Lawless – Episode 9&10

RECKLESS 2

Lawless – Episode 9&10

→ Chain•Of•Obsession ←

[Book 2 in The Untamed Duet]

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All rights reserved. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2026

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

Louis didn’t need an interpreter for what’s going on right now. His brain was enough for him, and his eyes.

He’s seeing the face—the features and striking visuals which are exactly the same thing without a deviation.

And he could smell the danger in the air. It’s so thick it could cut. Also, who else would carry that resentful look in his eyes and call him ‘little bastard’ if not his lost animalistic father?

The points clicked fast in his head, and he made to jump down from the cart to give him a befitting reply, but Stacy held him back again.

“Don’t f+kin’ move!”

“I know who he is! I wanna fuckin move!” He argued.

“I don’t care if you know who he f+kin’ is! Don’t fuckin’ move!” Stacy pushed him back in the cart.

“He called me a f+kin’ bastard!” He glared, pushing her hands. She could feel his anger through his touch.

“And you’re not one!” She spat, holding his face. “You are?”

Louis bit the side of his own mouth, wanting nothing but to get off this cart. Now he regrets ever getting in it when they started this shopping.

“You are?” Stacy repeated, her eyes throwing ice as she glared.

“Louis Montana,” he replied, his breathings turning heavy, anger replicating in his bloodstream.

His jaws are clenching.

“Yeah, shit. That’s right.” Stacy rubbing his cheek with her thumb, then she raised her figure, turning back to Thiago who’s still sitting there, watching the mother and son show with an unhinged expression.

She didn’t look at him, didn’t even look his way.

She pushed the cart forward, and Louis stayed inside obediently till she rode it past Thiago’s chair.

If this were a movie, this is where slow mo comes in and it’d take more than a minute before they finish riding past him.

Thiago didn’t move, didn’t blind, but a strand of his hair fell over his brows as he felt them ride past.

His jaws gritted softly, and his thumb rubbed his inter-finger spaces till they went by like the breeze.

Stacy expected escape immediately she bypassed, but Ten got to the door before she could arrive.

He went out, locked the door from outside and held the key.

Stacy left the cart and pulled at the door handle, but the chains the door was locked with kept rattling outside, pulling against the metals.

No hope of opening no matter how hard she pulled.

“The chair!” Louis pointed, and Stacy instantly went for the chair behind the payment desk.

She picked it up and rushed back to the door, throwing the chair at the glass. It shattered loudly.

Outside, Ten was stunned, but he didn’t move an inch.

“Come here!” Stacy pulled Louis out of the cart, going for the shattered door with him for escape, but not for long, cos a primal force suddenly yanked Louis’s other hand.

But Stacy wasn’t caught unawares. Earlier, she had secretly picked one of the shattered glass door pieces, so immediately she felt the pull, she twirled, raising the glass piece and bringing it down on whoever it was.

Thiago saw it before he could even raise it, but ur didn’t dodge. The glass thrusted his shoulder, and a lotta blood stained his leather jacket.

That didn’t make him let go of Louis’s other hand.

He simply pushed the abandoned cart with his shoe, and the fact that it’s already filled with stuffs made it heavy enough to hit.

It rolled down to Stacy, and she couldn’t dodge fast enough. The cart hit her on the legs with full force, and her hand slipped away from Louis’s wrist immediately.

She was knocked down, so Thiago pulled Louis to his own side.

“Louis!” Stacy shouted, eyes popping.

Right beside his father, Louis pulled his writing pen out of his trousers pocket and thrusted the pen into Thiago’s leg, so deep.

Not even a single sound left Thiago’s lips even as blood flowed from the pen stab, but he stared at the blood anyways, and he looks mad.

“You dared to take blood from me?” He smirked hatefully. “Brave, but who do you think you are?”

“Me!” Louis spat, looking up at him defiantly, with heavy detest. “Just me! Stacy’s son! And taking blood from you is only just the start! I’ll kill you myself you incorrigible bastard who deserves no breath!” He continued.

Thiago’s expression flickered, something darker than coal settled in there as he removed the pen from his open bleeding leg.

“Louis!!!” Stacy shouted, crawling to come close, but Thiago slipped the pen on Louis’s neck, placing it directly on his jugular.

Stacy’s breathing stopped, and she literally died that minute.

“No!! You do not hurt my baby! Don’t try it, or I’ll kill you and set you on that fire that you love so much! Don’t touch my son!” She shouted.

“Then grow the habit of welcoming your man, right now,” his eyeballs rotated with insanity. “Crawl here, get on your feet, and give me a welcoming kiss, then I can think about sparing this unwanted seed.”

Stacy’s eyes widened again, almost expanding to her brows. She knew he was audacious, but wherever he’s ordering that audacity from, they’re probably on bonanza over there cos he’s overflowing with it right now.

Kiss him?

She’d rather walk into Mississippi river on her own and freeze to death.

The moment she set eyes on him earlier, she felt lots and lots of bugs crawling over her skin, and the sensations hasn’t stopped till now.

