Chapter 13: Blood and Betrayal

The entire steel mill fell into complete silence.

Victor Kane stood with his pistol pressed firmly against Benjamin Hamilton's temple.

Marco De Luca remained motionless several meters away, surrounded by his armed men.

Neither side dared make the first move.

"One more step," Victor warned.

"And Benjamin dies."

Marco's expression remained unreadable.

"You're cornered, Victor."

"No." Victor smiled.

"I'm holding the only bargaining chip that matters."

Benjamin struggled weakly against the ropes.

"Don't listen to him!" he shouted.

"End this!"

"Dad!" Devon cried.

"Stay back!" Benjamin yelled.

"Don't sacrifice yourself!"

Victor laughed loudly.

"How touching."

"A father finally acting like one."

"Shut up," Devon snapped.

"You know nothing about my family."

"On the contrary," Victor replied.

"I know everything."

"Including the fact that your father isn't the only one who betrayed you."

Devon frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ask Marco."

"He already knew about the Hamilton Trust before he met you."

The words hit Devon like a punch.

He slowly turned toward Marco.

"Is that true?"

Marco didn't answer immediately.

That silence was enough.

"You knew?" Devon asked again.

"Yes," Marco admitted.

"How long?"

"Since before we met."

"So... the kiss wasn't an accident?"

"The kiss was."

"Everything after wasn't."

Devon's chest tightened.

"You used me."

"No."

"I approached you because of the Hamilton Trust."

"I stayed because of you."

"There's a difference."

"Really?" Devon asked bitterly.

"Because it feels exactly the same."

Victor burst into laughter.

"See?"

"Even the mighty Marco De Luca has secrets."

"You're both lying to each other."

"Enough," Marco said coldly.

"This ends now."

"You're in no position to give orders," Victor replied.

He tightened his grip on Benjamin.

"Drop your weapons."

"Every single one."

"Or Benjamin dies."

Marco looked around the warehouse.

His men waited silently for his command.

"Boss..." Luca whispered.

"Don't."

"Lower your weapons," Marco ordered.

"Boss!"

"That's an order."

One by one, rifles hit the concrete floor.

Victor smiled with satisfaction.

"Much better."

"Now kick them away."

The weapons slid across the warehouse floor.

"Marco... what are you doing?" Devon asked.

"Buying time."

"For what?"

"Trust me."

"How can I?"

"Because despite everything... I've never lied about one thing."

"What's that?"

"Protecting you."

Before Devon could respond, the warehouse lights suddenly went out.

Complete darkness swallowed everyone.

"What happened?" someone shouted.

"Emergency generator failure!"

"Night vision!" another mercenary yelled.

Gunfire erupted instantly.

Flashes from rifle muzzles briefly illuminated the darkness.

"Get down!" Marco roared.

Devon threw himself behind a steel container.

He heard bullets ricocheting everywhere.

Men screamed.

Metal shattered.

"Boss! Left side!" Luca shouted.

Marco fired several precise shots.

Three of Victor's men fell.

"Move Benjamin!" Victor screamed.

His mercenaries dragged Benjamin toward a rear exit.

"Dad!" Devon shouted.

Ignoring every warning, he sprinted after them.

"Devon, stop!" Marco yelled.

But Devon couldn't.

He reached Benjamin just as one of Victor's men aimed a rifle directly at him.

"Move and you die," the mercenary growled.

Before he could pull the trigger...

A knife flew through the darkness.

It struck the mercenary's shoulder.

The rifle dropped.

Marco appeared seconds later.

"Get Benjamin out of here!" he ordered.

Luca rushed forward and cut Benjamin's ropes.

"Can you walk?"

"Barely," Benjamin answered.

"Take Devon too!" Marco shouted.

"What about you?" Devon asked.

"Victor's escaping."

"I'll finish this."

Marco sprinted toward the rear loading dock.

Victor had already reached a waiting black SUV.

"Marco!" Victor called with a grin.

"You still lose."

"Do I?"

Marco calmly raised his pistol.

"This time... no warnings."

He fired.

The bullet shattered the SUV's front tire.

The vehicle spun sideways before crashing into a stack of steel beams.

Victor stumbled out, bleeding from his forehead.

"You think you've won?" Victor laughed.

"This was never about the Hamilton Trust."

"Then what was it?" Marco asked.

Victor wiped the blood from his face.

"Revenge."

"Richard Hamilton destroyed my family."

"Benjamin finished the job."

"Now it's your turn."

Without warning, Victor pulled a small remote control from his pocket.

"Goodbye, Marco."

He pressed the button.

A loud electronic beep echoed throughout the warehouse.

Marco's eyes widened.

"Bombs," he whispered.

"Everyone out!"

Rows of explosive devices hidden beneath the steel pillars suddenly activated.

Red countdown timers began flashing simultaneously.

00:59...

00:58...

00:57...

The entire steel mill had been rigged to explode.