Chapter 22 - Adrian

Finally, a moment to breathe. With Iris safe and out of harm's way, a weight I didn't even realize I'd been carrying seemed to lift from my shoulders. For once, Seraphina wasn't pacing around like a storm about to unleash itself, and Nick wasn't cracking his usual irritating jokes. Everyone seemed...lighter.

But that peace wouldn't last long. Not with her father still in the picture.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair as I glanced at the reports spread across the table. Seraphina's father had built an empire of illegal businesses hidden behind layers of deception. It wouldn't be easy to take him down, but if there was one thing I was certain of, it was that we would destroy him piece by piece.

The door creaked open, and Seraphina walked in, her expression a mix of determination and something softer. "Adrian," she started, her voice firm. "We need to make him pay. Not just for Iris, but for everything he's done."

I nodded, my gaze meeting hers. "We will. I've already started digging into his operations. The key is to hit him where it hurts the most—his wallet and reputation. Expose his illegal companies, leak the truth to the media, and let the world watch him burn."

A small smirk tugged at her lips. "You make it sound so simple."

"It's not," I admitted, leaning forward. "But we've got the resources, and we've got the drive. Besides," I added with a teasing edge, "you're not the kind of woman who lets a little challenge scare her off."

Her smirk grew, but there was a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. "It's not about me," she said quietly. "It's about everyone he's hurt. He thinks he's untouchable, Adrian. I want him to know what it feels like to lose everything."

I stood, walking over to her. "And he will. Together, we'll make sure of it."

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, the room felt heavier with unspoken emotions. Then, as if she remembered herself, she straightened and nodded. "Good. Let's start planning."

I smiled faintly as I watched her walk out, already barking orders at Nick and Lyra in the next room. She carried so much on her shoulders, more than anyone should have to. But I'd be damned if I let her face it alone.

Her father had no idea what was coming. We were going to dismantle his empire piece by piece, and when the dust settled, Seraphina would finally have the closure she deserved.

Taking down her father wasn't just about revenge; it was about ensuring he never had the power to hurt anyone again. His empire was built on lies, illegal activities, and exploiting innocent people. Seraphina's anger fueled the fire, but our plan required precision, strategy, and patience.

The process began with gathering information. Lyra hacked into his financial records, uncovering shell companies and offshore accounts. Nick and I worked on tracing the flow of money, following the trails that led to his most profitable ventures. Seraphina, despite her burning desire to act immediately, was tasked with using her contacts to discreetly spread whispers about her father's operations, planting seeds of doubt in the minds of his business partners.

"We hit him in three phases," I explained during one of our strategy meetings. "First, we leak the truth about his illegal companies. The media will eat it up, and his reputation will take a massive hit."

"Next," Nick added, "we make sure his investors pull out. Once his money flow dries up, it's game over."

"And the final phase?" Seraphina asked, her voice sharp.

I smirked. "We expose his personal involvement in every illegal deal. That'll make sure he's not just ruined financially but legally, too. By the time we're done, he won't have a single ally left."

She leaned back in her chair, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Let's get to work."

The first phase was a success. A carefully timed leak to a trusted journalist exposed the truth about several of her father's front companies. The headlines were brutal: "Business Tycoon's Empire Built on Corruption and Exploitation!" Investors panicked, stocks plummeted, and within hours, the world turned against him.

Seraphina watched the news unfold with a mix of satisfaction and disbelief. "It's happening," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"We're just getting started," I reminded her.

The second phase was trickier. Using false identities, Nick and I posed as potential investors, contacting her father's current partners and dropping hints about the leaked information. The fear of being associated with a sinking ship did the rest. Within days, his most loyal investors withdrew their support. His financial empire was crumbling.

When it came to the final phase, Seraphina insisted on being directly involved. "This is personal," she said firmly.

Together, we prepared an airtight case against him, complete with documents, recordings, and testimonies. Lyra anonymously sent the evidence to law enforcement, ensuring there was no escape.

The final blow came when the authorities raided his headquarters. The footage was everywhere: her father, looking disheveled and defeated, being escorted out in handcuffs.

That evening, we sat in the living room, the news still playing in the background. Seraphina's father was finished. His empire was gone, his reputation shattered, and his freedom stripped away.

She stood abruptly, walking toward me. Before I could say a word, she threw her arms around me, holding me tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "For everything."

I froze for a second before wrapping my arms around her, pulling her closer. "You don't have to thank me, Seraphina. We did this together."

She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But you made it possible, Adrian. You believed in me even when I didn't. You—" Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in my chest again.

I ran a hand down her back, comforting her as she let out quiet sobs. "You're stronger than you think, Sera," I murmured. "And now, it's over. He can't hurt anyone anymore."

She nodded against my chest, her grip tightening. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. This wasn't just a victory—it was freedom for her, for Iris, for all the people her father had wronged.