It’s irritation. Disgust. Hate.

The same man who tried to ruin her baby six years ago and damaged her womb in the process….

Is back, to order for a kiss?

Threatening her with her baby?

The same baby he nearly ended?

She stood, rolled up her dress a bit and pulled out a gun from her thigh hostler straps, then she hoisted up the pistol, aiming for his face.

“Let go of my baby, right now!” She breathed the words like a mother who’s afraid of nothing.

All along, Louis stayed still in Thiago’s trap. He doesn’t even look like there’s a bloody pen on his throat right now. Instead, he looks mad.

Thiago’s head went angled, his evil smile spreading on his lips as he assessed her gun with his eyes.

“Pistol handgun, new barrel. Model F4. Go on and shoot, but you won’t get my face. You’d rather get my chest, and the nearest hospital here is just five minutes drive so I’ll survive. Besides, that can only happen if I even allow you to get my chest. Why would I allow a bullet in my body when there’s a bulletproof right here?” He muttered.

“Let. Go. Of. My. Son!!!” Stacy yelled.

“Get back on your knees! Crawl here, rise up and kiss me, Dollface. You’re making this harder than it should, and I’m losing patience. Not good.” He raised his left brow. “Dollface.”

“Beast!!” Stacy yelled, pulling the trigger on him.

At the same time, Cove pressed the pen on Louis’s throat, ready to stab, but before any of the actions could happen, a stray bullet came flying inside through the shattered door.

No idea where it came from, but it came anyways. Thiago’s ears picked the sound of a sniper rifle before the bullet came, so he moved out of the way, and the bullet wheezed past him to Eleven who’s behind him.

Eleven moved out of the way too,but not fast enough. The bullet grazed gus arm, and his skin and flesh peeled with his shirt.

“Damnit!!” He cussed.

Stacy took the opportunity, grabbing Louis by the wrist and getting out of the mall with him.

By the door, Ten didn’t try to stop them. He let them go and just rushed inside to check on Eleven.

“Where the f+k did that come from! Holy shit!” Eleven continued cussing as Ten rolled up the short sleeve of his shirt to reveal the bullet graze. If the bullet met his leg, he’d have been dead by now.

Thiago walked out, precisely.

By now, Stacy already drove off with Louis, so he stood outside the mall, took out binoculars and viewed the buildings hidden around the mall.

He sighted a skyscraper opposite it, and a three minutes walk took him there. He climbed of the skyscraper till he got to the top.

He wasn’t wrong. There’s a sniper tripod stand there. The shooter probably left it in a hurry.

He picked it up and studied it for a minute before turning.

Why does it look like everyone wants to die by his hands so badly? Cos if they don’t, no reason to try to shoot him when he’s just arriving in LA after six damn years.

Ten and Eleven came up to meet him. Eleven’s arm has been tied up after Ten sprinkled a powder on it.

“The bullet is rare,” Ten said, raising it. “Looks like the Japanese type.”

“Everyone uses the new Japanese bullets theses days,” Thiago shrugged, walking past them.

“Do we split and find out where it came from?” Eleven asked.

“I have my own way of finding out, this is for me.” Thiago replied without looking back.

“You should get your shoulder and leg treated, T.” Ten said.

He stopped, turning around slowly. “No, the wounds will remain there. I’m gonna stab the little bastard on those same spots before finally killing him. Don’t rush. For now, I have somewhere else to be.”

With that, he went down, his jacket flowing after him.

The rogues followed.

—

[Lane Mansion]

“You want me to pay 5 billion dollars to buy Kaylee’s secret from you?” Jeremy’s smirk was loud as his eyes balanced on the minister who’s smiling mischievously.

“I knew your son Remo was a motherfucker, didn’t expect his father to also be one.” Jeremy continued. “Last year, you were forced to retire from your Minister spot, and I heard Kaylee was the biggest reason for the retirement. You could have used whatever secret you have to threaten her to let you remain Minister, but you did nothing, and now you want me to believe you’ll give me the secret for five billion dollars? Why the heck would I even pay billions to acquire Kaylee’s secret when I can easily find out what I need by myself?” Jeremy continued.

“You’ll die young if you continue talking too much like this,” Lane grinned, relaxing on his sofa. “Kaylee is the greatly loved President, and the video could easily be tagged as AI. Hell, I could even be thrown in jail for defamation or get death sentence if I post it, so I need supporters. I work smart, not fast.” He touched his head with a finger.

“You need supporters, and you still need 5B from me?” Jeremy nodded. “You’re insane. Actually I work better alone. You can keep your video.”

He stood and walked out of the garden, obviously angry.

Minister Lane grinned, drinking from his wine glass.

“You’re coming back, Jeremy.”

Sensing Jeremy’s absence, his wife came back, and Minister Lane dropped his cup immediately the beautiful black women settled down in front of him.

She looks younger than him, mainly because he married her when she was still very young.

