Chapter 122: 122

Chapter 122

In Prison

After a while, Nikolas came out again.

He stood still, staring at the wall like a soldier who just survived battle.

“Boss..” Dre called softly.

Nikolas turned, his eyes red.

“Keep men around this hospital.. I don’t care if you bring the whole army.. nobody gets near this door without my permission.”

“Yes boss.”

Nikolas adjusted his suit, but his movements were weak.

“Dre..”

“Yes boss?”

“Take me to the prison! I need to ask Bruno some questions…” Nikolas said, his tone hard, steady, like a storm he was holding back.

“Yes boss…” Dre said immediately, bowing his head a little.

“Simeon will drive..” Nikolas added, and with that, they set out.

The black convoy pulled out of the hospital.

Simeon sat behind the wheel, his face sharp, his eyes scanning every mirror. Dre sat beside him in front, his hand resting near his holster.

Nikolas was at the back, leaning with one elbow on the window, his eyes fixed outside.

He didn’t speak, not a single word, but his silence carried fire.

The road to the prison was long.

Dre kept glancing back, watching his boss. Nikolas’ face was calm, too calm, the kind of calm that could break into rage at any second.

“Boss..” Dre muttered softly, breaking the silence.

Nikolas didn’t look at him. “What.”

“Are you sure you want to see him tonight? You haven’t slept, you haven’t eaten…”

Nikolas turned his face slowly, his grey eyes cold. “Do you think I can sleep? When my wife is in the hospital.. and the man who almost killed her is breathing free air in prison? Do you think I can close my eyes?”

Dre lowered his head. “Sorry boss.. I understand.”

Simeon gripped the wheel tighter. “We’re almost there..”

The convoy slowed as the prison came into view.

Guards at the gate straightened at once when they saw the cars. They knew that convoy.

They knew the man inside.

The gates swung open quickly. The cars rolled in. As soon as Nikolas stepped out, the guards snapped to attention.

“Mr. DeSantos, sir..” one of them greeted, bowing slightly.

Nikolas didn’t reply.

He just walked forward, his long black coat brushing the ground. Dre and Simeon flanked him.

Every prisoner in the courtyard froze, eyes widening as they saw him pass.

The whispers started  “That’s him.. Nikolas DeSantos..”  but none dared speak louder.

Inside, the warden himself rushed forward, sweat glistening on his forehead. “Mr. DeSantos.. we weren’t expecting…”

“I don’t need expectations..” Nikolas cut him short. His voice was low, but sharp. “Bring him out.”

The warden swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes sir.. right away.”

Minutes later, two guards dragged Bruno in. His hands were cuffed, his face bruised from when he was caught, but his eyes.. his eyes still carried fire. He saw Nikolas and smirked.

“So.. the great Nikolas finally comes to see me..” Bruno spat.

Nikolas didn’t blink. He stepped closer, his shoes echoing on the concrete floor.

“Talk.”

Bruno chuckled, shaking his head. “Talk? What should I talk about? That you failed? That Cassandra almost died because of you?”

Nikolas’ jaw tightened. “Cassandra will hate you for what you did!”

Bruno laughed. “That’s where you’re wrong.. she was mine the moment I picked her up.. the moment her mother died in that fire.. she looked at me and called me father.. and you think a man forgets that? You think a child forgets that?”

Nikolas clenched his fists, his knuckles white. His men glanced at him, ready for his order, but he held himself.

“She'll never love you Nikolas!” Bruno said with a chuckle.

“That’s a lie… she’s carrying my child!” Nikolas thundered. His voice shook the room.

Bruno froze for a second, then smirked slowly. “I know.. I told you that, didn’t I? But let me ask you something.. did she even tell you herself? Or did you hear it from others?”

Nikolas went silent. His chest rose high, his throat dry. He remembered. The doctor had told him. Katy had almost slipped. Cassandra herself hadn’t told him yet.

His silence betrayed him.

Bruno leaned forward with a wicked grin. “See? She didn’t.. because deep down, she doesn’t trust you.. you were never there when she needed you…When she cried, I wiped her tears. When she bled, I carried her. And you.. you only came later.. you only came because fate threw her in your arms.”

“Shut your mouth..” Nikolas hissed. His voice dropped.

