Chapter 142 

Chapter 142 

“You’ve signed our death warrants!” Mikael’s voice cut sharp, echoing off the marble walls. He breathed deeply, visibly forcing composure, but his eyes burned coldly. “I can handle Dominic I can handle wars. But Victoria’s right, the Fletchers are an entirely different threat. This isn’t business anymore, it’s suicide.” 

Nico’s gaze hardened, his voice low. “Are you that afraid?” 

Mikael glared fiercely. “Cautious, Nico. I’m cautious. The Fletchers are ruthless. They have resources, power, and influence even Dominic never touched. We’ve practically invited them to destroy us.” 

“You underestimate our position,” Nico said calmly, folding his arms across his chest. “Dominic’s injured. The Fletcher family isn’t invincible. If they want a war, we can give them one.” 

Mikael stared at Nico incredulously, then shook his head with bitter laughter. “You’ve lost your goddamn mind.” “Maybe,” Nico admitted, stepping forward, voice lowering dangerously. “But you haven’t exactly shown restraint yourself, Mikael. Your obsession with breaking Dominic clouded your judgment. You forgot that war comes with sacrifices.” “And you forgot who you’re speaking to,” Mikael hissed, eyes narrowing. “You answer to me-” 

“Wrong,” Nico snapped, cutting him off sharply, his tone icy. “I answer to no one. Least of all you.” For a long moment, they stared each other down, tension rippling between them like an electric storm. 

Mikael finally broke the silence, voice dangerously low. “Then consider this a warning. Fix this. Get rid of her by sunrise, like Victoria said. If you don’t, I’ll consider our partnership null and void–and you’ll join Dominic on my kill list.” 

Nico didn’t blink, didn’t flinch. He simply offered a slow, mocking smile. “Threats don’t scare me, Mikael. You’ve known that since we were boys. But I’ll handle Aria–not because you demand it, but because it suits me.” 

Mikael turned abruptly, storming toward the door. He paused only briefly, glancing over his shoulder with barely restrained fury. “See that you do. And pray the Fletchers haven’t already mobilized. Because if they have-” 

Nico’s gaze narrowed, cold as ice, voice steady and unflinching. “Then we give them a fight.” 

Mikael’s jaw tightened as he opened the door and stepped out, leaving Nico alone in the heavy silence. The fire crackled quietly, shadows stretching around him. For a moment, Nico stood utterly still, staring into the flames. 

Mikael was right, of course. He hadn’t followed protocol. He’d allowed himself to be reckless. But what Mikael didn’t understand, couldn’t possibly grasp, was that it had never truly been about Dominic, power, or even Aria herself. 

It was about control. 

About finally stepping out from the shadows and taking what he’d always been denied. 

He turned from the fire, expression darkening. Aria was more than a pawn now. She was leverage, yes. But more than that- she was proof that he could break Dominic, shatter Mikael’s illusions of control, and rewrite the rules. 

But he also knew he couldn’t underestimate the Fletchers. He’d have to move carefully. Quickly. 

Because soon, very soon, the real battle would begin. 

And Nico intended to be ready unlike Miakel who is scared of his own shadow right now. 

***** 

Dominc’s POV 

I wore black head to toe. Dark gloves, dark boots, everything sleek, everything sharp. Clothes made for stealth, made for death. The kind of clothes I’d worn so many times before, but tonight they felt different. Tonight, I wore them for her. 

Fuck, the thought of Aria in their hands made me want to tear the world apart piece by piece. 

I pushed the door open and stepped into the control room. Julian stood leaning over a table, maps and satellite images sprawled across the surface, screens blinking rapidly in the dim lighting. He turned at the sound of my footsteps, his mouth twitching into a faint smirk. 

“You pinpointed her location?” I asked, voice flat, cold. Every muscle in my body was pulled taut, ready to strike. 

Julian held out a tablet without a word. “Here you go,” he said simply, a cocky edge slipping into his tone. 

I took the device, scanning the details. Everything was there: security layouts, guard rotations, entry points. Julian had always been meticulous, always thorough, but tonight it mattered more than ever. Pride swelled sharply in my chest. The boy I’d raised was a man now, and he was one hell of a soldier. 

I placed a firm hand on his shoulder, locking eyes with him. “You did well,” I said quietly. 

He smirked again, the expression softer now, reminding me suddenly of a younger Julian–the one I’d taught to shoot his first gun, the one I’d shielded when our world turned to shit. That boy, wide–eyed and trying to hide his fear, was gone, replaced by this confident, deadly man in front of me. 

1/3 

Chapter 142 

“You look like you didn’t expect me to, Julian teased gently, trying to ease the weight of the moment. 

“I never doubted you,” I said simply, squeezing his shoulder. ‘Not for a second.” 

He nodded once, accepting my words, knowing I meant them. For a brief moment, silence lingered between us, memories shared but left unspoken. Our childhood hadn’t been easy. Our parents, selfish and spoiled, had abandoned us for endless, vacations and endless distractions, leaving us in the ruthless hands of the mafia to raise ourselves. They had torture us only to leave us. 

Family, loyalty it was something we’d forged together, through fire and blood, not inherited. It was our bond, our ourse, and our strength. 

