Chapter One Hundred And Forty Five

Theo's POV

I drove like a man possessed.

The city blurred past me in streaks of neon and shadow, but all I saw was that address-Warehouse 17, the docks.

Diego's words echoed in my head. He's not alone.

Elianna.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white. I should have known she'd crawl her way back into my life, sinking her claws into something-someone-that mattered.

Sofia.

I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my thoughts in check. No use letting rage blind me. I needed a plan, not reckless anger.

The docks came into view, the scent of salt and oil thick in the air. The streets were eerily quiet-too quiet.

I parked a few blocks away, stepping out and adjusting my gun holster. No backup. No second chances. This was me against whatever waited inside.

As I approached the warehouse, I moved through the shadows, careful, calculating. The metal structure loomed ahead, dim light spilling through gaps in the walls.

I circled the side, spotting a guard near the entrance-armed, but not expecting company.

Big mistake.

I crept closer, silent. The moment he turned, I struck-one sharp blow to the back of his head. He crumpled without a sound.

Slipping inside, I kept to the darkness.

The warehouse was mostly empty, save for a few crates and scattered debris. But then I saw it-a single door, slightly ajar, light spilling from inside.

And voices.

I edged closer, heart hammering.

"…he'll come for me," Sofia's voice, steady despite everything.

A soft, mocking laugh followed. Elianna.

"Oh, I know he will," she purred. "And when he does? I'll be waiting."

My jaw clenched.

Not if I find you first.

I moved, fast and silent, pressing against the doorframe. My fingers curled around the handle.

Then, without hesitation, I kicked the door open.

A startled gasp. A scrape of a chair.

Sofia.

Her wide eyes locked onto mine. Relief, shock, something else flickered there. But before she could speak-

Elianna turned, her smirk already in place.

"Well," she drawled, crossing her arms. "That was fast."

I raised my gun, aiming straight at her.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, Elianna." My voice was calm. Deadly. "Step away from her."

She didn't move. Didn't flinch. If anything, she looked amused.

"You always were so dramatic, Theo." She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "But tell me… what happens when you pull that trigger?"

A click.

I froze.

From the corner of my eye, another figure emerged from the shadows. A gun pressed to Sofia's temple.

My breath turned to ice.

And then I heard the voice that made my blood run cold.

"Lower your weapon, brother."

Thomas.

Son of a bitch.

A slow, mocking clap echoed through the room.

"I'll give you credit, Theo," Thomas said, his voice smooth, calculated. "Most men would've given up by now. But you?" He let out a dry chuckle. "You just don't know when to quit."

I didn't lower my gun. My pulse was a slow, measured drum in my ears. I kept my focus on him, on the gun he had pressed to Sofia's temple.

He shook his head. "You really came alone, huh?" His gaze flickered to Elianna. "And here I was, thinking Diego would've warned you."

Sofia stiffened at the mention of Diego, and Thomas caught it instantly. His smirk sharpened.

"Ah." He exhaled in amusement. "I see. So he sent you in blind." He clicked his tongue. "That little rat always did have a habit of playing both sides."

My finger twitched against the trigger.

"Don't look so surprised, brother." Thomas arched a brow. "You didn't actually think Diego was on your side, did you?"

I didn't answer.

Because the truth was-I had known.

Diego was never loyal to anyone but himself. That smirk, that glint in his eye when he handed me the address… I should have known he was setting me up.

Thomas chuckled. "Oh, I bet you're seething right now." His grip on Sofia didn't waver. "But honestly? I knew this would happen. Diego always folds under pressure. I just had to give him the right incentive."

I clenched my jaw. "What did you do?"

Thomas grinned. "Nothing permanent. Just… reminded him who he's dealing with."

I didn't need him to elaborate.

Diego was a survivor, but even survivors had limits.

Thomas sighed, shaking his head. "Honestly, Theo, I expected more from you. Rushing in here like some hero? So predictable."

I said nothing, my mind racing.

Sofia's breathing was steady, but I could see the way her fingers curled against the chair's armrest. She was waiting. Watching.

I needed to act before Thomas decided to prove a point.

Elianna leaned against the table, arms crossed, watching the exchange like it was some kind of entertainment.

"So, what now?" I asked, voice even. "You kill her? That your grand plan?"

Thomas hummed, tilting his head. "Now, that would be a waste." His fingers brushed against Sofia's jaw, and my grip on the gun tightened.

Her eyes didn't waver.

She wasn't afraid.

Pissed, maybe. But not afraid.

Thomas smirked. "I think you misunderstand, Theo. This isn't just about her. It's about you. About us." He gestured vaguely. "You always had that whole 'white knight' act going, but deep down? You're just like me. You know it."

My lips curled in disgust. "You and I are nothing alike."

He sighed. "And yet, here you are. Gun in hand, ready to kill for something that's yours." His eyes glinted. "How very ruthless of you."

I let out a slow, measured breath, keeping my gun steady.

"You think I'm like you?" My voice was quiet, lethal. "Thomas, you don't know the first thing about me."

His smirk deepened. "Don't I?"

I tilted my head, my finger tightening just slightly on the trigger. "No. Because if you did, you'd know I'm a hell of a lot worse."

