Suddenly, I stepped on the gas and arrived at the scene. There were policemen everywhere, loading crates into cars. SWAT members were present, and my men had been arrested. I got out of the car angrily and approached the police officer.

He looked me up and down "And you are?" he asked.

"Dante Russ," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow and turned to one of his colleagues, signaling something.

Another senior officer approached "Mr. Russ, you spared us the trouble of coming to arrest you," he said with a smile.

I scoffed. "There's no evidence against me."

He smiled back. "Oh, but there is, and we'll discuss it at the station."

"Have you arrested someone named Claus?" I asked.

He pointed to the car, where Claus sat in handcuffs, looking out at us.

I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated, and pulled out my phone, dialing my lawyer Harris.

"Yes, Mr. Russ?" he answered.

"It's about my arrest because the police apparently have evidence against me from a seizure."

He sighed briefly "Evidence?"

"They said they will Tell me on the Station."

"It's better to cooperate in such situations."

"Alright, I'll see you at the station," I said before hanging up.

I reached out my hands for the officer, and he handcuffed me, then allowed me to sit next to Claus in the car.

"Dante, what are you doing here?" Claus asked.

"Someone informed me; I'm here because of you. How did this happen?"

Claus replied, annoyed, "I don't know. I was in the middle of loading the crates onto the truck when suddenly a bunch of policemen came and pushed us to the ground. The weird thing is, they knew the exact timing."

"That's really strange. There could be a mole."

"Yes, there could be."

Two policemen got in, and we drove off, separated from the others. It was dark, and we were alone on the road.

The officer in front said, "You scumbags are finally being arrested."

I just looked at him, memorizing his face to kill him later. We drove into the city on the oddly empty highway. Suddenly, the car braked hard. Claus and I looked at each other, then out onto the road. A black van was in front of us; it shouldn't even be on this side of the road.

The driver, the policeman, said to his colleagues, "A wrong-way driver?"

The other shrugged.

I said from the back, "I wouldn't get out if I were you."

"Shut up, criminal," he replied.

He got out and shouted on the street, "Clear the way, this is an obstruction and a crime!"

Suddenly, the door of the black van opened, and three armed men got out, one of them wielding an M4, and began firing a hail of bullets at the policeman. Claus and I nodded to each other as a signal to move. The other policeman in the car frantically tried to reach headquarters on the radio. Claus silently strangled him from behind with his handcuffs. I quickly opened my side of the door, and the enemies started shooting. I ducked and took cover behind the car. Claus also got out and used the dead policeman's body as a shield.

He came to me, removed my handcuffs, and took the policeman's pistol.

I said to him as a bullet flew dangerously close to my head, "You take the gun; I have my own."

He smiled at me. "Just like old times."

I smiled back. "Just like old times, my friend."

My handcuffs fell to the ground, and the gunfire stopped as the attackers reloaded. I retrieved my pistol from my hip and took advantage of the lull to shoot, and Claus did the same. My bullets hit one of them twice in the chest and then in the head, and he fell to the ground. The others took cover behind the van, and I signaled for Claus to advance.

We advanced quickly with our guns drawn. One of them rushed towards me from behind the van. He was dark-skinned, wearing a black mask, a bulletproof vest, and military pants.

I shouted excitedly as adrenaline surged through me, "What, a mercenary?"

He scoffed and aimed his gun at me, but I kicked it away with a side kick and followed up with a tornado kick. He spun 180 degrees and fell to the ground, spitting blood. Removing his mask, I realized why he wore it.

He said angrily, "I'll kill you, you bastard."

Getting up, he assumed a fighting stance. It seemed like he had experience in combat, which made it even more interesting. I feinted an attack from the right and struck from the left, hitting him in the kidney. He doubled over, and I pushed his arms away from his face with all my strength, delivering a headbutt. Claus called from behind with a cigarette in his mouth, "Come on, Dante, I haven't seen you fight in a long time." The guy stumbled back, looking dizzy. I approached and landed a cross and undercut, causing him to fall to the ground. I spat on him.

Claus came over, "Why don't you kill him?"

"I need him for questioning," I replied.

