Chapter 8 - THE LAST HUNTThree months later, I dismantled most of the organization.
Legitimate businesses remained.
The illegal operations disappeared.
Some men resisted.
Others fled.
A few tried to kill me.
None succeeded.
But Victor escaped custody.
That was the problem.
He vanished during transport.
For two weeks, nothing happened.
Then Noah disappeared.
The message arrived at 6:12 a.m.
COME TO THE PLACE WHERE YOUR FATHER DIED.
Evelyn went pale.
“No.”
I grabbed my coat.
Marcus blocked the door.
“You're not going alone.”
“I know.”
We returned to the warehouse where my father had been murdered.
Snow covered the ground.
Goliath followed us.
Victor stood in the center.
Noah was beside him.
Unharmed.
“Let him go.”
Victor laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“You were never supposed to inherit anything.”
He revealed the final truth.
My father had intended to leave the entire legitimate business empire to a charitable foundation.
Victor and Adrian had fought over it.
My father had planned to expose them.
But there was another secret.
Victor had been the one who introduced my father to the criminal network.
He had built the monster.
My father tried to escape.
Victor killed him.
Then blamed a rival.
Adrian helped hide the truth.
Victor looked at me.
“You became the Reaper because I needed someone ruthless enough to protect my interests.”
I stared at him.
“You're wrong.”
“Am I?”
“No.”
I lowered my weapon.
“I became the Reaper because everyone around me taught me that fear was the only language power understood.”
Victor smiled.
“Exactly.”
I shook my head.
“That's where you're wrong.”
I looked at Noah.
“I learned another language.”
Victor frowned.
“Which one?”
“Love.”
Marcus moved.
Evelyn moved.
The lights went out.
Goliath attacked.
Victor fired.
I tackled Noah.
Marcus disarmed Victor.
The fight ended quickly.
Victor was finally arrested.
This time, there would be no escape.
Outside, snow began falling.
Noah hugged me.
“You came.”
“Always.”
Evelyn stood nearby.
She was crying.
I walked toward her.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I don't want the empire.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
“I want a life.”
“With me?”
“If you'll have me.”
She stepped closer.
“You've been waiting sixteen years to ask?”
“I've been slow.”
She kissed me.
Noah groaned.
“Gross.”
May you like
We laughed.
For the first time, the sound felt real.