“Did I just hear you talking about the video with him?” She pointed at him, and Minister Lane sighed.

“Look, Remo is finally growing a little change. He’s not fuckin’ oldies anymore, and I’m still hoping and praying that he’d have a change of mind and stop running his slut house someday and come with me to Africa to run my business, but you’re actually planning to put him on the net?” She scoffed.

“What are you talking about?” Minister Lane frowned.

“The video!” Mrs. Lane glared. “Isn’t it a video of Remo fuckin Kaylee when he was 19 in uni? I don’t want my son’s nakedness out there, I’m telling you it’ll ruin any chance of him ever becoming good!” Mrs. Kane said.

“You’re tweaking, wife.” Minister Lane said casually. “Kaylee needs to be put down!”

“Yeah but not with Remo’s nakedness included.” Mrs. Lane stayed adamant, then she left the garden.

“I don’t know who’s more exhausting between her and Remo.” Minister Lane muttered.

—

[Private Coffeehouse]

Jeremy came here straight from Minister Lane’s house, and he wasn’t expecting to still meet Dorian on seat.

His expectations wasn’t betrayed. Truly, Dorian wasn’t there when he arrived, but he met an untouched coffee mug on the table, and a short note on the chair.

He licked it up slowly…

• You just signed up for your own death, Jeremy. Watch how I terrorize and torment your family.

Jeremy tore the note and dumped the pieces inside the coffee mug.

“Mummy’s boy,” he breathed, walking out of the coffeehouse as calmly as he had walked in.

He got in his SUV and inhaled, checking his phone for any info.

And he has two from his helper.

• Dorian Wesley took care of every loose end throughout his raping era, so there’s none to trace, at all. But I heard one of his rape victims is still alive and is in Los Angeles right now. You might start by finding her first, maybe you’ll locate the family of the dead victims after that.

Jeremy’s brows knotted, and he quickly typed back.

Jeremy: Got it, but Kaylee?

He got a reply almost immediately.

• Meet Minister Lane. If that doesn’t work, then meet Remo himself. Let’s just hope you’re prepared enough physically. There’s a lot you’ll have to fight for including your love.

Jeremy: I just want her to be happy. I know she doesn’t wanna have anything to do with men, but I’ll do anything to keep her safe and make her happy. Keep protecting her for me when I’m not there.

• You get what you wish for.

Jeremy dropped his phone and grabbed the wheel, but the phone buzzed almost immediately.

He received two new texts from Matteo and Elmira.

Matteo: We need to talk.

Elmira: Why not make yourself into a blanket and wrap yourself around Stacy everywhere she goes so we’ll know you’re serious? Saving her son at the beach wasn’t enough, you even came to drag her out of the runway? You’re so stupid I’m ashamed to call you my twin. You should have stayed behind bars, idiotic fellow. Did you forget we’re both 30? Oh, your handsome face is deceiving you? Wait till you start growing wrinkles at 31! I’m getting married soon, and you won’t even get the honor of being one of my groomsmen cos you don’t deserve it, Stacy’s tail. (Fûck you)

Jeremy blocked her immediately, and he retook the wheel, driving out of the coffeehouse park.

He drove past a new snack shop, and he instantly felt the urge to stopover and get Stacy some.

She likes snacks.

“You guys do delivery?” He asked as soon as he was inside.

He wasn’t gonna go shove himself in her face again.

“Yes, we do to any part of LA.” The kind attendant replied, though he didn’t miss the way she gave him a judgemental look.

He’s the fake Dorian anyways. Lynn’s killer like they like to say.

He picked a basket and shopped for the most expensive ones, payed for the delivery and stepped away.

—

[Trinidad’s Mansion]

Driving cars around hasn’t been attractive to Trinidad. She’s a bike person, but she’s growing up, and now she has to outgrown this bike cos she can’t dress in suit and heels and then rude on bike to her father’s company or her computer tech empire. It’d ruin the aesthetic.

But she can ride bike when she’s going on her football practice or gym though, and that period is her favorite time of the day like now.

It’s 6pm, and she’s just returning from her football practice with a face towel hanging around her neck which she’s wiping with.

She’s sporting bright red leggings and a bralette, and her hair is shoulder length right now, edges matching for the first time ever.

She’d have to get an haircut soon.

As she parked the bike in her garage, she picked her phone, and she went to the Italian forum again.

She has been frequenting that place more than needed these days, and each time age scrolls without seeing Trevor’s picture, she gets frustrated.

She nearly threw her phone, but she employed resistance and just opened her door, stepping inside.

She felt the foreign air immediately. She got the hunch that she has been burgled or something, that she’s not alone in this house.

But she didn’t panic, cos she perceived the scent in the air. She shut the door, then slowly—painstakingly slow, she turned.

Right on the couch, Thiago sat in a relaxed manner. His rogues are by the wall, standing tall.

There’s a black cigar resting between Thiago’s finger. Fire is on the tip, but he’s not smoking.

He’s just staring. Even as Trinidad entered, he didn’t look up once.

