Chapter 76

Victoria's POV

When I saw the guard Christopher had mentioned, I almost laughed out loud.

"Christopher wasn't lying, this guy is a joke."

I stood in the car observing, watching Landon half asleep and snoring, his body rising and falling with each breath, completely unaware. This guy was the guard sent by the Moretti family to watch over the prisoner? What a joke.

"Piece of cake," I thought mockingly, getting out of the car, opening the trunk, and pulling out a steel rod.

The cold, heavy feel of the steel rod in my hand reminded me of the danger I was in. But I had no other choice. I had to do this. It was my only chance.

Slowly approaching the dozing guard, my heart pounded in my chest. I had never imagined myself doing something like this, but fate always had unexpected twists, didn't it? Just a few weeks ago, I was a socialite in the Upper East Side, and now I was in a Bronx flour factory, preparing to attack a guard of a mafia family.

Raising the steel rod, I didn't hesitate to strike Landon on the head. He let out a grunt, his body going limp, falling to the ground unconscious.

"That'll do," I shrugged, squatting down to search his pockets for the garage keys. Finding the keys, I also discovered a pair of handcuffs.

"Handcuffs too?" I chuckled, cuffing him to the chair to prevent him from chasing us when he woke up.

Before entering the garage, I took a deep breath. While my intention was to rescue, I still carried the steel rod as a weapon just in case. I didn't know what awaited me inside.

***

The interior of the garage was dim and damp, filled with the smell of gasoline, rust, and a hint of unsettling blood. Following the dried blood on the floor, each step quickened my heartbeat. For a moment, I feared I was too late, that I had missed the chance to earn Lily's forgiveness.

When I saw Tyler severely beaten and chained to a chair, I couldn't help but gasp. His head hung low, almost unconscious, his body covered in bruises and blood.

"My God, I was almost too late," I said, the sound echoing in the empty garage.

Tyler slowly raised his head, eyes filled with surprise and suspicion. Even in his state, he looked at me with a hint of disgust.

"What are you doing here?" he spat at me, his voice hoarse. He knew all of this was because of me.

"I'm here to save you, let's go," I said, attempting to untie the ropes and chains. They looked sturdy, and I began to doubt if I could open them.

"Get away, you're the last person I need as a savior," Tyler coldly said, turning his head away from me.

"My sister sent me, I won't leave empty-handed—"

"She told you?" Tyler scoffed. His eyes sparkled with distrust. He knew Antonio was too embarrassed to reveal the truth—so he chose to stay silent.

"No, it was Joseph who told me," I said, surprising him. Joseph, the man he had protected time and time again, had handed him over to Antonio without hesitation upon learning the truth.

"Christopher—" Tyler urgently asked, his voice filled with concern. After Joseph's outburst, he had given Christopher clear instructions not to come here.

"He's fine, he's with Lily," I confirmed.

Tyler visibly relaxed, knowing Christopher was safe. He knew Lily was a kind and warm person, who would never harm Christopher, making handing Christopher to Lily a good decision.

"Which side are you on?" Tyler suddenly asked me, his gaze wary. Despite his gratitude towards his sister, he couldn't believe she would send me to find him.

"Nathan's side," I replied, trying to focus on untying the chains.

"Since when?" Tyler didn't believe my words. I knew what he was thinking—Joseph was always extremely cautious with information, and unless I had betrayed him, there was no way I could know these things.

"From now on," I gritted my teeth, "After making a fool of myself, I tried to remain neutral, but Joseph is losing it, and I don't like being used—now shut up and let me focus."

I bit my teeth, trying to untie the chains, but no matter how hard I tried, it was futile. The damn locks were too strong. I felt frustrated and helpless, as if all my efforts were in vain.

Struggling internally, I realized this might be my only chance to gain my family's forgiveness. Although Tyler was ungrateful, I had risked my life for this.

"Let me die, I'd rather die than be saved by you," Tyler suddenly said, his tone resolute.

I stopped my actions, frowning at him. "You'd rather die?"

"Being with you or facing death, it's all the same—so I'd rather die here like a man, knowing I wasn't saved by you," he coldly said, refusing to meet my gaze.

I looked at him, waiting for him to say it was just a joke, but he didn't. For Tyler, there was nothing I could do to make up for my actions.

"You know, you ungrateful pig. Suit yourself," I said angrily, standing up and walking towards the garage door.

Halfway there, I suddenly stopped. I remembered everything I could gain. If the Sullivan family knew of my brave actions, they might not ignore me anymore. This was my only chance.

"I can't just leave like this, I've risked my life for this," I muttered to myself, turning back to face Tyler.