Bruno smirked. “You can kill me now if you want.. but the truth will not change. Cassandra’s love for me will always burn in her heart. You.. you’re just a man with money, power, guns.. but me? I was her father when no one else wanted her.”

Nikolas’ face twitched. He took one step forward, close enough to feel Bruno’s breath.

His eyes burned. For a second, Dre thought he was going to choke him right there. But Nikolas pulled back, fists trembling.

“I’ll let Cassandra decide what to do with you when she finally awakes! You dare try to hurt a DeSanto!!!” Nikolas fumed, his voice echoing across the prison walls, but he held himself. He turned away, refusing to give Bruno the satisfaction of more words.

Bruno chuckled behind him. “Good luck!”

Nikolas stopped at the door. He turned his head slightly and kept moving.

Nikolas entered the car as they drove off, the prison walls fading behind them. His face was hard, his jaw locked. Dre glanced at him through the rear mirror but didn’t dare speak.

Suddenly his phone rang.

He looked at the screen. Amelia. His eyes narrowed. He pressed answer.

“You suspended my travel permit?!!” Amelia’s voice came sharp, full of anger.

“I did. What will you do about it??!!” Nikolas said, his voice colder than ice.

“Please Nik... You don’t have to punish me for long!! I only did a tiny mistake!!” Amelia said quickly, her tone shifting from anger to begging.

Nikolas scoffed. “Yes, a tiny mistake, by risking my wife’s life?!! You call that tiny?!!” His voice rose, Dre and Simeon both stiffened in their seats.

“I didn’t mean for it to go that far!!” Amelia cried. “I was just jealous!! Cassandra came and took the place that should be mine, I…”

“Shut your mouth Amelia!!” Nikolas cut in, his voice thundered so hard it echoed in the car. “Don’t you dare mention her name with your dirty jealousy!! Cassandra is my wife, you thought risking her life would make me love you?!! You disgust me!!”

There was silence from Amelia’s end for a moment, only her soft breathing. Then she spoke, voice trembling. “Nik... please. I’ve loved you since we were kids. Everything I did, I did for love..”

Nikolas laughed but it wasn’t humor, it was venom. “Love? You don’t know what love is. Love is sacrifice, protection, patience.. love is giving your life to save the one you care about. What you feel is obsession!!”

“Don’t say that Nik.. please.. don’t throw me away like this..” Amelia whispered.

Nikolas gritted his teeth, his voice dropping lower. “You threw yourself away the moment you touched what is mine. Cassandra is my everything. You could’ve taken anything else from me but not her. Never her.”

Amelia’s voice broke, “I’m sorry!! Please Nik, forgive me.. I’ll leave her alone, I swear, I won’t do anything again.. just.. don’t cut me off like this.. don’t block me out of your life.. please..”

Nikolas’ eyes hardened. He didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. “I’m blocking you right away!!” He said coldly and ended the call without waiting for another word.

He stared at his phone for a second before throwing it on the seat beside him. His chest was heavy with rage.

Dre cleared his throat carefully. “Boss.. should I cancel all her other permits? Bank cards too, the ones you haven't blocked?”

Nikolas turned his gaze to him, those grey eyes burning. “Everything. She doesn’t deserve to breathe near the DeSantos name again. She’s dead to me.”

“Yes boss..” Dre nodded quickly, pulling out his own phone to send messages.

Simeon finally spoke, his voice steady but curious. “Boss.. don't you think the Falcons might react…”

Nikolas leaned back, his eyes dark. “Let them. They're nothing. If anyone thinks they can challenge me over this, they’ll end up like Bruno.”

The car went silent again.

But Nikolas’ thoughts weren’t silent.

They raced inside him like fire. He thought of Cassandra, her face pale in the hospital bed, her hand weak, her breathing faint.

The image stabbed him. He clenched his fist.

“I almost lost her..” he whispered to himself.

Dre heard him. “But you didn’t boss.. she’s strong.. Cassandra will wake up soon.”

Nikolas shook his head slowly. “She’s strong yes.. but she shouldn’t have to fight alone. I should’ve protected her better.”

Dre leaned forward a little. “Boss, you did everything you could. You went through fire for her. You even spared Bruno for her sake. Cassandra will see all this when she wakes.”

Nikolas didn’t answer.

He just stared out the window.