Chapter 143: Chapter One Hundred And Forty Three

Silence stretched between us. The weight of Diego's words pressed against my ribs, heavy and suffocating. My hand didn't waver, but inside, something twisted.

He was right.

Sofia was the only thing that mattered.

The empire? It was never really mine to begin with.

I let out a slow breath. "Fine."

Diego's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Now we're talking."

He leaned back, tapping his fingers against his knee. "But let's make it official, shall we?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

He reached into his jacket-slowly, so I wouldn't shoot him out of instinct-and pulled out a neatly folded document. A contract.

"You think I came unprepared?" He chuckled. "Come on, Theo. You know me better than that."

I snatched the contract from his hands and skimmed it. It was airtight-legally binding, official. A complete transfer of power.

I hesitated for only a second.

At the back of my mind, I knew exactly what I was doing. This wasn't surrender. This wasn't me handing over everything without a plan.

This was strategy.

Because Diego might think he won, but he had no idea who he was dealing with.

I grabbed the pen he held out and, without another word, signed my name.

Diego exhaled in amusement. "Damn. That was easier than I thought." He tucked the contract away with a satisfied smirk. "Alright, then. Since you've been such a good sport, I'll tell you what you want to know."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. "Thomas has her. He's keeping her at one of the safe houses near the docks."

I clenched my fists. "Where exactly?"

Diego grinned. "Ah, see, that's the fun part. He's not alone."

My pulse pounded. "Who else is involved?"

Diego's smirk turned sharp, amused. "An old friend of yours."

Something in my gut twisted.

And then he said it.

"Elianna."

My breath left me in a slow, controlled exhale. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

Diego laughed. "Oh no, I'm dead serious. Your crazy ex is in on it. And she's got her own plans."

I ran a hand down my face, inhaling sharply. "How many villains are in this damn story?"

Diego shrugged. "That's the fun part. You never really know, do you?"

But I wasn't even listening anymore.

Because now I knew exactly who Elianna had been talking to that night.

Now I know who the hell 'Tom' was.

It wasn't some nobody.

It was my goddamn brother.

The pieces clicked into place, sharp and jagged, cutting through every ounce of control I had left.

Thomas.

Elianna.

The two people I never thought would be in the same room, let alone plotting together.

I let out a slow breath, forcing my pulse to steady. "Where's the safe house?"

Diego stretched, like he had all the time in the world. "Now, now, Theo. You didn't think I'd just hand over all the answers, did you?"

I didn't hesitate. I pressed the gun to his temple again. "Diego."

He sighed, unfazed as ever. "Relax. I'm not sending you in blind." He pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, then turned the screen toward me. A location. "That's where they've got her. Warehouse 17. But I'd be careful if I were you. Walking in there without a plan?" He tsked. "Not your smartest move."

I snatched the phone, scanning the address. The docks. A secluded spot, just far enough off the radar that no one would hear the gunfire when things went south. Because they would go south.

Elianna didn't just hold grudges-she lived for them. And Thomas? I didn't know a damn thing about him, but if he was anything like Diego, he'd be playing chess while I was trying to punch my way through the board.

Diego watched me closely, that ever-present smirk still on his lips. "So, what's the plan, Theo? Run in guns blazing? Beg for mercy? Or maybe-" His smirk widened. "-finally admit that you never had control to begin with?"

I clenched my jaw. "You should've asked for something more than the empire, Diego."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Because when this is over?" I tucked my gun away, stepping back. "I'm coming for it. And you."

Diego chuckled, low and amused. "Now that's the Theo I know."

I didn't wait for another word.

I turned on my heel and walked out, my mind already calculating, planning, adjusting.

Because this wasn't just about Sofia anymore.

This was about every single person who thought they could play me.

Thomas.

Elianna.

Diego.

They thought I was just some pawn in their game.

They forgot one thing.

Pawns become kings when they make it to the other side of the board.

And I wasn't done playing yet.