler was the most notorious bully in the school—not because he was smart, but because he ruled through fear. He always targeted the weak and quiet kids. And Alexander was his favorite victim. Alexander lowered his gaze, trying to avoid conflict.

"I just… want to eat."

But Tyler and his two sidekicks weren’t interested in letting him off easy.

"Eat?" Tyler grinned wickedly, then grabbed Alexander’s lunch tray— And dumped it all over his head.

"There. Now you can eat straight from your hair, loser."

Alexander squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the food soak into his uniform. Laughter erupted around him, the entire cafeteria watching like an audience to a cruel show. His face burned with shame. Then, suddenly—

BANG!

The cafeteria went dead silent. A girl stood between them. Cassandra. Her hands were clenched into fists, her eyes ablaze with fury. Without a single word, she grabbed Tyler’s collar— And punched him in the face.

BUK!

Tyler staggered back, blood dripping from his nose. His friends froze in shock, but before they could even react, Cassandra had already kicked one of them in the stomach, sending him crashing into a table.

"You’re all pathetic cowards!"

Cassandra yelled, her voice echoing through the cafeteria.

"You think you’re tough just because you gang up on someone who won’t fight back? Well, try laying a hand on Alexander again—" Her eyes darkened.

"And I swear to God, I’ll break every damn bone in your body."

Tyler coughed, glaring at her with pure rage.

"You crazy bitch! You think you can—"

BUK!

Another punch to his gut. Tyler collapsed to the floor, groaning in pain. No one moved. No one even dared to speak. By the time the teachers rushed in to break up the fight, the damage was already done. Tyler had to be taken to the hospital for his injuries, and Cassandra got suspended for fighting. But even as she sat outside the principal’s office, waiting for her punishment, she felt no regret. She would do it all over again. Alexander sat on the schoolyard bench, his head spinning from everything that had happened. She actually fought for me. When Cassandra appeared beside him, he couldn’t stop himself from staring at her.

"Why did you do that?" he finally asked.

Cassandra shrugged, her face completely unbothered. "

Because you’re my friend."

Alexander swallowed, something warm curling in his chest. Then, Cassandra smiled—that confident, fearless smile—and playfully messed up his hair.

"Next time, fight back, okay?"

Alexander could only nod, even though deep down, he already knew one thing for sure. He had fallen hopelessly in love with Cassandra Baker. Back to the Present Alexander took a deep breath, snapping back to reality. He was still staring at Cassandra, who had no idea that the man in front of her was battling his own emotions. He wanted to tell her.

"I love you, Cass. I always have."

But he couldn’t. Not just because Cassandra was trapped in Antonio’s world, but because he was terrified of heartbreak—terrified that Cassandra already belonged to another man. Alexander saw it in her eyes—the way she smiled softly, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked, even when she was laughing.

"Damn it. I’m falling harder for her."

His fingers clenched into a fist on the table, and he took another breath.

"Cass…"

he finally spoke. Cassandra looked up from the documents, her face showing signs of exhaustion.

"Hmm?"

Alexander studied her for a long moment before finally giving her a small smile.

"I’m proud of you."

Cassandra frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Alexander shook his head, his gaze full of unspoken meaning.

"You never give up, Cass. Even after everything that’s happened. I just want you to know that I’ll always be here for you."

Cassandra smiled softly, but there was something in her eyes—like she didn’t fully understand the depth of his words.

"Thanks, Alex," she said, before turning back to the reports.

Alexander looked away, suppressing the urge to reach for her hand. For a brief second, memories dragged him back to a different time—to their school days, which now felt like an entirely different world. The afternoon air inside the Manhattan Private Bank was calm as usual. Customers stood in neat lines, tellers busied themselves with transactions, and the only sounds filling the room were keyboard clicks and quiet conversations. Cassandra and Alexander walked into the bank casually, though their awareness remained sharp. They were here to investigate financial records that could be linked to the new mafia group—Nuovo Ordine.

"We just need access to suspicious transaction reports. This should be quick,"

Alexander muttered, scanning the surroundings. Cassandra nodded, her gaze locking onto a bank manager waiting for them in the far corner.

"Let’s get this over with."

They walked toward the manager, but before either of them could even speak—

BANG!!

The main doors were suddenly slammed open! The entire atmosphere shifted in an instant. Within seconds, a group of heavily armed men stormed inside, their faces covered with black balaclavas. A man in a long leather coat led the charge, carrying an assault rifle. His eyes were sharp, filled with ruthless intent.

"EVERYONE GET DOWN!!" he roared.

Screams erupted. Customers panicked, bank employees backed away with their hands raised, and anyone who tried to run was brutally struck with the butt of a rifle. Cassandra and Alexander ducked behind the teller’s counter, exchanging a glance filled with unspoken tension.

"Shit…"

Alexander whispered, his hand inching toward the gun hidden inside his jacket.

"Nuovo Ordine," Cassandra hissed in fury.

The gangsters moved swiftly, rounding up the hostages into the middle of the room, checking every corner for threats. One of them—a heavily tattooed thug—spotted an elderly woman cowering behind a desk. The moment she tried to hide, the man grabbed her by the collar and dragged her into the open. She screamed in terror, struggling against his grip. The leader of the gang took a step forward, scanning the terrified faces of the hostages.

"Listen up, you rich little fucks!" he snarled.

