What did you do

What did you do
Draco’s hand tightened around his phone as he stood at the crowded airport, his eyes scanning the runway. Dante’s voice was calm on the other end, but Draco could feel his own heart hammering against his ribs. He could not guess exactly for what reason his heart was hammering. But it was.

“I’ll be there soon,” Dante said.

Draco nodded quickly, though Dante couldn’t see it. His throat felt dry. “Yes, boss. I’ll be waiting right here.”

The words came out rougher than he meant them to. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from foot to foot, he stood there, still, watching as the planes moved down the runway. 

Minutes dragged by like hours. Draco’s patience was being stretched thin. He started to think that maybe Dante had been lying about the…..

Boom!

A deafening explosion ripped through the air. The sound was loud and sharp, resulting in the screams and crying of many in the airport. 

A massive ball of fire swallowed one of the planes on the runway. The ground trembled beneath Draco’s feet, it felt like a mini earthquake. 

His heart dropped straight into his stomach. His throat closed up completely. For a split second, he couldn’t breathe at all.

“B–Boss! Boss!” Draco screamed into the phone, his voice cracking as pure terror rushed through his veins. His entire body trembled uncontrollably. 

Cold sweat broke out along his brow and down his spine. His legs felt like they might give out completely. The phone shook in his grip. “No—no, no—tell me you weren’t in that plane!”

The words tore from his throat almost in a cry. His vision blurred at the edges. His eyes turned glossy. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not like this.

For a heartbeat that felt like an eternity, only silence answered him. Then—

A low laugh came through the receiver. The racing heartbeat from Draco gradually came to a halt. That laugh was something he could recognize anywhere. 

Draco nearly collapsed with relief. The tension that had seized every muscle in his body released all at once, leaving him feeling weak and shaky.

“Relax,” Dante’s voice came through, almost amused. “Do you really think I’d be caught that easily?”

Draco pressed his free hand to his chest, feeling his pulse racing beneath his palm. “Boss… I thought—I thought—”

“You thought wrong,” Dante cut him off sharply. “I knew the Mandalas would try something. They’re predictable. Calm yourself. I’ll be arriving in a few minutes.”

Draco swallowed hard, forcing his hands to stop shaking through sheer willpower. His breathing slowly returned to normal. “Yes… yes, boss.”

“Good. Meet me at the bar.”

When the call ended, Draco dragged in a shaky breath. He returned to the bar, where he waited for Dante. He believed the reason Dante wanted to come himself was because perhaps Draco was being watched. 

It was necessary to keep things at a low-key. 

Moments later, Dante walked in. Calm. Followed by the guards thst stayed with him at the island he kept Carlos and Eliza in. 

“Boss…” Draco exhaled, his shoulders dropping as relief flooded through him again.

Dante’s dark eyes swept over him, taking in the bar with those sharp eyes. “We leave soon for the exchange. Listen carefully—if the Mandalas try something, don’t shoot unless I say so. Do you understand?”

“Yes, boss.” 

They arrived at the abandoned complex where the exchange would be happening. Everything was heavy and still and the sun had given way for thr moon. 

The Mandalas were there already, they stood together with their armed guards behind them. 

At the center stood Orion and Viper, and beside them—a girl with her head covered by rough cloth.

Dante’s gaze turned cold. “Is that my sister?”

Orion smirked faintly, his fingers slowly pulling the cloth away. Julia’s face was revealed. Her gaze was sharp, scanning the environment and finding her brother. 

Dante’s jaw tighten, the muscle jumping beneath his skin.

“And those?” Orion asked, his chin lifting toward the people standing behind Dante.

Dante’s lips curved into a humorless smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes. Your family.” He grabbed the cloth off of the girl beside him and yanked it away roughly. “This is your sister.”

“Then let’s exchange,” Viper said coldly, his voice cutting through the silence.

Julia began walking slowly toward Dante, her steps careful. At the same time, the Mandala family beside Dante started forward, each side watched as the three people crossed the the distance between them. 

For a fleeting moment, it looked like peace might actually be possible.

But peace was never meant for men like them.

The second Julia was standing a few feet away from Dante, the sound of a gunshot ran through the air.

Bullets rained down from the Mandalas’ side, aiming at Dante and his crew. Chaos erupted instantly. Draco’s survival instinct kicked in and he drew his weapon, firing back with precision, his body moving to cover Dante automatically. 

“Julia!” Dante roared when he saw her stumble, he saw a bullet, running through her side. It could have been a graze or something else, but she instantly fell to her knees.

He moved fast , catching her before she could collapse fully to the ground. He cradled her against his chest, his arms protective around her frame. 

With one arm locked around his sister, he dragged her toward the waiting car. Draco stayed behind, firing relentlessly, holding the Mandalas back with everything he had.

The car door slammed shut. Tires screeched against asphalt.

Dante’s jaw was clenched so tight it hurt as he pressed his hand over Julia’s wound, feeling warm blood seep between his fingers. His other arm stayed locked around her, holding her close. “Stay with me, Julia. Don’t you dare close your eyes.”

Her breathing was shallow but steady. That had to be enough.

They reached the hospital in no time. Dante rushed out, carrying the sister in his arms as he rushed towards the hospital’s entrance.

“Seal the place!” Dante barked at the men that accompanied him, his voice sharp with command. “No one gets in unless I say so!”

Doctors rushed forward with a gurney, wheeling Julia away from him. Dante reluctantly let go, hating departing from his sister that he was on the verge of losing. 

“Save her,” he growled, gripping one doctor’s white collar before shoving him toward the emergency room doors. “If anything happens to her, you all die.”

A few minutes after she was wheeled away, Dante sat down at one of the waiting chairs. He heard the sound of the hospital doors pushed opening, followed by a commotion. When he looked towards there, he saw his brother. 

Aspen.

Aspen’s eyes burned with pure fury as he stormed down the corridor, his face twisted with rage. 

“Are you fucking stupid, Dante? I’ve been gone a few days and now there’s a war? What the hell did you do?”

Dante turned his head slowly, his expression going cold. 

The two men locked eyes across the hallway, they were both glaring at each other. Dante sitting while Aspen made his way over.

Aspen’s chest rose and fell with barely controlled rage. His fists were clenched at his sides. “You don’t think, you don’t calculate—”

“Enough.” Dante’s voice cut through the air like a blade through silk. “Shut up, Aspen.”