Chapter 99

The cold wind whipped through the trees as Dominic approached the dilapidated mansion that had once been the crown jewel of Alex's empire. Now, it was a shadow of its former self, a crumbling ruin that mirrored the man hiding inside it. Dominic’s heart pounded steadily in his chest, but his mind was sharp, his focus laser-like. This was it—the endgame. He had Alex cornered, and tonight, it would finally be over.

His men had taken control of the grounds, clearing out the last remnants of Alex’s cartel. The firefights had been fierce, but Dominic’s forces were well-prepared, surgically dismantling Alex’s defenses. Now, there was only one task left: to deal with Alex himself.

Lucas jogged up beside him, his face streaked with dirt and blood. “The estate’s secured. Alex is inside—he’s barricaded himself in the study.”

Dominic nodded, barely acknowledging the report. His eyes were fixed on the mansion ahead, his grip tightening on the gun in his hand. He had dreamed of this moment for months, ever since Alex had first crossed him, ever since he had threatened Ava. Now, there was nothing left standing between him and his enemy.

Lucas hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “You want me to go in with you, boss?”

Dominic shook his head, his voice cold and firm. “No. This is between me and Alex.”

Lucas nodded silently, stepping back as Dominic moved toward the entrance of the mansion. The old wooden doors creaked as he pushed them open, the sound echoing through the vast, empty halls. The air inside was thick with dust and decay, the once-opulent decor now faded and worn. Dominic’s footsteps echoed as he made his way deeper into the mansion, toward the study where Alex was waiting.

As he reached the door to the study, Dominic paused for a moment, his hand resting on the handle. This was it. The final confrontation that had been building for months. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come, and then pushed the door open.

Inside, Alex stood alone, pacing like a caged animal. His eyes were wild, his hair disheveled, and his clothes stained with sweat and blood. He looked nothing like the powerful cartel leader he had once been. The empire he had built was in ruins, and he knew it.

When Alex saw Dominic enter, he stopped pacing, a bitter smile curling on his lips. “So, you finally made it. I was wondering how long it would take.”

Dominic stepped into the room, his gun still raised, his eyes locked on Alex. “It’s over, Alex. You’ve got nowhere left to run.”

Alex let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. “Over? You think this is over? You’ve ruined everything, Dominic. You took everything from me.”

Dominic’s expression remained cold, unmoved by Alex’s outburst. “You did that yourself the moment you decided to come after me and my family.”

“Your family,” Alex spat, his eyes narrowing with fury. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it? You built your empire on the same blood and violence as I did, but now you want to play house with that woman and pretend you’re different. But you’re not, Dominic. You’re just like me.”

Dominic’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond. He wasn’t here to argue—he was here to end this.

Alex continued, his voice growing more desperate as he ranted. “I had everything! And you... you took it all away from me. You turned my men against me, dismantled my business, and for what? So you can walk away from this life? You’re fooling yourself.”

Dominic took a step closer, his gun still trained on Alex. “You did this to yourself. You came after my family. You tried to take Ava, and now you’re paying the price.”

Alex’s eyes gleamed with hatred as he stepped forward, meeting Dominic’s gaze head-on. “This was never about Ava. This was about you, Dominic. You were always the one in my way. From the moment you rose to power, I knew I’d have to take you down. You were always the threat, the one everyone feared, and I hated you for it.”

Dominic remained silent, his eyes narrowing as Alex’s rant became more unhinged. The truth was spilling out now—Alex’s hatred for him went far deeper than mere business. This was personal. It always had been.

“You ruined me!” Alex shouted, his voice cracking with rage. “Everything I built, everything I fought for—you destroyed it. And for what? So you could live happily ever after with her? You think you’re going to get away from all of this? You’re a killer, Dominic. Just like me. There’s no escaping that.”

Dominic’s patience finally snapped. He took another step forward, his voice low and filled with ice. “The difference between you and me, Alex, is that I don’t need this. You do. You built your life on power and greed, and now, you’ve got nothing.”

Alex sneered, his hands twitching toward the gun holstered at his side. “Nothing? I still have one thing left.”

In a blur of motion, Alex drew his gun and fired.

Dominic was faster.

He pulled the trigger, the shot echoing through the room as Alex staggered backward, a red stain blossoming across his chest. He gasped for breath, his eyes wide with shock as he looked down at the wound. His fingers trembled as he tried to reach for his gun again, but his strength was failing.

Dominic watched as Alex crumpled to the ground, his body collapsing in a heap near the desk. He walked over, standing above him, his expression cold and unfeeling.

Alex coughed, blood dribbling from his mouth as he looked up at Dominic, his eyes filled with rage and bitterness. “You... you won’t escape this. You’ll... always be... just like me.”

Dominic stared down at him for a long moment, his heart pounding in his chest. But he didn’t feel any satisfaction, no sense of triumph. Just a heavy, oppressive silence.

“I’m nothing like you,” Dominic said quietly, his voice steady. “And that’s why you lost.”

Alex’s breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes fluttering as the life drained from him. His lips moved, but no sound came out. A final twitch of his body, and then he was still.

It was over.

Dominic stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring down at the man who had been the source of so much pain and chaos. The war that had plagued them for months, the constant battles, the threats, the fear—it was finally finished. Alex was dead, and with him, the cartel that had terrorized their lives.

He holstered his gun and turned away from the body, walking toward the open doors of the study. His men were waiting outside, their faces grim but relieved. The tension that had gripped them for so long was finally easing.

Lucas stepped forward, his voice quiet. “It’s done?”

Dominic nodded. “It’s done.”

Lucas let out a long breath, glancing back toward the estate. “The rest of Alex’s men are either dead or scattered. The cartel’s finished.”

Dominic said nothing, his mind already moving ahead. There would be no more enemies lurking in the shadows, no more threats to his family. With Alex dead, and the cartel dismantled, his empire was free of internal threats.

But the weight of everything that had happened still sat heavily on his shoulders. He had won, but at what cost?

As Dominic walked out into the night, the cool air filling his lungs, his thoughts turned to Ava. She was waiting for him, and for the first time, he could finally keep the promise he had made to her. The war was over. The threat was gone.

Now, they could build their life together without fear.