Something flickered across his face-something fast, something sharp-but he masked it quickly, his usual arrogance slipping back into place.

"Is that so?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "God, you last-borns never know when to shut the hell up."

Elianna hummed in agreement, amused. "He's got a point, you know. You always did have a habit of running that mouth, Theo."

I ignored her. My focus was locked on Thomas.

His gun was still pressed against Sofia's temple, but his grip was too relaxed. Too cocky.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my aim steady.

"Enough with the games," I said, my voice even. "What do you want?"

Elianna let out a soft laugh, stepping forward, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. "Oh, Theo. Haven't you figured it out yet?" She tilted her head, her gaze burning into mine. "I want you."

I barked out a short, humorless laugh. "Me?" I glanced at Thomas, then back at her. "You do realize he looks exactly like me. Why not just take him?"

Thomas scoffed. "Excuse me?"

Elianna smirked, folding her arms as she studied me like I was something to be devoured. "You really think it's just about looks?" She took another step closer. "Thomas may have your face, but he doesn't have you."

My grip on the gun tightened. "And what exactly does that mean?"

"It means," she purred, trailing a finger along the edge of the table beside her, "that he's reckless, impulsive, always looking to prove something. You? You're colder. Calculated. And when you want something, you don't hesitate to take it."

I arched a brow. "So, what? You want me to be some kind of prize?"

Elianna grinned. "I want you to be mine."

Sofia let out a sharp breath, stiffening slightly in her chair.

I didn't dare take my eyes off Elianna. "Yeah, well, there's just one problem with that."

She raised a brow, intrigued. "Oh? And what's that?"

I smiled, slow and dangerous.

"You don't own me."

Her smirk faltered just slightly, and in that split second, I saw something flicker in her eyes-something close to frustration.

Thomas, still holding Sofia hostage, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Are we really doing this?" He looked at Elianna. "You could've just sent him a love letter like a normal person."

Elianna shot him a glare. "Shut up, Thomas."

Thomas sighed, shaking his head like I was some unruly child refusing to listen.

"You always make things so difficult, Theo," he muttered. Then he tightened his grip on Sofia, tilting her head slightly with the barrel of his gun. "Fine. You want to know what I want? It's simple."

His eyes gleamed with cold amusement.

"I want her. And I want the Rodriguez empire."

A slow, mocking smile stretched across his lips, like he already knew he'd won.

I let out a low breath, my gun never wavering. "Well, that's going to be a problem."

He arched a brow. "Oh?"

I smirked, tilting my head slightly. "The Rodriguez empire? I already handed it over to Diego."

That got a reaction.

For just a fraction of a second, something dark flickered across his face-annoyance, maybe even rage-but it was gone as fast as it came.

"Diego?" He scoffed, lips curling. "You actually trusted that snake with an empire?"

"No," I admitted. "But I'd rather him have it than you."

Thomas chuckled, shaking his head. "That's cute, brother. Really. But let's not pretend Diego won't crumble the second real power steps in. And when he does? That empire will be mine anyway."

I didn't argue. He wasn't entirely wrong.

But then he made his real mistake.

He looked at Sofia, dragging the barrel of his gun down her jaw with a slow, deliberate motion.

"But her?" His voice dropped lower, like he was savoring the moment. "She's mine."

Something inside me went cold.

I had expected him to play his games, to throw out threats just to get a rise out of me-but this?

No.

This was different.

I exhaled slowly, letting the silence stretch between us. Then, just as Thomas's smirk deepened-just as he thought he had me cornered-

I smiled.

Not amused.

Not cocky.

Something worse.

"You can have a lot of things, Thomas," I murmured, my voice steady, lethal. "But Sofia? You can't have her."

Elianna moved fast.

A glint of silver. The click of a safety being released.

I barely turned before I felt the cold press of her gun against my side.

"Don't," she murmured, voice velvet smooth.

I glanced at her, unbothered. "You won't pull that trigger."

She smiled. "Won't I?"

I saw the glint in her eyes-the hunger, the thrill of control. She wanted me to believe she held all the cards. That she was the one running this show.

She trailed the barrel of her gun up my ribs, slow, deliberate. "You think you know me so well, Theo." Her voice dipped lower, teasing. "But tell me… are you willing to bet Sofia's life on it?"

My jaw clenched.

She took that as an answer.

"I won't kill you," she admitted, leaning in slightly. "But her?" She tilted her head toward Sofia, who sat tense beneath Thomas's grip. "I can kill her."

Before I could move-before I could even breathe-she pulled the trigger.

A sharp crack split the air.

Sofia gasped, her body jerking as crimson bloomed against her stomach.

I saw red.

"Son of a-"

Thomas reacted before I did.

His arm jerked away from Sofia, his expression twisting in something sharp, dark-rage.

A second shot.

This time, the bullet tore through Elianna's skull.

She barely had time to register it before she crumpled, her body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Thomas exhaled, lowering his gun slightly, his jaw tight.

But I wasn't looking at him anymore.

Sofia swayed, her fingers pressing against the wound in her stomach, red seeping through her shirt, her breathing shallow.

Her eyes met mine.

Then she collapsed.