Chapter 11 A Dangerous Bargain

The unconscious man lay sprawled on the cold marble floor, his breathing shallow but steady. Alexander wiped his knuckles against his sleeve, his mind already calculating their next move.

Elena stood beside him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Alexander, what if there are more of them?"

"There will be," he replied, his voice cold and sharp. "Morello doesn't send just one man. This was a warning."

Elena shivered. A warning meant they still had time—time to act before Morello decided to escalate.

Alexander knelt beside the unconscious man, reaching into his pockets. He pulled out a sleek black phone, the screen locked with a passcode. Without hesitation, he pocketed it. "This might tell us what we're up against."

Elena took a deep breath. "And the journal? Is it enough to bring him down?"

Alexander hesitated. "It's a start. But Morello is too smart to have all his secrets in one place. There has to be more."

Elena's eyes flickered to the heavy wooden desk, its presence looming in the dimly lit room. "If your grandfather hid the journal here, there could be other documents—something that connects Morello to something bigger."

Alexander nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then let's find it."

The Search for the Truth

They worked quickly, rifling through the drawers and cabinets, searching for anything that could be used against Morello. Elena pulled out old ledgers, scanning through the handwritten notes. Some were coded, others clear as day—business transactions, land acquisitions, offshore accounts.

But nothing solid.

Alexander gritted his teeth as he flipped through more papers. "There has to be something more."

Elena's fingers traced the edges of the wooden bookshelf, her mind racing. Then, she felt it—a small groove along the edge of one shelf. A hidden compartment.

"Alexander," she whispered. "Here."

He rushed over, running his fingers along the same spot. With a gentle push, the shelf clicked, sliding outward to reveal a small metal box.

He grabbed it and placed it on the desk. It was locked.

"Move," he said, reaching for his pocketknife. With a swift motion, he forced the lock open. The lid popped up, revealing a stack of old photographs, some letters, and a USB drive.

Elena picked up one of the photographs. Her heart stopped.

It was a picture of Morello. Standing beside him was an older man—Alexander's grandfather. And between them was another man, one Elena didn't recognize.

But the date on the back of the photo sent a chill through her veins.

"This was taken the year your grandfather died," she murmured.

Alexander's face hardened as he picked up the USB drive. "Then whatever's on this might explain what really happened."

Before Elena could respond, a loud crash sounded from downstairs.

They weren't alone.

A Race Against Time

Alexander grabbed the USB and the journal, shoving them into his coat pocket. "We need to leave. Now."

Elena's heart pounded as she followed him toward the door. The sound of heavy boots echoed through the halls. More men were inside.

Alexander pulled out his phone and sent a quick message. "I called for backup. We have two minutes."

Two minutes felt like an eternity.

They moved swiftly, staying low as they crept down the hallway. But as they reached the grand staircase, a voice rang out.

"Going somewhere?"

Elena froze.

At the base of the stairs stood a man in a tailored suit, his hand resting on a gun holstered at his side. Behind him, two more men flanked the entrance.

Alexander's grip on her wrist tightened.

"Mr. Lancaster," the man said smoothly. "You're making this very difficult."

Alexander's voice was calm, but his stance was tense. "You should've sent more men."

The man chuckled. "Oh, I didn't come to fight. I came to talk."

Elena's stomach churned. She knew that tone.

Alexander took a step forward. "Then talk."

The man smirked. "Mr. Morello would like to extend an offer. A very generous one."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "I don't make deals with men like him."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Then you might want to reconsider. Because if you don't, the next time we meet, it won't be for conversation."

A deadly silence followed.

Elena felt her pulse pounding in her ears. Morello wasn't just threatening Alexander. He was threatening everything they had.

Alexander's voice was lethal. "Tell Morello he doesn't scare me."

The man sighed. "Pity. He really hoped you'd be smarter than your grandfather."

Alexander's muscles tensed. But before he could respond, the distant sound of sirens filled the night air.

The man smirked. "Looks like our time is up." He turned on his heel, gesturing for his men to follow. "We'll be in touch, Mr. Lancaster."

And just like that, they disappeared into the night.

A Plan in Motion

Back at the penthouse, Elena sat on the couch, watching as Alexander inserted the USB into his laptop.

The screen flickered to life, revealing folders upon folders of documents, video files, and emails.

Alexander clicked on one. A grainy video appeared.

It was a security recording—of his grandfather.

Elena gasped as she saw Morello in the frame, shaking hands with the unknown man from the photograph. The conversation was muted, but the body language was clear. It was a deal. A dangerous one.

Then—something happened.

A struggle. A flash of movement.

Alexander's grandfather staggered backward, his hand clutching his chest. He collapsed.

And Morello just stood there.

The video ended abruptly.

Elena covered her mouth. "Alexander… your grandfather didn't just die. He was murdered."

Alexander's face was a mask of fury. "Morello made it look like natural causes. He's been covering it up for years."

Elena swallowed. "This changes everything."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "Yes. And now, Morello knows we're onto him."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then, Alexander turned to her, his gaze burning with resolve. "No more playing defense. It's time to bring him down."

Elena met his eyes, her heart pounding.

This wasn't just about business anymore.

This was war.