Chapter 1502 I Will Not Live Alone
A crowd had already gathered at the entrance—Emilio's men facing off against members of the Schmidt family. Parker remained conspicuously absent; showing his face now would be tantamount to declaring war on Emilio, giving his rival the excuse he needed to strike.
But the Schmidt operatives who had emerged could all be disavowed later—if Emilio came asking questions, Parker could simply claim Mario had bought their loyalty.
As long as Parker stayed in the shadows, he could walk away from this mess unscathed.
Emilio's gaze swept over the Schmidt family soldiers positioned behind Mario, and he let out a cold laugh. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
One of his men had already fallen, caught by the earlier gunfire. Tonight would be anything but peaceful.
Mario didn't hesitate. With a sharp gesture, he barked, "Leave no one alive. Finish them all."
Emilio's brow furrowed—the man was completely unhinged. He dove for cover as both sides erupted into vicious combat, the close quarters turning the firefight into a bloodbath. Within minutes, over twenty bodies littered the ground.
Survivors scrambled for whatever shelter they could find. Mario pressed himself against a pillar near the entrance, breathing in the metallic tang of blood that hung heavy in the air, his eyes cold as winter steel. He pulled out his key and unlocked Selena's door, shutting out the chaos behind him as he approached her bedside.
Selena remained paralyzed, able only to watch as he drew near. He lifted her into his arms and pressed a hidden switch—the floor gave way instantly, revealing a concealed passage beneath.
Unable to speak, Selena could only listen as Mario spoke into his phone: "I want Emilio and Raymond dead before dawn, here on Schmidt property. Parker, if you're willing to take the gamble, you've seen what my latest formula can do. Mass-produce this, and no one will dare defy you."
Twenty minutes earlier, Mario had delivered a vial of his newest creation to Parker. This compound surpassed his previous work—it could shatter a person's will directly, rendering them temporarily compliant. The effects were so potent that even the strongest minds would bend to its influence.
Unlike his earlier formulas that only worked on weak-willed targets, this one could transform the most formidable opponents into obedient servants. Parker could barely comprehend that such a substance existed, yet here was Mario—the Schmidt family's potential partner—offering him the key to absolute power.
With Mario's expertise, the Schmidt family could dominate every rival. Parker had waited years in the shadows for exactly this opportunity. The risk was enormous, but so was the reward. He had to take the bet.
Mario ended the call and carried Selena into the tunnel's depths. He withdrew one of the needles from her arm, restoring her ability to speak.
She had heard enough to understand that Mario was manipulating Parker, though his drug was terrifyingly real. But his true goal wasn't to serve the Schmidt family—it was to destroy everything, including Raymond, then disappear with her to some remote sanctuary.
"I've planted explosives throughout the entire compound," Mario said, his voice echoing in the narrow passage. "Once we reach the exit a few thousand feet ahead, I'll detonate them. Everyone dies—including Raymond." His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Then I'm taking you home to Manston Manor."
Selena stared at him in disbelief. He truly had lost his mind—returning to Manston Manor as if he belonged there, as if he were still Christopher.
"Go to hell," she said, her voice like ice. She closed her eyes. "If Raymond dies, I won't survive him."
Mario's steps faltered, something twisting painfully in his chest—perhaps the last remnants of Christopher's emotions fighting to surface. His gaze dropped to Selena's abdomen, as if he could see through flesh to the life growing within. Raymond's child.
The drugs he'd given her weren't meant to cause a miscarriage—he'd only wanted to frighten her. His grip tightened as he forced himself to continue forward.
Selena kept her eyes shut, refusing to watch.
After covering several thousand feet, Mario stopped and activated the detonator. Explosions thundered through the compound and beyond as his other devices triggered in sequence. Through the chaos, Mario smiled and began making his way toward the exit with Selena in his arms.
He'd barely taken a few steps when a bullet tore through his leg. Agony shot through him as he collapsed, sweat beading on his forehead. Through the smoke and debris, with explosions still echoing around them, it was impossible to see who had fired the shot.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