“Took you long enough, best friend.” He said easily, as if he saw her yesterday… Like he stays nextdoor.

Trinidad’s towel nearly fell from her neck, but she held it before it could land, her shock disappearing as she moved forward, each step measured.

She didn’t blink, and her eyes didn’t leave him. Same way his eyes didn’t leave the cigar he’s staring at.

Suddenly, she pulled a small knife out of her leggings waistband and twisted, throwing the knife at him.

Thiago caught the knife before it could pierce him, then he looked up, transferring his gaze from the cigar to the brandishing knife.

“People must hate me so much. Everyone wants to kill me immediately I appear. I strangely feel good about it.” He muttered.

“Everyone?” Trinidad’s voice was hateful, angry. “You didn’t show your unwanted self to Stacy, did you?”

“The only person ‘unwanted’ should be used for is that bastard. He’s the one I came to kill.” He replied flatly, finally meeting her gaze.

“You damn sick ass!!” She yelled, running to the couch he’s on. She jumped over the table to get to him, but he rolled off the couch, so she landed on emptiness, but she pulled his jacket, then landed two punches on his neck from the back.

Before she could land the third, he grabbed her hand and shoved her to the couch, pinning her send on the headrest tightly.

“Don’t make me hurt you. I won’t hesitate.” He warned.

“Do it! Hurt me! Since when do you make warnings before hurting people you inhumane thing! You nearly killed her! I warned you to not mess with her but you did anyways! Depression, trauma, melancholy…what did she not develop? She was a ghost! You nearly killed her baby and her womb can barely hold a baby anymore cos you destroyed it with the syrup! Now that she balanced back, got her spark back and her baby became her life, you’re back for what??”

“To kill the bastard, I believe you’re not deaf, Trinidad.” Thiago replied coldly like he hasn’t been hearing what she said. “That bastard can’t and won’t live while I breathe. Watch me destroy him, and like I promised, she’d thank me later.”

“It’s a lie!” Trinidad spat. “Read my lips. It’s a lie! Even if it means going to a warfront with you, you’re not touching that baby! You want Stacy all for yourself without a baby between? Why not ask if she wants you first you deranged thing!”

“She’s always gonna want me,” his jacket strained againt his shoulders. “In every fuckin universe! Do I have to prove that to you?”

“The only thing that’ll always want you is a psychiatric hospital, you psycho! You came here for death, and we’ll give you just that!”

“Now don’t act like you haven’t been waiting for me too,” he whispered. “You haven’t gotten your revenge on the f+ker Dorian, you’ve obviously been waiting cos we planned to take him together, didn’t we?”

Trinidad scoffed, trying to get free, but his grip turned ruthless.

“You should be secluded. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as living people cos there’s nothing breathing inside you. You’re dead inside, a demon!!”

Thiago let go of her, and she spranged up, wiping the wrists he pinned her down with.

But before she could get a hold of him again, he was already exiting.

“You’re a monster!!! I don’t blame everyone in your family for hating you!! I don’t blame your mother for jumping in a river after birthing you!!” She yelled.

He didn’t turn, neither did he stop till he exited completely with his rogues.

Trinidad let out the fast, heavy breaths she has been holding, then she remembered Stacy.

She gasped.

“Stacy… Louis…”

She didn’t bother to wear something covering. She dashed out.

—

[Montana Mansion]

Stacy gulped down a whole bottle of water immediately she arrived, and Louis just stood by the kitchen door, watching as she drank.

The water leaked all-over her chest, gumming her clothes to her body, shaping out her breàsts and tummy.

She didn’t stop drinking, and when she eventually stopped, she dragged out a bowl of ice which she chewed fast, furiously.

She chewed the first handful.

Second handful.

She nearly started with the third, but Louis entered the kitchen fully…

“Are you scared of him?” He asked, his anger still kindled inside him he wants to end Thiago.

He still wants to stab him again…

And again.

And again.

“I don’t fear him, I only fear what he might do to you,” Stacy poured the ice blocks back in the bowl and came to him. She couched in front of him, cradling his face in her palms.

“At the mall when he held the pen to your throat, I died, Louis. I died.” She sniffled, nearly sobbing.

“But here we are,” Louis said calmly. “I won’t let anything happen to you. This is why you need to let me get close to computers and shit. If I track his location, we can just kill him before he knows it.”

“No. You’re not touching computers,” Stacy shook her head. “They’re all naturally deranged in their family, but the moment they start touching computers, it’s the final point of their insanity. I won’t let you near it.”

“What if I can control it? What if I can control the insanity?” He said.

“I said no!” She yelled. “No one controls it! No one! No one in the history of their family controls it! The insanity eats them alive, and that monster is the worse cos….his mother was a genius too like I heard. Plus his father’s genius genes, they produced him, that’s why he’s worse like this. Now his gene is in you, and you’re talking about controlling? No…I already promised to protect you either my life, and I’ll do just that. Please don’t go insane.” She caressed his face affectionately, nodding.