He lowered his head, almost losing consciousness. "Hey, snap out of it!" I clapped my hands, walking back to try to free him again. "I won't leave you behind, you're my ticket to Lily's trust."

"The only ticket you deserve is the one to hell," Tyler weakly chuckled, surprised that I had come back.

"You're just like your sister—can you shut up and let me get you out!" I angrily growled, struggling with the chains again.

"It's no use, you need a key," Tyler sighed in resignation at my futile attempts.

"What?" I looked up in shock.

"That guy has the only key," Tyler said, "but I threw it in the trash. He won't go far, he's unconscious, tied up—"

"He doesn't have the key, someone else does," Tyler interrupted me, his tone serious. I blinked, regretting coming here within a second.

"Someone else?" A chill ran down my spine.

"Hey, who's in there!" we heard someone shout from outside.

Tyler grabbed my arm to stop me. "Quiet, did you hear that?"

"Damn, why is this happening now?" I buried my head in my hands. "I guess that's the other person?"

"Let's go," Tyler urged.

I shook my head, trying once again to undo the chains. I was determined to get him out. "I told you, you're my redemption ticket, I won't abandon you—"

"No, you must go, I won't let them torture you for Lily's hiding place—you have to leave," Tyler firmly stated.

I could sense that he didn't actually mind me staying to suffer like him—but he wouldn't risk Lily's life for it. He knew Christopher had already told Lily his whereabouts, and he knew the ruthless Antonio would not hesitate to kill little Christopher.

"Looking out for your sister? How thoughtful?" I mocked him with a pout. "Do you want to die?"

"No," I answered honestly.

"Then at least make yourself useful," Tyler gasped, pointing to a cabinet behind him.

"There's a gun in there, get it for me," he commanded.

I gave him a nod and a smile. "So, you're finally willing to fight for your own life?" I said as I walked to the cabinet, opened it, and retrieved the gun.

"I'm fighting for Lily's life," Tyler said stubbornly.

Everything he did was for her, including forgiving the Donovan family. He didn't want anything to do with them, but deep down, he was willing to accept them for Lily's sake.

"There's only one bullet left—you have to leave this place, I'll cover you," Tyler said, determination shining in his eyes.

It was obvious that Antonio, who tortured him, was just using him as bait— even if he decided to kill him, he wouldn't care—because he knew Lily would be safe no matter what.

"Victoria, please, " he pleaded, looking at me.

I was torn between staying to try to earn forgiveness or running to save my own life—but I also knew that if I ran, I would never have the chance to redeem myself.

"Fine," I swallowed hard, handing the gun to Tyler.

I took a few steps back, hiding behind him, listening as footsteps approached closer. My heart pounded, hands sweaty, feeling a fear like never before.

"For my sister, give her a message, tell her her brother did his best to ensure she lives—so she should live well," Tyler said calmly, a hint of finality in his voice.

He raised the gun, enduring the pain, aimed at the approaching person, and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the person's shoulder, causing the gun to drop, not far from him.

"Go! Run!" Tyler shouted at me, and I froze. "Victoria, go!" he shouted again, snapping me out of my daze.

I turned and ran towards the exit, my mind blank. I should have just driven away, but my body was out of control. I ran to the trunk, pulled out another steel rod, and ran back inside without hesitation.

The person was inches away from grabbing the gun, and I saw Tyler shaking his head at me, but I had made up my mind. This time, I would do the right thing.

I swung the steel rod, knocking out the person. "I've decided you can personally deliver the message to Lily," I proudly shrugged, taking the keys from the person's pocket.

"You crazy woman, how many of these do you have?" Tyler commented, looking at the steel rod in my hand.

"Let's go," I said, unlocking the last chain, helping him up.

Tyler pushed me away, shaking his head. "I told you—"

"Yes, you'd rather die, you don't like me, it's mutual, blah blah," I rolled my eyes, once again helping him up by his waist.

"I can walk on my own," Tyler insisted, trying to break free, but ended up stumbling—before he fell to the ground, I grabbed his arm.

"Oh, you're so annoying," I rolled my eyes, helping him out, while pulling out my phone.

"Say, I'm still alive," I commanded him.

"I'm still alive?" he asked confusedly.

"Did you hear that, Lily? I saved your idiot brother, I'll take care of him as promised—so make sure you keep your promise too, bye," I sent a voice message to Lily. "Come on, pup, we have to leave before your insane boss arrives."

"Where are you taking me?" Tyler weakly asked, his eyes full of caution.

Supporting him towards the car, feeling the weight on my shoulders, not just his body, but also the responsibility I had chosen to bear.

"I'm taking you on the road to my redemption."