Chapter 75 The Price Of Reunion
Julian arrived at the address Balto had sent alone.
The engine of his car died into silence as he parked a short distance from the tall narrow building, his fingers still resting on the steering wheel for a second longer than necessary. The night air felt heavier here, dense with a tension that crawled raw under his skin.
He had successfully kept Vincent from following him.
It hadn’t been easy, but he was able to.
Now he was relieved that if anything went wrong tonight, the consequences would fall on him alone- not on his men, not on Vincent. He knew exactly how sensitive Balto could be when provoked. Reckless moves would only make things worse.
He had to play this game wisely.
Very wisely.
The moment he stepped out of the car and approached the building, his phone rang.
He looked to see an unknown number.
He picked.
Balto’s voice came through immediately, “I can see you.” He sounded amused.
Julian’s gaze sharpened, scanning the dark windows of the building. “Where are you?”
“You should navigate your way to the third floor,” Balto continued lazily. “I’m waiting where the yellow light is flickering through.”
Julian lifted his head slightly.
And he saw it.
A faint, unstable yellow glow leaking through a window on the third floor.
The call ended immediately.
Julian slipped his phone back into his pocket and entered the building without delay, his steps quiet, controlled, but urgent beneath the surface. Each stair he climbed tightened the knot in his chest.
Sweat gathered faintly at his temples from the feeling of dread.
When he reached the third floor, the flickering yellow light stretched across the corridor like a guide.
He pushed the door open slowly, and his eyes wandered, expecting the sight of Seraphina to atleast calm him.
But he didn’t see her.
Instead, a chair lay faced-down on the floor.
Rope was scattered nearby.
And dried blood stained the concrete.
His body ran cold.
For a split second, everything inside him stilled.
Just then, a slow clap echoed behind him.
Balto emerged from the shadows with a grin curling across his lips. “Isn’t it wonderful?” he started, grinning. “That we are meeting again. And this time, it is you searching for me… and not the other way around.”
Julian didn’t bother to spare him a glance at first.
His eyes remained on the blood.
“Where is Seraphina?” he asked, his voice low- edged with urgency.
Balto tilted his head. “Oh, she went on a quick errand. She will soon be back.”
Julian’s gaze dropped again to the drying blood on the floor.
His jaw shifted. His skin burned under the suits he had on.
“Whose blood is that?” he asked.
Balto walked slowly to Julian’s side, the sound of his shoes stepping on the floor triggering Julian’s suppressed anger. Balto shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, things got a little rough,” he replied. “Her step-sister hit her.”
Julian squinted slightly, processing the words.
When he finally got the edge of it, his head lifted slowly.
“…Did you mean… Talia was here?” he asked.
Balto’s grin widened. “Yes. And it has been fun all through. Talia just needed your wife to access her father’s vault. They should be back soon.”
For a moment, Julian said nothing.
Then, very quietly, he spoke again,“You let Talia take Seraphina after she hit her?”
Balto blinked as if the question amused him. “Why not?”
Julian muttered under his breath, “Shit.”
The tension in the room intensified.
Balto’s expression suddenly dropped, his face turning cold in a blink. “You dared to play me,” he said sharply. “You gave me the wrong kid.”
Julian finally turned to face him fully. “I am not having any conversation with you, until Seraphina shows and I am sure she is alive.”
Balto stepped closer, enclosing the distance between them with predatory calm. “What if she is not alive?” he asked softly.
The words ignited a different kind of fury inside Julian.
Rage coursed through him, and before he could think it over, his gun was out in a flash, pointing the barrel directly at Balto’s head.
“I will kill you right away,” Julian dared, his voice dangerously heavy.
A hint of surprise crossed Balto’s eyes, as his gaze moved to the gun.
Six men emerged from the shadows almost simultaneously, guns raised and aimed at Julian from different angles.
Julian’s jaw clenched.
Balto smirked. “If you shoot me,” he said mildly, “you die as well.”
Julian’s teeth gritted together, but his arm did not lower.
Balto studied him with what looked like intrigue . “This is the first time you have ever raised a gun at me, Jul” he noted. “Have you forgotten? You used to work for me.”
“I am not putting this gun down,” Julian replied coldly, “until my wife shows.”
Balto snickered. “Let’s see if that so-called wife will be able to look you in the eye when she finally learns what you have done.”
Julian’s pupils constricted.
He understood immediately what Balto was implying.
“You will not dare tell her,” Julian said sharply. “This is about me. Leave her out of this!”
Balto’s brows lifted slightly. “Wow,” he mocked. “Julian is so disturbed? I would have paid to see this part of you.
Julian’s voice dropped, strained for the first time. “Please,” he said, each word forced through tension, “leave Seraphina out of this.”
Balto’s lips curved faintly. “You don’t get to say that,” his eyes looked up, “while still pointing a gun at me.”
Footsteps suddenly echoed from the corridor.
Julian’s head snapped toward the sound.
Talia appeared first.
She shoved Seraphina forward.
Seraphina stumbled and fell hard onto the floor, weak and disoriented. Her forehead was bloodied, her lips bruised and split, her entire body trembling from exhaustion.
Talia’s voice rang out in frustration. “Her thumb did not work!”
Julian’s gun lowered instantly. Like a reflex.
He rushed forward and dropped to the floor beside Seraphina, gathering her carefully into a sitting position. Balto’s men slowly retreated their guns as the focus shifted.
Talia froze in place as her eyes finally landed on Julian.
Shock flashed across her face.
She hadn’t noticed he was there.
Julian’s hands hovered around Seraphina as if afraid to hurt her further. His expression, usually composed and stoic, was filled with worry.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, his voice low, carrying hints of frustration..
Seraphina slowly lifted her head, her vision blurry before finally settling on his face.
Her lips parted weakly.
“You… you came,” she whispered.
Julian’s jaw clenched as a sudden realization struck him right there — sharp, undeniable, and terrifying in its depth.
How much he felt for her.
“I will always come for you,” he said quietly, his voice carrying emotions that were almost overpowering despite everything, “no matter where you are, Phine.”
Seraphina swallowed, her chest tightening faintly as she processed his words..
Balto stepped forward again.
And then—
He pointed his gun directly at Seraphina’s head.
The atmosphere froze.
“Now,” Balto interrupted their session calmly, “I am going to shoot the Moreau’s golden daughter if you do not tell me where the kid with the photographic memory is.”
Julian’s arms instinctively tightened around Seraphina’s weak body, pulling her slightly closer to him. His eyes closed briefly, just for a fraction of a second, as if grounding himself in the fact that she was still alive.
Talia’s expression hardened instantly — a storm of bitterness, jealousy, and anger flickering across her face as she watched them.
Julian slowly lifted his gaze.
And saw it clearly.
Guns pointed at his head.
Balto’s gun aimed at Seraphina.
There was no escape.