“Hmm? Please.”

Louis just stepped into her and hugged her tight, his face in her neck.

“I promise. No computers, but I’ll still kill him.” He said.

Stacy smiled, rubbing his back.

They heard the opening of the front door, and they disentangled to go to the living room.

Trinidad ran inside, panting, sweating, restless.

“Louis…” She breathed.

“I’m guessing he came to you,” Stacy said, getting it.

Trinidad rushed closer, turning her around to check her out.

“Thank gawd you’re ok too. This is the best time to hire guards in this house.” She said.

“Guards? C’mon you know their lives will just waste. You know him.” Stacy said tiredly.

“So…what?” Trinidad asked anxiously. “He looks like his madness upgraded, and he kept talking about killing Louis.”

“In his dreams,” Stacy smirked, entering the kitchen with Trinidad. “Can we talk while making fruits salad?” She asked.

“Sure,” Trinidad opened the freezer, taking out the fruits.

Stacy picked her phone at a point. She uploaded two pictures of Louis on her IG with the caption…

→ Life of Me.

“Cute,” Trinidad smiled behind her.

“Exactly, that’s the smile I’ve been expecting…” Stacy responded. “Don’t panic, we got this.”

“I hope so,” Trinidad nodded, still unable to push away the feeling of dead gnawing at her chest.

Upstairs, Louis is in his room, holding the upgraded to gun and checking it out again, making sure it’s in good shape. She imagined how that motherfucker told his mum to crawl at the mall, his anger surged again.

He dropped the gun and left his room, going to his mother’s room.

He opened her vanity table drawer and took out a lighter.

He’s aware that his mother smokes.

She hides to do it, but he knows. His nostrils are sharp to perceive the scent of smoke whenever she does.

She sat in front of the mirror and pressed the lighter button.

Fire erupted, sparkling a mix of blue and golden glow which looks like silver to him.

Everything is silver to him anyways… except his mother and his aunties.

As he stared at the lighter fire, he felt his anger subsiding, and his nerves calming little by little.

—

[Y Group, 7PM]

Scott held his suit in his right hand—his signature look for clocking out. And as he strolled out of the company with his Manager and Secretary, he looks stressed.

Not only because of work, but also because of the constant disturbance since Saturday.

Kane.

He has him locked up this morning, but he ordered his release some minutes ago. He’s not sure if he won’t still come here.

Kane is stubborn.

His Manager and Secretary left before him. Their cars were already driving out of the park when he received a call from the cops.

In confusion, he picked.

“Yes? We talked about his release already.” He friend, opening his car door slowly.

“That’s right, we released him five minutes ago, but,”

“But what?” Scott’s arm paused.

“There was a shootout right beside out building, and lots of people were injured. Three died, and I think he’s a part of the dead—”

“Is this a joke? Cos it’s dry as fûck,” Scott said, not knowing which one is dryer between the joke and his throat right now. He didn’t know eye he let go of the car door.

“The bodies are about to be sent to the morgue…”

And this is the part where Scott grabbed the door again, opened it, got inside and drove roughly out of the park as if death is on his tail.

He was shaking behind the wheel, and his exhaust pipes were smoking more than they should as he rolled on the tar, drawing lines on the asphalt with his tires.

He disobeyed every traffic regulations existing, but he didn’t wait for once.

His headlights even stayed on unknown to him, and he kept pressing the honk till he arrived at the road right beside the station.

There are several cops. It’s like they’re in a conference. And there are a swam of civilians circling the area.

The shootout spot have been wrapped with their yellow CRIME SCENE band already, and inside the circle, there are two dead bodies and several wounded people.

An ambulance is wailing, ready to start conveying them to the historical. Scott jumped over the yellow band, but he was instantly pushed back by the cops.

“Mr. Scott Young?”

“My…my friend is there…” He stuttered.

“What friend?” They asked in confusion, but he pushed past them again, leaving their question hanging.

He went beside the two dead bodies and slowly pulled off the clothes covering their faces.

None is Kane. Though, one of the is wearing the exact suit Kane was wearing this morning.

“Where is Kane?” He muttered.

“Scott Young?” The cops tried to communicate with him again.

“Where is he?” He stood slowly with a shattering chest.

He could hear the shatter.

“Where is Kane Dax!!!” He yelled, voice firm and shaky altogether.

Then, a cop rushed to the circle. The same cop who called Scott.

“I’m so sorry, sir. It was a mistake. One of the dead civilians wore the same suit as him, so I mistakenly….”

Scott let out shaky breaths, hyperventilating as he pushed himself out of the circle.

He was at the verge of passing out as he jumped over the rope, and as he tried to purge the shock, he staggered, but he was held.

“Scott?” The masculine voice made him jerk, and his face lifted, his eyes met with Kane’s worried eyes.

He instantly detached himself from him, then he started rushing over to his car, but Kane followed, running.

“Primwat!” He called his Thai name.

No stop.

“Min Young!” He called his Korean name too.

No stop.

