Chapter 88

Levi.

The air inside the underground tunnel in Tampa was thick with the scent of damp earth and cold steel. We waited in the shadows, every muscle tensed for Liam’s signal.

In the absolute darkness, only our night vision goggles provided a grainy, green-hued perspective of the concrete corridor ahead. At moments like this, discretion was the only thing standing between a successful operation and total disaster.

My team and I were linked via encrypted communicators to Liam and his tactical unit. Cyril had chosen this secluded site for the exchange, confident that he was dealing with a high-profile Florida syndicate.

"How many units are we talking about? I need them processed and ready for distribution tonight," Liam said, his voice smooth and perfectly in character as the ambitious buyer.

“Since this is our first major collaboration, I’ve brought four hundred units—a premium shipment for a superior deal. Consider the extra hundred a token of my goodwill,” Cyril’s voice crackled over the communicator.

I felt a surge of cold fury. Cyril was talking about lives—people trapped in his web of exploitation—as if they were nothing more than inventory. I wanted to move then and there, but we had to stick to the plan. My men had him surrounded, but the fool was too arrogant to realize it.

"Where is the cargo?" Liam asked.

“Loaded in those two armored trailers outside. My establishment is efficient, Liam. If this goes well, I can provide these 'assets' for you on a monthly basis.”

“Alright. Let my men verify the shipment,” Liam replied, ending his sentence with a sharp cough. That was the signal.

I shared a look with Blake, who was crouched beside me. Our tactical gear masked our identities, blending us into the gloom.

"Now," I whispered into the mic.

Instantly, our teams filed out, weapons leveled at Cyril and his associates. Cyril’s men reached for their own sidearms, but they were already outmatched. I rose to my feet, sauntering into the dim light of the car’s headlamps. Cyril looked around, horror etched into his aging features. When our gazes finally locked, his expression shifted from panic to a terrifying recognition.

He had changed in the years since we last crossed paths. His frame had grown heavier, his hair thinning, but the malice in his eyes remained identical.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaking.

“Don't you recognize me, Rhino?” I inched closer, the light catching my face.

Cyril went pale. Even in the shadows, the sight of me seemed to strike him like a physical blow. "L-Levi?"

I nodded slowly, my gaze measured. He looked toward Liam, his confusion turning to bitter realization. "What is the meaning of this? This was a business arrangement."

"The 'business' of exploiting the vulnerable is over, Cyril," Liam intoned, stepping forward to join me.

“You can't hold anything against me,” Cyril stammered, his confidence fraying. “My operations are legally shielded. My records are clean.”

I pulled a small stack of photographs from my tactical vest and tossed them onto the hood of a nearby car. Cyril hesitated, then lowered his eyes to the images. They weren't just photos; they were files on the individuals who had disappeared under his watch over the last decade—those who had tried to speak out and were silenced.

"These are the ghosts you've tried to bury, Cyril. People who vanished without a trace. With one phone call, an international investigation will be opened, and every secret you've hidden will come to light."

Cyril stared at the photos, his jaw tightening as he weighed his options. "There is no direct evidence linking me to their disappearances," he snarled, raising his head defiantly.

"I don't need a courtroom to deal with you, Cyril. I just need one crack in your armor to start the collapse of your entire syndicate," I declared coldly.

A menacing laughter suddenly erupted from him, reverberating through the tunnel. It was a chilling sound that made the air feel even colder. He took a moment to compose himself, a single tear of derision pooling in his eyes.

"This is about that girl years ago, isn't it? You're still haunted by Tina's fate." Cyril laughed, the sound sharp and jagged.

He turned his back to me for a moment, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. “In our world, there are no protectors, Levi. Tina believed she had one. She used to tell me her 'guardian' was coming for her.” He turned back slowly, a dark grin fixed on his face. “I suppose that was you, wasn't it? The guardian who was always one step too late.”

A wave of cold dread climbed my spine as the memories of that night flooded back. I had shown up at the address she had sent me, but the building had been empty.

“You never found her because you had the wrong location,” Cyril revealed, his eyes dancing with malice. “I intercepted her messages. I saw your promises to save her. So, I sent you to a ghost address while I settled the score.”

My jaw twitched, the pain of that failure tearing at me from the inside. But I kept my voice steady, my tone as sharp as a blade.

"You have exactly one chance to choose how this ends, Cyril."