Dylan stood at the center of his study, his hands clenched into fists.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Jayden. His right-hand man. His most trusted ally.
A traitor.
The air around him turned cold, his fury barely contained.
"Boss…" One of his men hesitated.
Dylan's eyes snapped to him. "Speak."
The guard swallowed. "Jayden covered his tracks well, but we traced his movements to an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city."
Dylan's jaw tightened.
"Get the men ready."
He turned to walk out, but the guard spoke again. "Boss… there's something else."
Dylan stilled.
"What?"
The guard hesitated. "Richard left a message for you."
Dylan turned slowly, his eyes deadly. "And?"
The guard lowered his gaze. "He said… If you want her back, come get her."
A slow smirk stretched across Dylan's lips.
Cold. Deadly.
Richard wanted a war?
He was about to get one.
---
The Prisoner
Heaven sat in the dimly lit room, her wrists sore from the ropes.
She refused to let Richard see her fear.
He stood before her, his arms crossed, watching her like she was some puzzle he was trying to solve.
"You're not what I expected," he mused.
She narrowed her eyes. "And you're exactly what I expected—a coward who hides behind others."
Richard chuckled. "Feisty. No wonder Dylan keeps you around."
Her stomach twisted at the mention of Dylan.
Would he come for her?
Would he even care?
Richard leaned in. "You look nervous. Do you think Dylan will come save you?"
Heaven forced herself to meet his gaze. "I don't need him to save me."
Richard smirked. "Good. Because I don't plan on letting him have you back."
She stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Richard reached out and ran a finger along the ropes binding her wrists. "Dylan took everything from me. Now, I take from him."
Her pulse pounded.
"You're using me as revenge."
Richard's smirk deepened. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm doing much more than that."
The door opened, and Jayden stepped in.
His face was unreadable, but his hands clenched at his sides.
"Dylan's coming," Jayden said.
Richard's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Let the fun begin."
---
Dylan's Arrival
The convoy of black SUVs pulled up outside the abandoned warehouse.
Dylan stepped out first, his presence radiating lethal energy.
His men stood behind him, armed and ready.
Jayden had betrayed him.
Richard had crossed the line.
And Heaven was inside.
He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders.
"No survivors," he ordered coldly.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.
Tonight, blood would be spilled.
And Richard would regret ever touching what was his.