"We’re not here for small change. We want the big money—your vault, your high-profile accounts. And if anyone gets in our way…"

He pointed his rifle at the elderly woman’s head.

"You all know how this ends."

Cassandra’s hands clenched into fists, her entire body burning with rage. She knew how these criminals operated. They wouldn’t just rob the bank. They’d kill if necessary.

"We need to do something," she whispered to Alexander.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. He wanted to act, but they were outnumbered, outgunned. If they made one wrong move, they could get innocent people killed.

"Not yet," he muttered.

"We need a plan." But then— One of the thugs spotted Cassandra.

"Hey!" the man barked, pointing at her.

"Who the fuck are you?" Shit.

Cassandra felt her stomach drop as the thug approached, his gun trained on her. Alexander immediately shifted, trying to position himself protectively. But the thug wasn’t stupid.

"Move, asshole," he growled, waving the gun between them.

"Both of you—out in the open. NOW."

Alexander exchanged a quick glance with Cassandra. They were trapped. With no other choice, they slowly raised their hands and stepped out from their cover. The moment they did, the leader’s eyes locked onto Cassandra—his gaze flickering with recognition. A sick smile spread across his face.

"Well, well, well… what do we have here?" he mused, stepping closer.

His eyes roamed over Cassandra in a way that made her skin crawl.

"You’re a pretty one, aren’t you?"

Alexander’s hands clenched into fists.

"Don’t fucking touch her," he warned.

The leader grinned, raising his rifle.

"Or what?"

Cassandra could feel Alexander tensing beside her, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike at any second. She knew they had to act fast—or things would get a lot worse. And then—

BANG!

A gunshot rang out. Someone screamed. Blood splattered on the marble floor. Cassandra whipped her head around, her heart hammering in her chest. Someone had just been shot. And everything was about to explode into chaos.

"If anyone tries to fight back, this is what happens."

The gang leader’s cold voice echoed through the bank. Then—

BANG!

The first gunshot was fired, hitting one of the bank employees straight in the head. The man collapsed instantly, blood pooling beneath him. Screams erupted across the room. People panicked, some crying hysterically as the terrifying reality of the situation sank in. Cassandra clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. This wasn’t just a robbery. This was a fucking execution.

"Alex, we need to do something," Cassandra whispered, her sharp eyes locked onto the gangsters.

"Wait for the right moment," Alexander replied, his jaw clenched tight with tension.

The gangsters moved toward the main vault, their boots echoing against the marble floor. Meanwhile, Cassandra spotted the elderly woman still shaking in the corner, completely abandoned. Nobody dared to help her. Cassandra exhaled slowly. This was dangerous. But she couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. She inched closer, staying low behind the counter, her breath slow and controlled. Just a few more steps… Almost there… But then—

"HEY! YOU! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!" A gunman spotted her.

Cassandra froze. In a heartbeat, the barrel of a rifle was pointed directly at her head. The room went silent. Hostages held their breath, some shutting their eyes, terrified of what was about to happen. The gang leader sneered.

"Step out, sweetheart. I hate people who try to play hero."

Cassandra slowly raised her hands, but her gaze remained fierce.

"I was just trying to help her," she said, her voice steady.

The thug chuckled darkly.

"Cute. You think I give a shit?"

The gun cocked, his finger tightening around the trigger. In a second— He was about to fire.

"NO!!"

Before the shot could go off, Alexander lunged forward!

BANG!

The bullet whizzed past them, missing Cassandra by inches. But—

BANG! A second shot rang out.

And this time— Alexander was hit. Right in the arm. He stumbled back, blood gushing from the wound, staining his sleeve bright red.

"ALEXANDER!!"

Cassandra screamed, her eyes wide with pure horror as Alexander collapsed to the floor, clutching his bleeding arm. The gang leader laughed, barely fazed.

"Look at this idiot," he sneered.

The bastard raised his gun again, aiming it straight at Alexander’s head. Cassandra’s entire body burned with fury. Not this time. Before the trigger could be pulled, Cassandra moved. With deadly precision, she kicked the gunman’s wrist, sending the rifle flying out of his grasp.

CLATTER!

The gun hit the ground. Cassandra didn’t hesitate. She snatched the weapon and pointed it right back at the bastard’s chest.

"Touch him again, and I’ll fucking shoot you," she snarled, her hands steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

The thug stared at her in shock, but before he could react—

SIRENS BLARED LOUDLY FROM OUTSIDE.

"SHIT! IT’S THE COPS!"

The other gangsters panicked, dropping their stolen cash as they scrambled toward the exit.

"WE’RE GETTING OUT OF HERE—NOW!"

Within seconds, they fled, leaving the bank in chaos. The moment they were gone, Cassandra rushed to Alexander’s side, her hands trembling as she pressed against his wound.

"Alex… Stay with me!" she pleaded, her voice shaking.

Alexander winced, his face pale, but he still managed a weak smile.

"I’m fine… Are you okay?"

Cassandra nodded quickly, tears burning her eyes.

"You idiot… why did you do that?"

Alexander chuckled softly, even though he was clearly in pain.

"I couldn’t let them hurt you, Cass…"

The sirens grew louder, flashing lights illuminating the shattered bank. SWAT teams stormed inside, securing the area, but Cassandra couldn’t focus on anything else. Her only concern was Alexander. She gripped his hand tightly, silently praying he wouldn’t lose consciousness. And in that moment—

She realized just how much he meant to her. But was it too late to save him?