We stayed like that for a long time, her tears soaking into my shirt. But I didn't care. All that mattered was that she felt safe, that she knew she wasn't alone in this fight.

When she finally pulled away, her face was streaked with tears, but there was a faint smile on her lips. "I couldn't have done this without you."

I smiled back, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'll always have your back, Seraphina. Always."

Her father may have been behind bars, but the war wasn't over. Isabella and Jennifer were still loose ends, and their involvement in everything meant they couldn't be ignored. If we wanted to dismantle the entire web of corruption and betrayal, we needed to deal with them, too.

The four of us—Seraphina, Nick, Lyra, and I—were sitting at a dimly lit table in an exclusive club, the bass from the music vibrating through the air. Jennifer had called us here after the news of Seraphina's father's downfall broke, claiming she had something important to share.

"Does anyone else find this setup suspicious?" Nick asked, swirling his drink as he scanned the room. "I mean, who invites their enemies to a club for a 'chat' after being exposed?"

Lyra smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, don't worry. If she tries anything, I'll have the security footage on a loop before she even knows what hit her."

"Comforting," Seraphina muttered, her eyes fixed on the entrance. Despite her calm demeanor, I could see the tension in her posture—the way her fingers drummed softly against the table, the way her gaze darted between the people coming and going.

I leaned closer to her, my voice low enough that only she could hear. "Relax, Sera. If Jennifer tries something, she'll regret it."

She glanced at me, her expression softening just a bit. "I'm not worried about her trying something, Adrian. I'm worried about what she might know. She's dangerous."

"Not more than you," I said, smirking.

Her lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but she quickly masked it. "Flattery doesn't suit you."

"Who said I was flattering you?"

"Can you two save the flirting for after the mission?" Nick cut in, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe they're planning to take Jennifer down with their chemistry," Lyra teased, earning a glare from Seraphina.

"Focus," she snapped, though there was no real anger in her voice.

The club had grown quieter, the pulsating music now more like a distant hum as the tension around our table thickened. Jennifer strolled in like she owned the place, her signature smirk firmly in place. She didn't even wait to be invited before pulling up a chair, crossing her legs with deliberate ease.

"Well," she began, glancing at each of us, "it's a pleasure seeing all of you. I hope you're enjoying your moment of victory. Taking down your father, Seraphina? Quite the headline."

"Spare us the commentary, Jennifer," Seraphina snapped, her voice icy. "What do you want?"

Jennifer leaned forward slightly, her smirk never wavering. "Oh, I'm just here to offer some friendly advice. Isabella doesn't take betrayal lightly, and trust me, she considers what you did a betrayal. She's coming for you, both of you."

"Let her," I said sharply, my eyes narrowing. "We're ready for her."

Jennifer laughed softly, the sound grating on my nerves. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But bravery only gets you so far, Adrian."

As she spoke, something felt off. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, subtle shifts in the crowd. Men who had been milling about aimlessly were suddenly too coordinated, their gazes too focused on us.

Seraphina noticed it too. She stiffened beside me, her hand brushing mine under the table. "Adrian," she murmured, her voice barely audible, "we've got company."

Jennifer stood, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. "Well, I've said my piece. Good luck surviving the night." With that, she turned and melted into the crowd, disappearing before I could even react.

"That was suspiciously ominous," Nick muttered, glancing over his shoulder.

"Understatement of the year," Lyra said, taking a sip of her drink. "But hey, you two have got this, right? Adrian? Seraphina? We'll handle... morale support."

Nick leaned back in his chair, stretching. "Yeah, we're the brains, not the brawn. You two are the action stars here."

Seraphina shot them a glare. "Seriously?"

Before Nick or Lyra could answer, one of the men in the crowd drew a gun, aiming it directly at us.

"Duck!" I barked, grabbing Seraphina and pulling her down behind the table as the first shot rang out.

The club erupted into chaos, screams filling the air as people scrambled to escape. More men emerged, weapons drawn, clearly working together.

"Looks like it's showtime," Seraphina said, her voice steady despite the chaos.

"You think?" I shot back, adrenaline already coursing through me.

We moved in sync, years of training kicking in as we leapt into action. I flipped the table over, using it as temporary cover, while Seraphina kicked out at the nearest attacker, sending his weapon skittering across the floor.

"Watch your left!" she shouted, and I spun just in time to block a punch from another thug, countering with a blow that knocked him unconscious.

"Nice move," I called over my shoulder.

"You too," she replied, her voice laced with amusement.

Meanwhile, Nick and Lyra were still lounging casually behind the bar. Nick had commandeered a bowl of peanuts, tossing them into his mouth as he watched us fight.

"Adrian, don't forget to duck next time," Nick called out.

"And Sera, maybe don't break the guy's nose so quickly. Leave some for Adrian to deal with," Lyra added with a grin.