Julian had been my responsibility then, now he was my brother, my right hand, and my greatest ally. I thought same for Nico but unfortunately he chose his path. 

But tonight, none of that mattered not our childhood, not the mafia, not the empire we’d built. Tonight was about her Aria. 

My jaw tightened. 

I turned swiftly, snapping back into the man my enemies feared. I raised my voice, clear, cold, and commanding. “Everyone, listen closely. 

My men turned to face me, their expressions sharp, bodies tense and ready. 

“We hit fast. We hit clean,” I instructed, voice unwavering. “No hesitation, no mercy. They’ve taken something from us and tonight, we’re going to take it back.” 

The room hummed with energy, the kind of ruthless, bloodthirsty loyalty only men like mine possessed. 

*Team one,” I ordered, eyes narrowing, “you breach the north entrance quick, controlled explosions. Eliminate every guard on your way through. Team two, disable all external security measures. Cameras, alarms, sensors everything goes dark.” 

I paused, feeling the fury building with every word. 

*Team three, you’re with me. We’re going straight in the main entrance. Any resistance, you kill. No prisoners. Anyone who touched her dies. Understood?” 

A sharp, collective nod moved through the men, determination etched into every hard face. 

I turned, glancing back at Julian once more. He nodded, calm, steady. 

He knew what came next. 

He knew the fury that would follow. 

I drew a breath, standing straighter, feeling the adrenaline race through my veins like gasoline to a flame. 

“Gear up. We’re leaving in five.” 

The men moved instantly, grabbing weapons, checking ammunition, and gearing up for war. 

Julian moved beside me again, his expression serious but eyes alight with something powerful. “We’ll get her back, Dom 

I nodded, jaw set in stone. “We will. And then I’ll burn every single one of them to the fucking ground.” 

He chuckled. “I trust you, brother. I trust you.” 

That trust was one of the few things in my world that still felt pure. Julian knew me–knew the lengths I’d go to, knew the kind of hellfire I could unleash. His confidence fueled my rage, sharpened my resolve. 

We moved swiftly to the main hall where our men waited, fully armed and ready. Guns gleamed under the dim lights, bulletproof vests tightened, knives strapped to their belts. Each face wore the same cold, determined expression. 

Luca approached, face tense, tablet in hand. “Dominic,” he began, voice cautious. “There’s something else.” 

I turned sharply, instantly alert. “What?” 

He hesitated, eyes flickering nervously. Luca never hesitated. A dark suspicion crawled up my spine. 

“Luca,” I growled, voice dangerously low. “Spit it out.” 

He glanced quickly around the room, then moved in closer, dropping his voice. “We ran another security sweep double- checked everyone’s recent movements and communications. Someone inside our ranks was communicating with Nico.” My blood froze. The air thickened around me. Betrayal again. I glanced at Julian, whose expression hardened instantly. 

“Who?” I demanded, the word barely a whisper. 

Luca swallowed, eyes shifting uneasily across the room. “Alessio.” 

My gaze shot across the hall, landing immediately on Alessio a man I’d known for over ten years. He was one of my most loyal soldiers. Or so I’d thought. Alessio felt my stare and looked up, confusion and nervousness flickering briefly before he masked it. That brief hesitation sealed his fate. 

“Bring him,” I ordered coldly, not breaking eye contact. “Now.” 

Chapter 142 

Two men immediately grabbed Alessio, pulling him forward roughly. His eyes widened, panic creeping into his expression.” Dominic, what’s going on?” 

I stepped forward, every step filled with my anger, my rage simmering dangerously beneath the surface. “You tell me, Alessio. Why were you speaking with Nico behind my back?” 

He paled visibly. “Dominic, no–I never-” 

“Don’t fucking lie to me!” My voice thundered, echoing through the room, silencing everyone instantly. 

Alessio flinched, his eyes darting frantically. “He threatened my family. My son. Nico said if I didn’t help, he’d-” 

I raised a hand sharply, cutting him off mid–sentence. “You betray me, and then stand here begging for understanding?” “Dominic-” he pleaded, voice shaking, desperation etched on his face. 

But I was done listening. Betrayal, excuses, apologies they were worthless. They couldn’t undo the darnage he’d already done. 

“No betrayal goes unpunished,” I declared coldly, voice steady despite the fury burning within me. “I’ll kill them all.” 

In one swift movement, I drew my gun, pointed it directly at Alessio’s forehead, and squeezed the trigger. 

The gunshot cracked sharply, echoing through the hall like thunder. 

Blood splattered across the marble floor, Alessio’s body crumpling lifelessly to the ground. 

A heavy, stunned silence filled the room. No one moved. No one dared breathe. 

Slowly, I lowered the gun, looking around the hall, meeting the eyes of every man present. “Let this be a lesson. Loyalty is everything. Anyone else thinking of betraying me know this is your fate. I build by fear and I build by trust. Take it as you see it.” 

I turned away, slipping my gun back into its holster. Julian stood by my side, silent, expression unreadable, but supportive. I took a steadying breath, focusing again on what mattered most: Aria. 

“Now move,” I commanded, voice deadly calm. “We’ve got a war to win.” 

Subscribed