Scott opened his car door, and that was when Kane caught up.

He held him back again.

When Scott turned, he was already crying…for real.

“Scott—”

“Now you care?” Scott sniffled.

“Scott, I was—”

“You fuckin left me when I needed you the most!” Scott shattered. “You…you left…Yeahz agreed that you were a fake gay, and your name isn’t even Kane…it’s Martin…you never liked me romantically cos you aren’t gay anyway, but the least you could do was stay for a week at least, but immediately the mission was done, you left with Owen and Reid! You….you abandoned me!!!”

Kane was silent, but there’s something hard to interpret in his eyes as he stared back at Scott.

Scott’s like a little, hurt boy right now.

“Then I heard you were hurt in the shootout, and I drove here blindly, thinking you were dead. I drove like an idiot… thinking….you… You know what?” He wiped his tears.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

He entered his car and drove off, and Kane just stood there, blood dripping down his back.

He actually got shot in the shootout too. He got hit at the back.

He brought out his ringing phone.

It’s Reid.

“Bro, where you at?”

“No, where you at?” Kane asked weakly, lips cracking.

“I’m in LA, just landing.” Reid said.

—

[Max’s Mansion, Bedroom – 8PM]

Max’s two hands are up in his hair, and his mouth wouldn’t close as low grunts poured out of his mouth.

He’s naked, and between his legs, there’s Elmira, sucking his c+k with her hair in a tight bun.

Her eyes are running around in the sockets, and veins stretched on her lids as if she’s doing something productive, but it’s nothing.

Max’s c+k filled her mouth, but nothing is happening.

It’s not hard, not rocky.

It’s softer than feather.

It’s like a marinated meat.

After sucking with two more minutes without results, Elmira raised her head, and her breàsts bounced as she stood, walking to her clothes.

Her arse twerked without her trying.

“Where are you going?” Max asked.

“Hey dressed and go party with my girls, ain’t it obvious?”

“You’re seriously gonna leave me like this? C’mon suck for two more minutes, it’s gonna stand.” Max stood, with his dead c+k.

“That’s what you always say!” Elmira shot, facing him. “Your favorite line, isn’t it? Suck for two more minutes, one more minute, it’ll stand. Maxwell or never stood since January! I dunno where you got this erectile dysfunction from, but you better get it sorted out before our wedding, you better get it sorted!” She glared.

Three minutes was all it took for her to dress up and leave the room.

Max drove his fist into the wall, holding his cóck with the other hand.

Kehlani filled his head completely.

>

[Living Room]

Zendaya’s legs are crossed, and she’s sipping from a chocolate drink glass as she scrolled through her phone.

She’s not a fan of chocolate, but six years ago when she was learning to be like Stacy, she grew to like it, and it’s know her favorite drink.

But it’s not even enough to soothe her as she scrolled.

Stacy had her friends might be getting dragged online, but the pink couture she wore to the runway has been sold out while the red and black are still in stock.

First time it’s happening. Something worn by her and Elmira?

It’s in stock? Shit.

And it’s all because of Stacy.

They need to meet with the Vogue CEO as soon as possible.

She entered IG, and the first thing she saw was Stacy’s post.

She posted a picture of her son Louis. Zendaya gasped.

She dropped her glass, zooming in on the six year old boy picture.

What. The. Hell???

Why is he exactly like his father?

This is the younger version of Thiago!

It’s the first time Stacy posted him online, so it’s her first time seeing him, and good gawd..

She’s wet already.

“Y’all aren’t ready?” Roxy came in, and Zendaya spranged up. Elmira came downstairs at the same time.

“So sorry, I was busy with Max,” Elmira winked.

“Freaky,” Zendaya smiled, masking her jealousy.

“Keep the freaky shit aside. Why is the pink sold out but the red and black for you both are still in stock???” Roxy said.

“It’s all Stacy. That bitch is a witch, no one can tell me otherwise.” Zendaya shook her head.

“We have a private meeting with the CEO tommorow, it’ll be settled either by arrest or Stacy will have to buy all the red and black herself and go broke. I really don’t care.” Elmira said

“I’m too booked to be freaked by her antics!” Zendaya boasted. “I’m shooting for Geng magazine tommorow.”

“Geng?” Elmira frowned.

“Yeah, I didn’t tell you?” Zendaya blinked slowly.

“Can we just hit the club already?” Roxy pulled Zendaya. “I’m hungry for some coke!”

“Ok let’s move!” Zendaya grinned, following her out.

“After us, Mira!” Roxy shouted.

But Elmira hasn’t moved.

Zendaya and Geng magazines?

Geng magazines have their own set of models since ten years ago. They never change faces and they don’t accept new faces unless you know the President, so how did Zendaya bag it?

Elmira scoffed, unable to close her mouth.

—

[Thiago’s Castle]

The castle rose like a contradiction against the horizon.

Literally ancient stone fused seamlessly with sleek, reflective panels that catch the light like glass.