Seraphina and I exchanged a glance mid-fight, rolling our eyes in unison.

"Why are we friends with them again?" she asked, throwing a well-aimed kick that sent another attacker sprawling.

"Because they're good with computers," I replied, dodging a swing and landing a solid punch to my opponent's jaw.

As the last of the men fell, the club was eerily silent again, save for the faint thrum of the music. I surveyed the chaos around us, catching my breath.

Seraphina brushed her hair out of her face, her eyes gleaming with adrenaline. "That was almost too easy."

"You call that easy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before she could reply, Nick and Lyra sauntered over, looking completely unbothered.

"Good job, you two," Nick said, clapping me on the back. "We knew you could handle it."

"Absolutely," Lyra agreed. "We're the masterminds, you're the muscle. Teamwork."

Seraphina groaned, but there was a faint smile on her lips. "Next time, you're the muscle."

"Sure, sure," Lyra said breezily. "Now, how about we get out of here before more of Jennifer's goons show up?"

I nodded, grabbing Seraphina's hand and leading her toward the exit. Despite the chaos, one thought lingered in my mind: Jennifer had vanished too easily. She wasn't done with us yet.

Just as we were about to step out of the club, I heard the unmistakable click of a gun behind us. My instincts kicked in immediately, and I turned to see Jennifer standing there, a smug grin plastered on her face, pointing the barrel directly at Seraphina.

"Going somewhere?" Jennifer drawled, her voice dripping with mockery.

Nick groaned audibly beside me. "Why is it always her? Can't she just stay hidden like a proper villain?"

I stayed calm, stepping aside with Nick and Lyra, deliberately slow, keeping my hands in my pockets. "It's her showtime," I said with a smirk. "Let's see how this plays out."

Seraphina didn't flinch, her eyes narrowing as she stared Jennifer down. "What do you want now, Jennifer? Lost the will to hire others to do your dirty work?"

Jennifer chuckled, tilting her head. "You and your sharp tongue, Seraphina. I think it's time we settle this—just you and me. No Adrian, no guns." She tossed her weapon to the floor, kicking it aside. "Fist to fist. Let's end this rivalry once and for all."

Seraphina smirked, crossing her arms. "Fine by me. But don't complain when you can't get up after this." She tossed her own weapon to the side and reached up to tie her hair into a ponytail.

I couldn't help the grin that crept onto my face as I watched her prepare. "Oh, this is going to be good," I muttered.

Nick leaned toward me, whispering, "Why aren't you doing anything?"

I gave him a sidelong glance. "Because my queen fights her battles on her own. I don't need to step in unless she asks for me to."

Lyra laughed softly. "Fair point."

Still, I couldn't resist having a little fun. I leaned slightly forward and called out, "You know, Jennifer's looking pretty fast on her feet. Might give you a run for your money, Sera."

That did it. Seraphina froze mid-stretch, her head snapping toward me with a glare that could have melted steel. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

Nick snickered beside me. "You're really fueling her now, aren't you?"

"Absolutely," I replied with a smirk.

Before Seraphina could retort, Jennifer seized the moment, landing a surprise punch across her face. The sound of the impact echoed in the air, and Seraphina staggered back slightly, more surprised than hurt.

I winced dramatically. "Ouch. She got you there, love."

Seraphina turned her head toward me, her eyes blazing. "Adrian, if you say one more word..."

Jennifer smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange. "What's the matter, Seraphina? Can't handle the truth?"

But Seraphina wasn't fazed. She wiped her lip with the back of her hand and smiled—an ominous, dangerous smile. "Oh, you're going to regret that."

What followed was nothing short of brutal elegance. Seraphina moved with precision and fury, her strikes calculated and unrelenting. Jennifer tried to keep up, but it was clear she was no match.

"Faster than me, huh?" Seraphina growled, glancing at me as she delivered a powerful kick that sent Jennifer stumbling backward.

"Not anymore," I said quickly, raising my hands in mock surrender. "You're clearly the fastest, darling. No competition."

Nick snorted beside me. "Smooth save, man."

Jennifer, now visibly struggling, swung wildly, but Seraphina dodged with ease, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back. Jennifer cried out in pain, but Seraphina wasn't done. With a final, well-placed shove, she sent Jennifer sprawling to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Seraphina stood over her, victorious. "And that's why you don't mess with me," she said, her voice cold and sharp.

Jennifer glared up at her, clutching her side but saying nothing.

I stepped forward, clapping slowly. "Impressive, my love. Truly."

Seraphina rolled her eyes, brushing past me. "You're sleeping on the couch tonight."

"Worth it," I muttered, following her out of the club with a grin. Nick and Lyra trailed behind, laughing quietly as they replayed the scene in their heads.

Jennifer had underestimated Seraphina—and once again, my queen proved she was unstoppable.