04. The Danger After Us

The glass shattered, its piercing sound slicing through the silence and shaking the resolve of three men bowing in fear. None dared to lift their heads or even glance at their enraged boss.

Matteo Corsini, the Corsican leader of the fledgling Meute Sangria gang in Paris, was livid. The death of Pascal Duboid, one of his most loyal men, struck a deep blow.

"Pascal..." Matteo's voice trembled with anger and sorrow. His eyes burned with grief. "He didn't deserve to die!"

In a surge of rage, Matteo hurled another object-a wine bottle-against the wall, shattering it to pieces.

"Forgive me, Boss," muttered one of his men. "I didn't know he’d kill Pascal."

The image of Pascal's murder still haunted him- an unarmed man ruthlessly executed by a rival mafia's enforcer. The name of the perpetrator hung heavy in the air: Leonard Hugues.

"We can't avenge Pascal now," Matteo admitted bitterly, "but I swear Meute Sangria will rise until we're strong enough to crush Leonard Hugues and his entire operation."

"Bold words."

A new voice disrupted the tense atmosphere. All eyes turned to a young man in a sleek black tuxedo entering the room.

"Who are you?" Matteo demanded, narrowing his eyes.

"I'll introduce myself," the man began, only to be attacked by Matteo's men.

To everyone's shock, the stranger dismantled all three attackers with a grace and precision that left Matteo speechless.

"I'm Louis Chaloux," the man said, straightening his jacket. "Executive of the Les Veilleurs."

"What do you want here?" Matteo asked sharply.

Louis smiled faintly. "A personal offer of alliance. It seems we share a common enemy."

The proposal stunned the room. Matteo's men bristled, but Louis didn't flinch. Even when attacked again, he effortlessly disarmed his opponent and turned the knife on him.

Matteo was taken aback by Louis's deadly skill. "If your boss wants an alliance, why didn't he come himself?"

"This isn't his fight," Louis replied coolly. "I have my own reasons. And I know you want that girl. I’m sure that I’m the best ally for this."

“What can you offer to me from those talkcheap?”

“I'm smart, I'm strong, I love hunting, I'm Louis Chaloux—” Louis's smile disappeared as his voice darkened, "and I never leave business unfinished."

Before Matteo could respond, Louis handed him a cryptic note. "Call me when you're ready to talk," he said, walking out with a smirk.

Matteo inspected the note and realized Louis had slipped it into his man's pocket without anyone noticing. The level of skill unnerved him.

As Louis strolled away, his satisfied smile hinted at his confidence. He didn't know if Matteo would agree, but he was certain of one thing: when it came to Leonard Hugues, failure wasn't an option.

“Haven’t seen you in a while~” he hummed as he strolled alone the sidewalk, his tune carrying his bright mood as he made his way to a parking lot far from Meute Sangria’s territory. His smile lingered, even as he settled into the car beside Sophie Vignier, his latest ally in the Heatens.

Sophie, a striking 24-year-old with bright brown eyes and short, styled waves of chestnut hair, glanced at him curiously. “Good day, Louis?” she asked, her tone teasing as she noticed his good mood.

Louis shot her a grin. “I’m a hundred percent sure Matteo will accept my offer.”

“Still as confident as ever,” she replied, starting the car.

Sophie wasn’t just beautiful; her poised demeanor and sharp intellect made her a valuable partner. Since joining Louis’s team, she had proved her worth, though her sharp exterior often softened under Louis’s charm.

Their conversation shifted to strategy, Louis detailing his calculated risks and the weaknesses in Meute Sangria’s camp. Despite Sophie’s skepticism about his unorthodox methods, she couldn’t deny his brilliance.

As they parked, silence settled. Louis turned to her, his hazel eyes locking onto hers. “You know why I’m confident?” he murmured, his voice lower now.

Sophie blinked, her composure wavering under his gaze. “Why?”

“Because I'm standing before someone who looks back at me,” Louis said softly, brushing a stray hair from her face.

The moment hung heavy, and before Sophie could respond, Louis closed the distance, pressing his lips to hers. The kiss deepened, their connection igniting a passionate exchange neither seemed willing to break.

As they parted, Sophie gasped softly, her cheeks flushed. Louis held her close, his voice a whisper against her ear. “Stay with me, Sophie. Don’t let go.”

Sophie’s heart raced, her arms tightening around him. In her darkness, Louis felt like a rare light, someone who could understand her.

But for Louis, love was a luxury he didn’t entertain. His heart was consumed by a singular goal: vengeance against Leonard Hugues, the man who robbed him of everything.

“I’ll destroy Leonard,” Louis said, his tone steely. “Stay by my side and watch me burn them all.”

***

Chateau felt out of place in her new living situation. The spacious apartment she now called home was shared with five other women, but the atmosphere was far from welcoming. Every night, laughter and moans echoed through the rooms, forcing her to retreat to her bedroom, where she stayed all day, unwilling to face the world outside.

The foreignness of the place gnawed at her, making her hyperaware of every detail as she began to grasp the nature of her surroundings. What troubled her most was the uncertainty of Leonard's return. Though she dreaded her visits, she knew they anchored her presence here, giving her purpose in a place where she felt purposeless.

Her musings were cut short by the sound of someone trying to open her door. She bolted upright in bed, heart racing, as silence fell on the other side. Then came a soft knock, followed by a woman's sharp voice.

"Leonard's woman, can you open this damn door?"

Hesitant, Chateau opened the door to find two of her roommates—a blonde with curls cascading over her shoulders and a dark-haired woman standing slightly behind her. Their expressions were cold at first.

"I'm Sabine," the blonde introduced herself, her smile carrying a hint of mischief. "And this is Aisha."

Aisha nodded curtly. "So, you wanna hang out with us?"

Chateau blinked, unsure how to respond. "Where?"

"Just out," Sabine said casually. "Getting to know the city. I heard you're from Lourmarin."

Aisha smirked. "I can’t imagine the boring life you must’ve had in some small town. Come with us. I promise it’ll be more fun than sitting here all day."

Chateau hesitated. "I don’t know if Leonard would let me. I haven’t heard from him since the day he brought me here."

Sabine leaned against the doorframe, her tone dripping with mockery. "Since he’s an executive, he has bigger things to deal with than babysitting you."

The two women laughed, their words cutting deep into Chateau’s fragile confidence. Unease welled up in her, but before she could process it, Aisha reached for her wrist.

"You’ll be fine with us," Aisha said with a smirk, pulling her forward. "But if you stay locked in that room, you’ll lose your mind—or worse. Time to have some fun, girl!"

As Aisha pulled Chateau out of her room, Sabine lingered behind, watching the girl’s retreating figure with a calculating grin. Her eyes glinted with something unspoken, her hand slipping into the pocket of her jacket to retrieve a sleek phone.

Turning slightly, she pressed the device to her ear and lowered her voice. “She’s coming with us,” Sabine murmured, her tone laced with quiet satisfaction. Her gaze stayed fixed on Chateau, who seemed hesitant with every step.

A pause, followed by a faint chuckle. “Get ready at your point. We’ll take her out tonight.”

Ending the call, Sabine slipped her phone away, the grin never leaving her face as she turned toward her room. Whatever plan she had in mind, it was already set in motion.