CHAPTER 68: War!

CHAPTER 68: War!
CHAPTER 68
LUCAS.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, my brows furrowed in confusion as I stared at him.

“The only reason you’re still alive, Lucas, is because the people after you want you to suffer first,” Diego said coldly.

I swallowed hard, looking at him. His words hit me like a punch in the gut.

I pulled away from him, my chest heaving as it rose and fell rapidly. My hands shook with restrained anger, blood dripping down from my knuckles.

I untied him from the stake and pushed him hard to the floor, glaring at him, all bruised and badly wounded.

“He must remain here in isolation. No food, no water, no contact—nothing—until I say otherwise,” I said, barking orders to the guards standing by the door.

“Any form of disobedience to this order will have serious consequences. Just so you don’t say you weren’t warned. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.

I stormed out of the room and collided with Riccardo in the hallway as he headed toward the basement to meet me.

“What’s the update? Anything from him yet?” he asked, staring at my bloodied hands.

“The bastard is a hard nut to crack,” I said, breathing heavily. “But I’ve got all the time in the world for him.”

“I want you to send some men to Collins’ residence. Have his grandmother brought here immediately.”

“Got it,” he said.

I started to walk off toward my room but suddenly changed my mind and headed for the study beside the living room.

Sitting in the dimly lit room, I closed my eyes briefly, replaying Sofia’s voice from the call I took earlier—her desperate pleas echoing loudly in my mind.

I stared down at the blood on my hands and groaned silently. The agony of her absence tortured me.

My mind drifted away from her and settled on my last meeting with Giovanni. His warning played again in my head.

I had one duty—making sure no harm ever came to Sofia. But I had carelessly let her go with no clue where she was or how to find her.

My jaw clenched tightly, and I folded my fist in anger, swearing to solve this riddle as fast as I could.

My phone buzzed on the table where I had left it. I picked it up and saw a notification—a video file.

I played it.

Sofia appeared on the screen, unharmed and untouched. Her face was unusually calm.

She changed through different clothes, looking at the camera, claiming she was fine and needed no help.

Her voice sounded steady, but I could see through her calm look. She was not fine.

Her eyes betrayed her fear. They darted offscreen constantly, meaning she was clearly being watched.

She was not speaking of her own free will.

It was obvious she was already at the place she was taken—probably in the hands of Unit 13 or someone worse.

A sudden wave of anger washed over me. I slammed the phone down on the table just as Riccardo entered the study, his eyes wide with alarm.

“What’s going on?” I asked, turning sharply to face him. “I just—”

“The men watching the hospital said they saw Dr. Cordero arrive with two armed men,” Riccardo said.

“One of the nurses said he was there to get some documents.”

“And then?” I asked impatiently.

“He was not detained,” Riccardo replied. “The men were not sure if detaining him would blow their cover. They had to be careful.”

I cut him off, getting up in anger.

“They let him go? After that bastard tried to kill my mother, they still let him go?” I yelled, glaring at Riccardo.

“What kind of careless mistake is that?”

“Calm down, Lucas,” Riccardo said, his voice low and calm. “They were being careful, if you ask me. What were you about to tell me?”

I said nothing, picking up the shattered phone from the table and replaying the video. I showed it to Riccardo.

“Have a look.”

Riccardo took the phone, bringing it closer to his eyes for a better view.

“This definitely looks staged.”

“Exactly!” I snapped. “Whoever has her must be stupid to think I’d fall for this clip.”

Riccardo gave a short, dry laugh.

“For real. What were they thinking? That we’d back down because of a silly video? They clearly do not know who they’re dealing with.”

“They truly don’t,” I said, pacing the study.

“It’s obvious she’s been handed over to whoever sent Collins and Diego on this mission.”

“Sofia is out there, unsafe, at high risk, and this is all my fault. I should’ve been more careful.”

“This is not the time to play blame games, Lucas,” Riccardo said, stopping me.

“I’ve been ringing that in your ears since this started.”

“We are going to find Sofia, by hook or by crook. Don’t waste time worrying.”

My voice darkened. I tightened my fist and clenched my jaw.

I walked back to the table, pulled open the drawer, and grabbed a pistol.

I took the car keys from the table and headed toward the door.

“Where to, chief?” Riccardo asked, his puzzled eyes following me.

“I’m headed to Il Palazzo di Ombra to meet with Codice Oscuro,” I said, turning back to face him.

“If war is what they want, I’m more than ready to give it to them.”