He handed me a tissue, and I wiped away the blood. "Call Nicolas, tell him to be on standby." He nodded and dialed Nicolas' number, but there was no answer. A sense of unease washed over me.

I turned to Claus, "If we've been attacked, it means the others are in danger too!"

Claus holstered his gun, "I'll take the van and this bastard"

I holstered also my gun "I will take the police car , you head to Nicolas and find out what going and I will Check on Sofia and the others"

We nodded, and I sprinted to the police car, starting it and hitting the gas. Claus went in the opposite direction. I tried calling Sofia once there was no answer. Then a second,third,fourth, fifth and six time but there was no answer. I throw my phone to the ground in angry.

My heart raced faster.

Please be safe. I pressed harder on the gas pedal.

The men who were supposed to guard the house lay dead on the ground. The gate had been smashed through. My heart sank. I picked up another gun from one of the guards and cautiously approached the open door. My heart raced faster.

I silently prayed, "Please let nothing have happened. Please."

With my gun drawn, I entered. The light was out, and it was pitch dark in the hallway. I tried to move as quietly as possible, making my way to the living room where the moonlight streamed in through the huge windows, illuminating the villa as a storm raged outside. My hands dropped to my sides at the sight. My heart felt torn out. I felt like a hollow puppet, my mind going blank.

I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. Instead, my traumatized body moved in small steps toward Elena's lifeless body, a bullet wound in her head. I turned her over, her body cold, her empty eyes staring back at me. I started trembling, Mother's body nearby, two shots to her chest, her face serene. I crawled to her, taking her in my arms, holding her close as if willing her to come back to life. The grief and trauma were overwhelming, leaving me unable to cry.

I whispered in pain, "Mother, Elena, no, please."

I looked around for Sofia, but she was nowhere to be found. The rain poured down heavily, lightning flashing. A voice came from ahead, and I looked up. I knew that voice. It was exactly what I didn't want to see right now. I gently laid Mother back on the ground. The anger I felt was indescribable. I stared at him with wide eyes. James sat on the couch, bloodied, laughing at me.

He clapped his hands, "Dante! My old friend, how do you like my gift?"

I didn't respond. My brain was already devising scenarios of tearing him apart. I reached for my gun. I aimed it at him. He laughed like a filthy bastard.

He raised his hand, laughing, "But Dante, don't blame me."

I wanted to crush him.

Through gritted teeth, I dangerously threatened him, "I'll tear you apart, you bastard."

He stood up, walking through the living room "How's Rose doing?"

I furrowed my brows and shouted angrily, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

He turned around like a madman, "OH, YES, YOU DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH YET, DANTE."

He laughed.

I dropped my gun to the floor, unable to control myself, and went to him, punching him in the face, grabbing him by the collar, shaking him violently, and yelled furiously, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT TRUTH?"

He bled from his lip and said in a devilish tone, "Your beloved Sofia doesn't even exist. Her real name is Rose Aydin."

My brain didn't function in that moment. It was as if time and space momentarily ceased to exist for me.

I breathed heavily, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Rose Aydin worked with me in the FBI, and her mission was to kill you, your family, and gather evidence against your cartel."

He grinned devilishly, and I let go of his collar, taking a step back. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I was confused. What was right, and what was wrong? I couldn't think straight anymore. I ran my hands through my hair, stressed, angry, grieving. James straightened up happily, placing a hand on my shoulder. I followed his arm with my eyes and then his face.

He smiled, "But Dante, I feel what you're feeling right now! She betrayed me too. Let us find her and let her pay for it. What do you think?"

I laughed slowly, like a madman, and took his arm, twisting it and breaking it. He screamed. I kicked him in the knees, and he fell to them. I punched him repeatedly until he fell unconscious, his blood staining my clothes. My phone vibrated. I looked at it lifelessly. Claus sent photos. Bodies were visible. The recruits were dead.

He then wrote, "Nicolas is also dead."

I threw the phone to the ground. I looked around the living room, empty. Tables with glasses and drinks lay before me, and I smashed everything to the ground. The glass shattered, and I screamed in despair falling to my knees, pulling at my own hair.