One Hundred & Thrity one

One Hundred & Thrity one
Darius’s car rolled to a quiet stop at the address Colin had sent, on the outskirts of the city. The sun was beginning to dip behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the street. He parked with precision and didn’t waste a second. Colin was already waiting outside, pacing impatiently.

“About time,” Colin muttered as Darius stepped out. “You’re late.”

“I had other things to handle,” Darius replied, voice low and controlled, eyes sweeping the street. “And Augustine?”

Colin shook his head. “He wouldn’t let me in. I sent the note. You know how he is. Cautious. Suspicious. He trusts no one unless it benefits him.”

Darius’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll make him trust me. Or make him regret that he didn’t.”

They walked into a tall, modern building, where Augustine waited inside a sleek office glass, steel, and quiet wealth.

Augustine’s sharp eyes flicked to Darius as they entered, a polite, measured smile forming. “Venynar,” he said smoothly. “It’s been a while. Has the Don sent you to ask for something?”

“I’m not here for pleasantries,” Darius said flatly. “This is business. Don Matteo didn’t send me. I want him gone. Permanently.”

Augustine’s expression darkened. “Wow. A dog trying to bite its owner. You can’t—”

“Yes, I can’t,” Darius cut in coldly, stepping closer. “But you can. And if you don’t, it’ll be the last day you ever see your son’s face.”

Augustine froze. His eyes widened, the color draining from his skin. “What… what are you talking about?”

Darius pulled out a small tablet and tapped the screen. A video played .. his son shaking, desperate, clearly addicted, spiraling in a filthy apartment. Augustine’s hand trembled as he watched.

“This is only the beginning,” Darius said calmly. “You think this is bad? I can ruin you slowly, piece by piece, until the day you die. I won’t stop. So you’re either with me or—”

Augustine swallowed hard, his composure cracking under the weight of fear.

“You… you can’t be serious,” he stammered. “You’d really do this? You don’t scare me.”

“I don’t bluff,” Darius said, voice like steel. “You want to stay alive? You help me. You set the meeting. You make Don Matteo walk straight into my trap. Refuse, and you lose your freedom—and your family. You don’t want to fuck with me. Are you in?”

Augustine nodded quickly, sweat beading at his temple. He had no choice. “I… I’ll do it. I’ll help you. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Darius’s gaze never softened. “Good. And Augustine?”

“Y-yes?” he whispered.

“Test me,” Darius said. “One mistake, one hesitation, and you’ll lose more than your son. You’ll wish I never knocked on your door.”

Augustine shuddered, gripping the arms of his chair. “Understood. Completely.”

Darius nodded once. “Then get to work. Everything must be perfect. When Don Matteo walks in, he must suspect nothing.”

Colin exhaled quietly beside him, glancing over. “Damn. That was intense. I was actually shaking for him.”

“I don’t have time to be kind,” Darius replied, heading for the door. “This isn’t a game. It’s her life.”

As they left, Augustine remained frozen in his chair, trembling.

Darius climbed back into the car, eyes forward, jaw tight. One thing was certain… Don Matteo had just stepped into a storm he couldn’t control and has no idea this is where he gets buried .

He sat in the back seat as Colin drove, city lights flashing past the windows.

“First thing,” Darius said calmly, breaking the silence, “we weaken him where it hurts most.”

Colin glanced at him. “His money.”

“Exactly,” Darius replied. “The Dervino Group. Every share he owns.”

Colin frowned. “That’s a massive portfolio. He’s hidden those assets for years.”

“I know,” Darius said. “That’s why you won’t touch it directly. Use different names. Shell accounts. Spread it wide so nothing traces back to us.”

Colin whistled softly. “You really plan to burn his empire to the ground.”

Darius’s jaw hardened. “He took my parents. He tried to kill Amara. I’m done moving slow.”

Colin nodded, tightening his grip on the wheel. “Alright. I’ll start immediately. Quiet buys. No noise.”

“Good,” Darius said. “By the time he notices, it’ll be too late.”

Colin hesitated. “And when he finds out?”

Darius’s eyes went ice-cold. “He won’t be able to stop it.”

The car stopped at a red light. Darius stared ahead, thinking of Amara alone by the sea, unaware of how close danger still was.

“This is just the beginning,” he added quietly. “I’m taking everything from him. Piece by piece.”

The light turned green.

And the war truly began.

The car moved forward, smooth and silent, but Darius’s thoughts were anything but calm.

Colin tapped the wheel once. “Once the buying starts, Matteo’s people will notice movement. He’s paranoid. He watches his money.”

“Let him,” Darius said.

Colin nodded. “I’ll spread it across three continents. Different brokers. Different faces. It’ll look random.”

“Good,” Darius replied. “I want him confused, not warned.”

They drove in silence for several minutes, the city fading into darker roads. Colin glanced at him again. “What about Augustine? He sets the meeting but you know he can’t be trusted.”

Darius leaned back, eyes half-closed. “He values his family more than his loyalty.”

“And if Matteo brings backup?”

“He will,” Darius said calmly. “That’s fine.”

Colin hesitated. “You’re accelerating everything. You sure you’re thinking clearly?”

Darius opened his eyes, sharp and unwavering. “I am. That’s why we’re moving now.”

Colin exhaled. “This started as revenge. A careful plan.”

“It still is,” Darius said. “But now it’s protection too.”