Chapter 73 The Address
Before Julian could speak at all, Balto ended the call and smiled. Getting Julian worked up before he would find his way to where he was- was one of his goals for the day.
He ended Julian call when he called again, and instead, Balto texted him the address of where he was, and added,
‘If you are smart, come alone.’
Miles away, inside the car, Julian’s phone vibrated against his palm, just when he had started thinking of ways to divide the country into two to find Seraphina.
His eyes dropped to the screen instantly.
He opened the text and read its content.
Vincent leaned closer, reading it together with him in silence. His jaw tightened almost immediately.
“There is no way I’m allowing you to go there alone.” Vincent stated firmly, his voice carrying the weight of loyalty and protection.
Julian did not answer right away.
His gaze remained fixed on the address as he made logic calculations in his head despite himself. “I should have known Balto would eventually find out that I played him.” He said at last.
Vincent frowned. “You did what you had to. There was no way you could have taken Phoenix to him. Don’t start blaming yourself now.”
Julian’s grip on his phone tightened. “Maybe.”
A brief silence passed between them before Vincent spoke again, his tone colder now.
“At this point, we should find a way to kill Balto Keilani tonight.”
Julian’s lips curved faintly. “I have plans to.”
He finally turned his head and faced Vincent fully.
“You shouldn’t bother coming with me,” he added. “Balto is smart. He might try something funny.”
Vincent let out a short breath.
“I know you can handle yourself, Jul” he replied steadily. “But I’m not leaving you alone with someone as devious as Balto. He is unpredictable.”
Julian’s gaze sharpened, then he said calmly,
“His unpredictability is exactly why I don’t want you to follow me. This is my fight. I’ll handle it.”
Vincent did not back down. Instead, he leaned slightly forward. “What if Balto has the intention to harm you? You may think you can handle it all by yourself now, but what happens when you see her and he’s harmed her? Will you be able to focus on him?”
Julian’s expression hardened as his eyes narrowed at Vincent.
Vincent blinked once. “I know you like her beyond the contract thing. He would use her to get you. Let me help.”
Julian didn’t deny. “If anything happens to you, Vincs…” he said quietly, “I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
For a moment, Vincent simply stared at him.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face. “I was trained by the best,” he said. “You.”
Julian felt his heart tug at Vincent words.
“So I won’t risk my life foolishly. Trust me.”
Julian stared at him for a long second.
Then, finally, he exhaled, his eyes lighting up with hope. “I have a plan,”
~
Seraphina’s chest rose and fell unevenly as she glared at Balto.
“If you dare try anything funny with Julian,” her voice trembled but still came out daring, “I will rip your arms off.”
Balto slowly turned his head toward her. Then he grinned. A slow, amused grin.
“You are quite fierce,” he remarked. “I knew you got that trait from your father.”
His eyes lingered on her with a strange interest.
“I like that.”
Seraphina’s fingers curled against the ropes binding her wrists as she resisted the urge to struggle again.
Balto continued, almost conversationally, “I cannot wait to cut off that pride of yours in front of Julian.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Now that I know,” he added, “he has a personal soft spot… apart from the children he saves.”
Seraphina scoffed immediately.
“You are mistaken if you think Julian cares about me like that.” She said. “Our marriage was one of convenience.”
Balto raised a brow.
“I don’t know whatever you mean by that,” he replied lightly. “But I have seen how he looks at you.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’m talking about that day in my study when you sneaked in and were caught by my guards.”
Seraphina exalted roughly.
Balto’s expression shifted briefly, a different emotion reflecting in his gaze.
“Even though I am no longer the typical lover person,” he chuckled, “I have once been in that situation… where I had to save the woman I loved.”
His voice dropped slightly then.
“And I can recognize a man that loves a woman.”
Seraphina swallowed, then forced out, “Since you know so much about love… and you have a wife… why would you want to kill another person’s wife?”
Balto’s jaw clenched, then he dropped the words distastefully.
“My wife was killed.”
Seraphina stiffened slightly.
He hunched and leaned closer to her, making sure their faces leveled, then he completed his sentence, “By your father.”
Sera’s eyes widened.
“No,” she said immediately, shaking her head. “That’s not possible. My father was never a killer.”
Balto chuckled softly. “Oh, it is the reality. Children of powerful people like you are meant to be kept in the dark. I have a son and he doesn’t know I do what I do. Heck…he would bet his entire bank account to deny that I’ve ever killed before.” He laughed again, the tone sadistic.
Seraphina’s entire body shook as she reprocessed his words. “My…my father killed your wife?”
Balto nodded. “And I bet you don’t know who killed your father.”
Seraphina’s throat went dry.
Her mind raced instinctively toward the story she had always believed.
“My stepmother did.” she said. “She killed my father to take his wealth and blamed my mother for it.”
Balto burst into laughter— A deep, knowing laugh.
“In this world of ours,” he said slowly, “we sell lies easily… and they are easily bought because they have no choice.”
Seraphina’s patience snapped. “What do you even mean?”
Balto’s smirk deepened. “I won’t let the cat out of the bag that easily,” he replied. “It will be far more fun… letting the person who did it confess by themselves.”
Sera’s breathing grew uneven again as the weight of his words settled heavily in her chest.
Then he spoke again, “Before Julian arrives,” he said, straightening, “we need a small favor from you.”
Seraphina instinctively struggled against the ropes, her wrists twisting, her shoulders straining.
But it was useless.
The restraints did not budge.
Her breathing hitched slightly. “What are you talking about?” She asked through gritted teeth and tiredness.
Balto turned his head toward the corner of the room and spoke,
“Please, come in now.”
The sound of heels started echoing across the floor slowly with clean steps.
Seraphina’s heart pounded violently as the footsteps drew closer, wondering who it might me.
Then—A feminine figure appeared and she recognized her immediately.
Talia Moreau walked in with a graceful, almost theatrical catwalk, her expression calm and intrigued as her eyes locked onto Seraphina.
She tilted her head slightly and smiled.
“Fascinated to see me, stepsis?”
Seraphina gasped.
Her lips parted in shock.
“Talia.”