Ivy crawled along its towering walls, but beneath the greenery, hidden seams hint at reinforced alloys and embedded circuitry.

Narrow gothic windows glow faintly with a cold, artificial light, and the heavy iron gates open without a sound, guided by unseen systems.

It feels less like a relic of the past and more like a fortress.

While he was in the middle of that sea in Australia, he made needed preparations in every place he was sure he’d come back to, and this castle is the largest.

Six years ago, he lived in a studio apartment, lived in a hotel, stayed certain nights at the garage.

But now that he’s back. Even if he’s using just a week, he’s gonna live like a monarch that he is.

Deep within the castle core, beyond biometric locks and silent corridors, he sat in a sealed room illuminated by the glow of countless screens.

Data streams across the screens in restless motion.

Security feeds, global networks, fragments of conversations pulled from invisible threads.

His eyes move faster than the shifting light, absorbing everything, missing nothing. He’s literally controlling the world at his fingertips.

The rogues are with him, watching what he’s doing confusedly again.

But they can understand one thing on the smallest screen…

That screen is connected to the flashdrive Thisgo dropped for Shelby in Australia.

If she opens the flashdrive, there’ll be a signal, but no signal means the flashdrive is unopened yet.

“Is she scared to open?” Ten grinned.

“I wouldn’t say,” Eleven raised his shoulders to hang.

“She’s never scared,” Thiago replied without looking at them. “She’s rather taking her time.”

His eyes are keen on the screens.

Now that Stacy isn’t using OBSCURE anymore, he can’t watch her through the lens again. He has to rely on global holograms like he did in the sea on Australia.

And it’s about to connect.

He left that screen and zoomed out another screen, and another, and another. He kept zooming, but Jeremy’s mansion never appeared.

Thiago’s eyes shone.

“He got smarter in jail. He managed to hide his house from my holograms guide? Mad.” He nodded.

Not like he can’t still use his holograms to find the house. He’ll only has to work extra minutes, but he won’t waste extra minutes on him.

He’ll have to locate his house in person first.

So he returned to the first screen, and he smiled darkly when he saw Montana Mansion has connected on the screen, clearly.

Now that Shelby hasn’t opened his flashdrive, he has spare time to watch Stacy all night.

“But who killed Albert?” Ten asked.

“Only Mio can shoot precisely like that, we just don’t know who she did it for.” Eleven said.

“Jeremid’s jail routine I ordered for?” Thiago asked.

“Oh!” Eleven straightened. “He really worked with some really dangerous people in jail. They’re from Macau or so, and they have Italian and Japanese connections. I’ll give you a full report once I’m done tomorrow.”

Thiago walked out, pulling off his jacket and black shirt.

He has an additional tattoo now…

In the middle of his back…

There’s a detailed tattoo of Stacy’s face and his own face. Their lips are joined in the middle, kissing.

—

[Monroeville Hospital]

Frank finally decided to get Tania here tonight, saying the orthopedic is around. They’ve been here since 7, waiting to meet the so-called orthopedic but no sign.

Tasha and Kehlani came with Tania, and Remo came with Frank.

They’re all in the reception, chatting away while waiting.

“I can’t believe the red and black coutures are still in stuck! Hehehehe!” Tasha made the funny laughing sound.

Tania joined her. “Now I even want the public to drag us more, if it means the pink will keep getting sold out!” She commented.

“You know our goth barbie is a diva, our latina mommy Louis!” Kehlani hyped, grinning.

“Why do I keep hearing this Latina shii about her?” Frank asked.

“Duh, cos her late mum is Latina,” Tasha rolled eyes.

“So what’s the update about the upcoming reunion?” Tania asked.

“Why are you asking me? You don’t have a phone?” Remo said.

Tania glared.

“What’s the update about Max’s wedding?” Tasha asked.

“What? Are you planning to be one of the bridesmaids?” Frank jested.

“Knowing their personalities, they’re probably planning to ruin the wedding instead.” Remo said.

Kehlani flicked her fingers. “No one should interrupt the wedding! They fuckin’ deserve each other,”

And Frank suddenly stood when his father appeared with an average height woman behind him who’s wearing a doctor coat.

She looks stern, dangerous. Too hot for a doctor.

“The orthopedic is a woman?” Tasha muttered as she stood too.

“As you can see,” the woman said without a smile. “It’s my side work though. I originally own a business empire in Italy, and I just came here on a business trip with my son. You’re lucky.” She continued, voice hard.

“Um….” Tania said on her chair. “Thank you,”

“She has to walk,” Remo said.

“Remo, she knows her job.” Neurosurgeon Stallion cautioned.

Remo nodded.

“She’ll have to be on adequate rest till tommorow morning before I can work on her. Shift her to the ward.” The woman ordered.

—

[No-Sleep Garage]

The garage ain’t in The Streets no more. It’s now tucked behind an unmarked steel gate that only opens to biometric approval.

Polished floors reflected rows of machines that never see the public eye. There are technicians in tailored overalls who’re Matteo’s apprentices.

