The rain poured heavily that night, as if the heavens themselves were mourning the war that had begun. Dylan stood on the balcony of his study, watching the darkness swallow the streets below. His fists were clenched at his sides. Richard's message had been loud and clear—and Dylan had heard it.
But he wasn't going to back down.
Behind him, Jayden walked in with soaked clothes and blood-stained knuckles. "It's done. We took out the team that hit the warehouse. Only one survivor—he's in the basement."
Dylan turned around slowly, the cold glint in his eyes sending a chill down Jayden's spine. "Good. We'll start with him."
Jayden paused for a second. "Boss... Richard's no longer hiding. He wants a war. And this time, he's not holding back."
Dylan smirked bitterly, brushing his fingers across the scar near his collarbone. A scar Richard gave him in their last physical fight—years ago.
"I'm not either."
---
THE BASEMENT
The air was damp and foul with the stench of blood and sweat. The man they captured sat tied to a chair, his head hung low. Dylan walked in, his steps slow but deliberate. He crouched in front of the man and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up.
"Where's Richard?" Dylan asked calmly.
The man chuckled weakly, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "He's already inside your walls, Dylan. You're just too blind to see."
Dylan's gaze sharpened. "What did you say?"
"He's already here... and he's not alone."
Dylan stood upright and nodded to Jayden. "Make him talk. I want names. I want locations. Everything."
Jayden cracked his knuckles as Dylan left the room, a dark cloud settling over him. If Richard had a mole inside his empire, then this war wasn't just being fought outside—it was being fought from within.
---
HEAVEN'S ISOLATION
Heaven sat on the windowsill of her room, arms wrapped around her knees. The rain tapped softly against the glass as she stared out into the night. Her thoughts were chaotic—Michael's fragile health, Dylan's growing distance, and the bloodbath threatening to explode any moment.
She didn't want to be part of any of it. She didn't want to fall in love with a monster.
And yet, somehow, Dylan wasn't the same man he was weeks ago. She had seen glimpses of his pain, of his vulnerability. She had heard him whisper Samantha's name in his sleep more than once.
Samantha.
Heaven closed her eyes and tried not to feel jealous.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. It was Lily, one of the younger maids.
"Miss Heaven," she whispered nervously. "They say... they say a war has started. Should we be scared?"
Heaven bit her lip and shook her head gently. "We just stay out of it, Lily. That's all we can do."
But in her heart, she knew that staying out of it might no longer be an option.
---
RICHARD'S EMPIRE RISES
Richard sat at the head of a long steel table, surrounded by his men. He was younger than Dylan, but more ruthless in many ways. He had spent years building his own empire, training merciless men, forging dangerous alliances. Now, it was his time to claim what he believed was rightfully his.
"He's weakened," Richard said. "That woman... Heaven... and the sick boy, they're distractions."
"What's the next move?" one of his captains asked.
Richard smirked. "We take out his supply routes. We hit the core of his business. And when he's desperate enough—we hit the heart."
"Dylan?" the man asked.
"No," Richard said with a cruel smile. "We take the girl."
---
DYLAN'S REALIZATION
In his private study, Dylan sat quietly, staring at a photo of Samantha. He could hear her voice in his head.
"Don't let the past destroy you. You deserve more than this life, Dylan. You deserve peace."
His fingers trembled slightly.
"I'm trying, Sam," he whispered. "But it's too late to turn back now."
Just then, Jayden burst in.
"Boss—we have a problem. One of the vehicles carrying medical supplies for Michael was hijacked. The guards are dead. It was Richard."
Dylan stood slowly. The storm had officially broken loose.
"No more mercy," he muttered. "He crossed the line."
His eyes darkened as he turned to Jayden. "Prepare the men. And double the guards around Heaven and Michael. He's coming for them next."