126 - Benjamin Scott

126 - Benjamin Scott
Benjamin Scott

I left one last kiss on Camilla's forehead as she slept peacefully. She was stronger than I had ever imagined, but I knew there was still much to be done to ensure that she, and now the little ones, were truly safe.

Miley and Andreia stood beside her, the former with her ever-protective gaze, as if she could face the entire world to keep Camilla safe. Andreia, quieter, held his daughter's hand with the intensity of someone who didn't want to let go for even a second.

"Take care of her, Andreia. I won't be long," my voice was firm but low. I didn’t want to wake her.

"Go and do what needs to be done, Benjamin," he replied without breaking his gaze, as if he understood the weight I carried.

I nodded and left the room, leaving behind the comfort of Camilla’s presence and my little ones. Every step I took led me to a darker place, not just the basement, but within myself. I knew what I was about to do, and there was no room for hesitation.

When I reached the basement, Sebastian and Jackson were waiting for me, their expressions a mix of respect and tension. They knew this wasn’t just another interrogation. They knew Oleg would pay dearly for what he had done.

"He’s inside. Hasn’t said much, but he’s been softened up," Sebastian said, handing me a pair of leather gloves. "What do you want us to do?"

"Leave him to me. Stay outside," my tone brooked no argument.

"Alright," Jackson replied, opening the door for me.

I stepped into the small room and saw Oleg tied to a chair in the center. His wrists were bound tightly, and dried blood crusted the corners of his mouth. His eyes met mine the moment I entered, filled with a mix of rage and fear.

"Benjamin Scott," he spat on the floor, his tone dripping with disdain. "Here to finish the job your cousin started?"

"You shot the woman I love. The mother of my children," my voice was low but carried a cold fury. "And you’re going to tell me why."

I approached him, picking up brass knuckles from a nearby table. The room was stifling, the smell of metal and sweat almost suffocating.

"Why do you think I’d tell you anything? You’ll kill me anyway," he sneered.

"Of course, I’ll kill you," I replied, my tone icy. "But I’m giving you the chance to say what needs to be said because I guarantee the devil won’t care to hear your story."

He knew I would torture him and that he wouldn’t leave this room alive. It was in his best interest to speak now. Calmly, I put on the gloves, thinking of the terror this miserable man had caused me, then slipped the brass knuckles onto my hand.

"Maximilian came to me, thinking I’d help weaken your position," Oleg began, a faint tremor in his voice despite his defiance. "He thought I’d help him take your family and your business. But your wife, she killed him. She destroyed the only plan I had to escape all of this."

"All of this?" My hand tightened around the brass knuckles. "Explain."

Oleg hesitated, aware that any wrong word could seal his fate further.

"Maximilian was interested in the flesh trade, just like Denaro. That’s why he offered me that girl as… as merchandise," he said with a twisted laugh.

My hand froze mid-air, ready to strike. For a moment, hatred gave way to something more complex, something I didn’t want to admit.

"You shot Camilla because she interfered with your plans?" I asked, my voice dripping with disgust.

"She was supposed to be a sample for all my clients…" Oleg screamed, his voice finally breaking.

I looked at the man who knew his fate, seeing fear etched in his face as I thought about everything he was saying. For a moment, silence blanketed the room. The anger in my chest still burned, but now there was something else, a bitter understanding of what it meant to be a pawn in a larger game.

"Maximilian is dead," I said, my voice slicing through the air. "And you… you nearly destroyed my family for ambition."

I stepped closer, my face inches from his.

“You are going to tell me everything, every detail about Maximilian’s business, every name, every contact. And if I find out something doesn’t add up…”

I left the threat hanging in the air, knowing he understood. Oleg swallowed hard and nodded.

“Everything. I’ll tell you everything.”

I stepped back, letting Sebastian and Jackson handle taking Oleg to another location where he could start talking. I wanted to kill him, but I knew I needed to thoroughly verify the information he had. I believed there might be more managers just waiting for an opportunity to take my place.

As I left the basement, I felt the weight of everything still to come. Maximilian might be dead, but the consequences of his actions still loomed over us. I couldn’t allow other managers to think there was any gap in our defenses that would enable the trafficking of women, children, and organs.

I would not accept that.

Before heading back to the hospital, I decided to close another chapter and thank someone whose help I hadn’t anticipated. Gianni had been waiting for almost a week to find out how he could approach his relatives without alarming them.

With Victor by my side, I entered the hotel owned by my family and headed to the bar where he was waiting for me. I smiled as I saw the man, a great wolf, sitting there, watching the woman singing as the evening’s main attraction in the hotel bar.

Gianni’s presence was almost theatrical. He sat at the most discreet table in the bar, but his presence dominated the room as if he owned it. Tall, with slightly disheveled red hair and a carefully trimmed beard, he was a born predator. His eyes, fixed on the singer, held something between fascination and analysis.

I approached, and he seemed to sense my presence before I spoke. Gianni turned to me with a faint smile, though there was something calculated in his expression. He stood and extended his hand to greet me.

“Benjamin. Finally.” His voice was deep and firm. “I hope I’m not taking too much of your time.”

“You’ve waited almost a week, Gianni. That’s not something that goes unnoticed.” I shook his hand and took the seat across from him.

Victor remained standing a short-distance away, his gaze as vigilant as always.

“Patience is a virtue, my friend,” Gianni said with a shrug and a sly smile, though his eyes carried no humor. “Besides, I’m not a man who gives up when I have a goal.”

I ordered a whiskey and waited for him to continue. Gianni never did anything without a purpose.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” he began, signaling the waiter to bring him a glass of wine. “First, I want to express my gratitude to your family for attempting to help me. After all, there’s a certain tension surrounding my return.”

“Tension is an understatement,” I replied, crossing my arms and looking directly at him. “To everyone, you’re dead, if you are who I think you are.”

He took a long sip of his wine before responding, as if carefully choosing his words. I watched him for a few seconds, trying to decipher his intentions. Gianni was a strategist, I was sure of that.

“Rebuilding ties won’t be easy,” I said firmly, “especially with those who were harmed by the Bishops. But if you want my help with this, we’ll need to align our expectations.”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” he said, leaning forward, his tone sincere. “I want my family to see me as someone trustworthy again, Benjamin. I’m here to listen to how that can be achieved.”

“Someone will contact you. Once I have news, I’ll let you know.”

I took a sip of my whiskey, mulling things over. He seemed genuine, but words wouldn’t be enough.

I stood, signaling that the conversation was over. Victor followed me as we headed for the exit. Before leaving the bar, I glanced back at Gianni. He was watching the singer again, but there was something lighter in his posture now, as if part of a burden had been lifted.

As we got back into the car, Victor raised an eyebrow at me.

“Do you trust him?”

I sighed, adjusting my tie.

“No. But I trust his fear of failure. And that’s enough for now.”

Now, reflecting on that conversation with Madame Suisse at the beginning of my story with Camilla, the possibility of having the lupines on our side could greatly simplify some things.

Not that we’d make them our guard dogs, but they could help us, just as we could help end their war against Sanctus Justitia. With Gianni, Ruby, and Ralf at the table, the board was shifting. But I knew this was only the beginning. Everything now depended on how each piece would be played.

As we returned to the hospital, one thing was certain: I would do whatever it took to ensure Camilla’s safety, protect the children, and safeguard the empire we had built together.