THIRTY FOUR_ THE FINAL MOVE
The night was calm.
Too calm.
Aiden lay on the bed, half asleep, while the soft light from the lamp filled the room.
Beside him, Alexander was still awake.
He sat on the edge of the bed, checking messages on his phone.
His expression suddenly hardened.
Aiden noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
Alexander didn’t answer right away.
Aiden sat up.
“Alex?”
Alexander slowly looked at him.
“Marco moved.”
Aiden’s heart dropped.
“What do you mean?”
Alexander stood up and put on his jacket.
“He’s attacking one of my warehouses tonight.”
Aiden frowned.
“That sounds like a distraction.”
Alexander looked impressed.
“Good observation, kitten.”
Aiden crossed his arms.
“I’ve been around you long enough.”
Alexander smiled faintly.
“But you’re right.”
“Then what is he really doing?” Aiden asked.
Alexander’s eyes darkened.
“He’s desperate.”
Aiden swallowed.
“That makes him dangerous.”
Alexander walked closer and gently touched Aiden’s cheek.
“I’ll handle it.”
Aiden grabbed his wrist before he could walk away.
“Be careful.”
Alexander looked down at him.
“You’re starting to sound like my mother.”
“I’m serious.”
Alexander leaned down and kissed Aiden softly.
“I know.”
Aiden sighed.
“Just come back in one piece.”
Alexander smirked slightly.
“For you? Always.”
---
An hour later.
The DeLuca cars sped through the dark streets toward the docks.
Alexander stepped out when they arrived at the large warehouse.
His men surrounded the area.
“Boss,” one of them said.
“Marco’s inside.”
Alexander cracked his knuckles slowly.
“Good.”
He walked toward the entrance.
The large doors opened.
Inside, Marco was waiting.
Just like before.
He stood in the center of the warehouse, smiling.
“I knew you’d come.”
Alexander’s voice was cold.
“This ends tonight.”
Marco laughed.
“You’ve said that before.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“You’ve been chasing ghosts for years.”
Marco’s smile faded slightly.
“You betrayed me first.”
Alexander shook his head.
“No.”
His eyes turned sharp.
“You betrayed the organization.”
Marco clenched his fists.
“And you destroyed everything!”
Alexander’s voice was calm.
“You destroyed it yourself.”
The tension in the room exploded.
Marco suddenly pulled out a gun.
Several of Alexander’s men aimed their weapons immediately.
But Alexander raised a hand.
“Lower your guns.”
His men hesitated.
“Boss—”
“That’s an order.”
They slowly lowered them.
Marco smirked.
“Still confident.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“You’ve always wanted to face me.”
Marco’s eyes burned with anger.
“Yes.”
Alexander stopped a few feet away from him.
“Then let’s finish it.”
The two men stared at each other.
Years of betrayal.
Years of anger.
All leading to this moment.
Marco raised his gun.
Alexander didn’t move.
For a second, the entire warehouse held its breath.
Marco pulled the trigger—
But suddenly—
A loud crash came from outside.
Everyone turned.
One of Alexander’s guards ran in.
“Boss!”
Alexander frowned.
“What is it?”
The guard looked panicked.
“The mansion!”
Alexander’s heart instantly dropped.
“What about it?”
The guard swallowed.
“There was an attack.”
Alexander’s eyes turned ice cold.
“And Aiden?” he demanded.
The guard hesitated.
“…We lost contact.”
The entire world seemed to stop.
Alexander’s voice became deadly quiet.
“Marco.”
Marco smiled slowly.
“I told you this game wasn’t over.”
Alexander’s fists clenched.
“If anything happened to him…”
His voice dropped into something terrifying.
“…I will destroy everything you have ever touched.”
Marco only laughed.
And the war between them had just become personal.