Chapter 203

Dave's POV

The sun was barely up, casting a dull, gray light over the city, but the weight on my chest was already heavier than the day before.

The shipment I had been waiting for was just a few hours away. The timing couldn't have been worse, not with Belle out there and Zane still breathing. I needed to tie up loose ends, and fast.

I sat on the brown leather swivel chair in my study, my hands running over my face as I tried to think.

I needed to find a way to get the attention of the drug enforcement agency off my back before the shipment arrived. Every second counted, and I knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.

I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping rapidly as I sent out a message to my men. It was time to surround the Perri mansion.

We need to bring Belle's family to their limit. Once that was done, they would bring out Belle. Or rather, she would bring forth herself. Then that nosy Zane Caruso will come for her and I get to silence him forever.

"Surround the mansion and make sure no one leaves," I typed. "I want eyes on every window, every door. We're going to make sure the Perri family has no choice but to cooperate."

I leaned back in my chair, the tension in my muscles easing ever so slightly. That was one problem handled, but I still needed to know where Zane was.

He was a thorn in my flesh. First with the business. He was our highest competition. He managed to get his drugs into Brisxton under favourable circumstances, while I get to be labeled as fake.

He had to be removed and now, he decided to show interest in the one woman whom I decided I wanted to be with.

I picked up my phone again and called Jason.

"Good morning Sir," Jason's voice boomed from the speaker.

"Jason," I said, my voice sharp and cold. "What's the update on Zane's location?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, the sound of Jason shuffling through some papers. "Sir," he said, his voice low, "we've tracked him to the Perri mansion."

I felt a jolt of excitement run through me, and I couldn't help but laugh, a harsh, maniacal sound that echoed in the quiet room.

The heavens must have had me in mind!

"Perfect," I said, grinning like a madman. "It's as if the universe itself has delivered Zane to me on a silver platter."

Jason didn't say anything, but I could hear the unease in his silence. He was always cautious, always thinking of the risks. But right now, I don't care about risks. All I cared about was ending Zane once and for all.

I hung up the phone and immediately dialed my mother. She answered on the second ring, her voice clipped and professional as always.

"David," she said. "What is it?"

I leaned back in my chair, the grin still plastered on my face. "Mother, the die is cast. I've got Zane Caruso exactly where I want him."

There was a beat of silence on the other end, then her voice came back, colder than ever. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

I could almost see the suspicious glint in her eyes, the way she always questioned everything I did. I knew she would never trust me to handle things on my own, not after Belle left me humiliated at the altar.

But this time, I would prove her hell wrong.

"Don't worry about it," I said, waving a hand dismissively as if she could see me. "All you need to do is sign off for the shipment to be sent directly to the Perri mansion."

Her sharp intake of breath echoed through the line, and I knew she was about to unleash a wave of questions. "Are you mad? What happened to moving the shipment at night, to the secret bunker? You know how risky it is to move a van full of hard drugs in broad daylight! Have you completely lost your mind?"

I clenched my jaw, biting back the frustration that threatened to spill over. "Mother, trust me. I have everything under control."

She snorted, the sound bitter and full of disdain. "Trust you? The last time I did, Belle disgraced us. She humiliated our family in front of everyone, and now you expect me to believe you've got things under control?"

Her words stung, reopening old wounds that had never fully healed. But I wasn't the same person I had been when Belle left. I had learned from my mistakes, and this time, I wasn't going to let anyone ruin my plans.

I took a deep breath, forcing the anger down. "This time, it will end. Zane will be dealt with, and Belle… Belle won't be a problem anymore."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought she would refuse. But then, with a resigned sigh, she spoke.

"Fine. But I'm using your seal for this. If anything goes wrong, it's on your head."

I exhaled, relief flooding through me. "Thank you, Mother. I won't let you down."

She didn't respond, simply ending the call without another word. Typical. But I didn't care. The wheels were already in motion, and nothing could stop me now.

I tossed the phone onto the desk and stood up, running a hand through my hair. Everything was falling into place. Zane was in the Perri mansion, the shipment was on its way, and soon, I would have everything I needed to finally crush him.

I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair and called out to the driver. "Get the car ready. We're heading to the Perri mansion."

The drive was fast as my mind was busy creating different scenarios. I imagined the look on Zane's face when I confronted him, the fear in his eyes when he realized he had nowhere left to run. Belle, too. She had betrayed me, humiliated me, and now, she would pay the price for her disloyalty.

By the time we arrived at the mansion, my blood was boiling with anticipation. The Perri mansion loomed ahead, its towering gates and manicured lawns. But I knew better. Inside those walls, the Perri family was cornered, trapped like rats.

And I was the fucking predator.

I stepped out of the car, my men already surrounding the perimeter. Jason was waiting for me by the gate, his face grim.

"They're inside," he said quietly. "Zane, Belle, and the Perri family."

I nodded, my jaw set in determination. "Good. Keep everyone in position. No one gets out."

Jason gave a quick nod and turned to relay the orders to the men. I watched him for a moment before heading towards the mansion, my footsteps echoing on the stone driveway.

"Well, well, well," I said to myself as I walked up to the foyer. "This will be the most epic reunion."