Ten of them.

They don’t just fix cars, they restore reputations, working on armored convoys, one-of-a-kind hypercars, and scandal-stained luxury rides owned by politicians, millionaires, and nepo babies.

Every tool is custom, every repair undocumented, and every client arrives under a veil of secrecy because…

In this place, it’s not just engines being fixed, it’s also power being maintained.

While the apprentices work, Matteo sat with Jeremy in the luxury waiting room. Two cups of wine are on the table top, but none is drinking.

Jeremy is smoking cigar though, and Matteo just watched him with a little smile, feeling happy.

“Did you call me here to stare at me?” Jeremy spoke up, his prosthetic finger whiter among his other fingers.

“I called you here to tell you to cut back on beating people. You know you’re out on parole, and we’re still working towards getting you out completely.” Matteo replied.

“I won’t go back to jail,” Jeremy said, pausing his smoking.

“How are you so sure?” Matteo gave him a confused look.

“Cos it was Dorian himself who allowed my release? He wants something from me, obviously.” Jeremy said.

“Seriously?” Matteo blinked.

“In fact, he’s outside the gate right now.” Jeremy said.

Matteo blinked again.

Truthfully, Dorian’s luxury car is in front of the garage gate, his hand wrapped on the steering.

There are two other cars behind him containing his guards, and inside his own car, Angela is with him.

“You want us to enter?” She asked.

“I have no business with his father yet. Send a note of secrecy to his sister Elmira. Tell her to meet me at Elite2 Hotel tommorow.” Dorian replied calmly.

A venomous calmness.

“I’m on it,” Angela purred.

“He probably knows I’m waiting here too, but he chose ignorance? Well let’s see who’d checkmate in this game first.” Dorian said, relaxing as the car engines turned over.

—

[Next Morning – Montana Mansion]

Stacy woke up late.

Trinidad spent the night here and even woke up late, forgetting about her computer tech schedule today, so she had to rush off immediately she woke up thirty minutes ago.

Stacy used those thirty minutes to dress Louis up. He baths clean by himself so she only had to dress him in his school uniform, make him breakfast and pack him lunch.

He barely touches his lunch at school cos he finds it hard to eat without her, but she still packs lunch always.

They descended the staircase hand-in-hand.

She wore a simple singlet. No bra,but she wore nipple pad so her nîpples aren’t poking the singlet, and she wife palazzo pants on it, hair in a low ponytail with the baby hair edges.

She’s beautiful, as usual.

“I wish to switch to highschool,” Louis whined.

“Not this morning, Louis. You made us watch horror till we slept late last night.” Stacy said.

“But we both enjoyed it except aunt Trinidad who watched football on your laptop.” He pouted.

“Darling, you’re cute when you pout, but it won’t work.” She smiled.

He rolled eyes, and she chuckled, but it died when they saw they saw a visitor in the house.

On the couch, he sat like he owns the house, holding a half-unwrapped bar of chocolate to his lips.

Asking how he entered is useless, so Stacy just held Louis tighter.

“I came back for my kiss. You’re already kissing me on my back, but I need it on my lips.” He said, taking a fresh bite from the chocolate.

“There’s no place for you anymore, Thiago.” Stacy shook her head.

“You called that wrong,” he looked up, eyes devoid. “My. Where’s the My behind it. My Thiago.”

“Those were my foolish era, not anymore. Get out of my house!” She yelled, pointing at the door.

He dropped the chocolate and stood, so tall as he strode across the room, his steps resembling a warlord’s matching to war, his demeanor poisonous… villainous.

He arrived at her side, and she quickly let go of Louis.

“Go stay in the car and wait for me!” She told him.

Thiago’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, but he didn’t make any attempt to kiss her. As if he’s measuring how long she’d keep holding in her desires.

“Poor you, you expect me to get affected like it was six years ago? You’re dead to me now!!” She yelled at his face contemptuously.

And that was when the beast unleashed it’s fangs.

He wrapped his hand around her throat, yanked her close like a playdoll, but before he could taste her, a sharp sound cracked the air, and a blade flew forward.

It thrusted into Thiago’s arm, and another one followed almost immediately, entering the same arm.

Louis stood behind, holding the upgraded toy gun which he’s shooting from with a fierce, deadly look.

He shot again. Thiago didn’t move, so it rammed into his arm again.

“Louis…” Stacy muttered.

Thiago smiled, the depth oozing of undiluted, intense madness.

But he never let go of Stacy.

“Step away from my mama!” Louis shouted, rawly.

And the door slid open, letting in another person who instantly shot a hand pistol at Thiago.

The mansion shook with the sound of the gunshot, and Thiago shifted properly, allowing the bullet to hit his other arm. Blood spread immediately.

Louis upgraded toy gun went down, and he faced the door to see who.

Stacy’s eyes widened, and she turned to the door to see who too.

Right there, stood Jeremy, his gun still aimed smoothly at Thiago.

“Get away from her!” He barked out the furious order.

TBC.