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Darkness flew past the window, but my mind churned uncontrollably—Cassie's pale face, her determined departure, and that unmet little life already pulling at all my flesh and blood.

I was going to be a father.

This knowledge brought belated wild joy and deeper dull pain. She alone, bearing pregnancy discomfort, bearing the heart-piercing pain of losing her father, bearing misunderstanding and despair about me, swallowing all bitterness alone. And I, like a complete fool, noticed nothing, did nothing. If I make it back alive, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up. Give her the grandest wedding, watch our child grow, warm back all I owe them, bit by bit.

But first, they had to live.

The car stopped in the distance. I pushed the door open, cold night wind rushing in but unable to disperse the burning in my chest. Every step on the wet gravel rang crystal clear. This was atonement. For my blindness, my failure to see, for all the innocents dragged into the abyss because of me, for settling accounts.

Warehouse door ajar, yellow light seeping out like a dying gasp. Deep breath, the smell of rust, dust, and rotting wood filling my lungs. Push the door.

"Gennady Sokolov!" Marco's voice exploded in the emptiness, echoing with madness. "Welcome to hell's entrance! You're slower than I expected."

My gaze instantly locked on the light's center. Cassie! Tied to a chair, face white as paper, lips cracked dry. But those eyes looking at me burned with undying fire—fear, worry, and deep-buried love.

In this moment, I knew she carried our future inside her.

"Let her go." My voice was unnaturally steady, all storms pressed deep in my heart. "Your target is me."

"Of course it's you." Marco stepped from the shadows, revolver gleaming darkly in his hand. "But I make the rules." He suddenly swung the gun around, pressing it hard against Cassie's temple. "Drop your gun! Beg me! Admit you're a complete fucking failure!"

"Don't! Gennady! Don't listen to him!" Cassie screamed, voice weak but full of strength.

I looked into her eyes, at that face written with stubbornness and deep love. Pride? Worth nothing compared to her and our child's lives. I slowly bent my knees, placed my gun on the ground, and kicked it forward.

"Good!" Marco burst into victorious laughter. "Now you'll taste losing your beloved!"

Just as he got carried away, I caught Cassie's wrist moving ever so slightly. The ropes... loose? A weak spark of hope exploded in my heart. She hadn't given up! She'd been waiting for a chance!

The chance was here.

"Marco." I lifted my head, voice carrying deliberate, provocative coldness, gaze needling into him. "You look pretty pleased with yourself. Like a beggar who finally stole some candy."

His laughing expression froze instantly, eyes flashing with exposed embarrassment and deeper rage. "What did you say?!"

"I said you're like a beggar." I slowed my speech, every word clear. "Look at yourself, Marco. Like a dog with a broken spine, hiding in this rat hole, only able to satisfy your pathetic, pitiful revenge by kidnapping women and children! Your fifteen-year empire—I crushed it in one night! Your men dead or turned traitor! Your money became my spoils! Everything you were proud of turned to ash! Now, besides the woman in your hands, what's left?"

"Shut up!!" Marco's face twitched wildly, bloodshot eyes boring into me, the hand holding the gun shaking violently with extreme rage, the barrel against Cassie's temple even wobbling. "I'll kill her! I'll kill her right now!"

"You dare?" I suddenly raised my volume, with almost contemptuous pressure, body leaning slightly forward. "A coward who lost everything to me, in the end, can only use a woman to threaten me! Without her, what can you do? You, Marco, are complete fucking trash who only dares attack the weak!"

Marco completely lost it to my provocation, the string of reasons snapping instantly! He let out a beast-like roar, eyes completely consumed by violent killing intent! He jerked the gun away from Cassie's head, arm raised high in extreme anger, seeming to want to pistol-whip me, or simply blinded by rage, just wanting to vent!

Now!

In that fatal instant when anger completely consumed his mind, movements distorted, gun leaving Cassie's vital points—stored power exploded from my feet, I lunged forward like a cheetah! Marco clearly didn't expect this, hastily pulling the trigger!

Bang!

The bullet grazed past my shoulder with scorching air, burning pain, but didn't slow my charge at all! My heavy fist smashed into his jaw! Clear sound of bone cracking mixed with his scream, the revolver flying from his hand!

Marco and I began the most primitive, savage struggle. Fear and desperation gave Marco beast-like strength. We rolled and tore at each other on the cold, filthy ground, the dull thud of fists on flesh, heavy breathing, mixed with the smell of blood. Anger and protective will sustained me, fighting instinct took over. A precise, heavy punch slammed into his temple!

His eyes went unfocused, movements instantly sluggish.

Victory in sight!

But Marco suddenly rolled, desperately lunging toward Cassie! He bent sharply, hiding his whole body behind Cassie, using his last strength to lock his forearm tight across her throat! Blood poured from his broken nose, covering half his face, eyes wild as a cornered beast.