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[Book 2 in The Untamed Duet]
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Copyright © 2026
By Naomi Cindy B.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied or reposted without a prior written permission from ME.
CHAPTER 5-6
★
The phone slid back into Thiago’s back pocket like he didn’t just give an order to have someone eradicated.
The palpable tension in the air seems to be receiving energy from the blood allover the floors and it kept getting thicker with each breath.
The firing has stopped from both sides, but the one at the losing end is very obvious cos both Ten and Eleven are still very much alive, right beside Thiago who’s now staring lingeringly at the shotgun with him like he didn’t just fire pellets out of it.
Mio’s jaws went clenched when she sighted the rogues behind Thiago, and she growled….
“I just knew Her Excellency shoulda killed you both instead of castration! You shitty arses!!”
She took a step forward to lunge, but Shelby pulled her back.
“I never said you could move!”
Mio stepped back, relaxing.
Shelby’s dark grey eyes returned to her normal lifeless gaze which settled on nothing in particular.
“I expected you to set things on fire at your return, but seems someone inculcated a new habit,” her voice was firm as a mountain as she talked. “You’ve always hated guns, little deranged brother.”
Thiago threw the gun, and Eleven caught it.
He jumped down the car, his dress-shoes marching dead bodies with unforgettable impact as he strolled powerfully to his blind sister.
Mio’s jaws kept clenching like a rabid dog’s, but Shelby’s demeanor remained calm around her.
“How you been? Daughter of a bîtch?” He asked hypothetically, his presence latching on her.
“Better than you anticipated, unforgivable sinner.” Shelby responded, raising her hand to touch his dark blue blazer. “You should have stayed down, Thiago. Now that you showed up, I can’t give you a proper welcome. They’ll have to do that to you in jail!”
Using the part of his blazer she held, she tried to pull him into a headbutt, but Thiago retracted and sent a folded fist to her eye.
An inch before it’d get to her eye, she blocked it with her palm and moved an inch sideways to dodge before ducking, then she pulled pins out of her hair, and the abnormally long hair poured down. Like down.
Reaching the back of her legs like she has never cut it since she was born.
The hair flowed aggressively with the air, covering Thiago’s face.
She thrusted the pins up, targeting his chin. Thiago used his knees, jabbing at her stomach before grabbing her by the hair, but it’s so slippery he can’t hold it.
Seems she rubbed something on it, so it slipped out of his palm as soon as he held it, but he wasn’t unguarded.
Shelby came with the pins again for his two eyes, and he did a right-hand side sway, giving her a ruthless knuckle hit in the middle of her back.
She galloped and nearly fell, but she was able to lurch to the other side of the hall where she panted.
She’s blind in the eyes but not blind in intelligence. She’s a X anyways.
She uses perception; sounds, scent and feel to fight, and she’s skilled.
And everyone else just watched the duel like spectators, not daring to interfere in it.
“You’re fighting with limited skills, Daughter of a bîtch,” Thiago smirked. “Are we gatekeeping moves now?”
“So are you, Sinner.” Shelby said expressionlessly. “You moved like you weren’t fighting me, like you were testing my abilities. You haven’t changed one bit!”
“Who’d a damn change help?” Thiago’s smirk darkened. “After all, you’ll never understand what it’s like to be me. You sure don’t wanna be in my head cos you’ll get lost.”
“I don’t wanna be you!” Shelby snapped. “I am Shelby X, the alpha here, not the son of a sinner woman who committed suicide by jumping in a river after she birthed him! But come to think of it…I wouldn’t blame her for ending her own misery early cos gawd forbid if I were your mother, I’d kill myself too!”
“You’re still loud,” Thiago nodded, smiling deceptively with a side of his lips. “Like your mother didn’t jump off a skyscraper too.”
“My mother was pushed! She ain’t a suicide sinner like yours!” Shelby snapped angrily.
“You’ve been eating that lie since you grew up, but you still aren’t full,” Thiago sighed, smirk disappearing. “Your body will interpret the feelings for you when I begin. In fact, I’ve already begun…. You only have to await results, and everyone better prepare for a party tonight… It’s courtesy to welcome back the king when he returns.”
And with that, he began strolling out of the Yard with Ten and Eleven behind him.
The Family and Syndicate members made way for him, and he still continued stepping on bodies till he was nearly out, but then…
An old man blocked him by the door, raising his finger up at Thiago’s face.
“I told Nathan—your father. I told him you were a curse that should be eliminated immediately you were born! The moment your mother drowned herself in a river on the day she birthed you, I told Nathan it was a sign of a curse, and we had to eradicate you too, but he loved you immediately you were born and protected you with all he got!”
His finger is still pointed at Thiago’s blank face as he talked… He’s one of the Great Uncles who’s still lucky to be alive till now.
“He loved and protected you while he hated and pushed Shelby aside, but you’re the one who eventually killed him like a heartless beast that you are! You shouldn’t have been allowed to live! You’re a curse! A bane of our existence! How could you….”
That was the end of his statement, unfortunately. Thiago took the shotgun back from Eleven and fired at the old man’s finger.
That finger he was pointing. He shot it off, and he proceeded to blowing his head off too just like he did to the two attorneys earlier.
Blood sprayed Thiago’s face.
He took an hanky from Ten, and he was wiping his face as he finally walked away from there.
He carried his suffocating presence along with him, and the rest of the members began dispersing in total silence too while the rogues cleared the bodies off the floor.
Mio was with Shelby in another minute, and she helped the blind woman roll up her hair, returning the pins inside.
“I’ll contact the cops,” She said.
“No,” Shelby rejected. “I’m not involving the cops. Do you really think jail will hold his arse? I’m going for it myself this time. Now that he’s back, why not let’s go head for head.” She faced Mio. “I have the support of all the Syndicate tops and Family guardians, and the backing of people he doesn’t even know about. He was gone for eleven years, and I didn’t just sit around those years. I built my palace and any king other than me will not sit on the throne! He’ll be subdued, and he’ll end up giving up totally after surrendering the apps he got!”
“Of course I know about our preparations, but he left for 11 tall years. Him? With his tall pride, he wouldn’t even wait for a year before coming back to attack, but it was eleven years. I say whatever he’s planning, he’s coming hard, so our defence has to be harder.”
“Of course it’ll be,” Shelby’s eyes rolled. “He tested my strength with that duel earlier, and I’m sure as all he’s still coming to test yours too. Careful not to let too much show.”
“That’s a no-brainer,” Mio sharply said, demeanor so impatient and determined. “What were you saying about his son in Los Angeles?”
“You know he has no inklings of affection for anyone including the son. Give him a matchbox, and he’d gladly set that son of his on fire. He’s not a targetable weakness.” Shelby replied, already walking out of the hall with Mio. “His only weakness remains Stacy cos his sinning mind is obsessed with her.”
“No, we need more than one weakness,” Mio said.
Shelby stopped. “You’re saying?”
“That son has to be his weakness too… we’ll make it happen. And we’ll make his obsession with Stacy run deeper till it turns to love where he won’t be able to function without her at all.” Mio said.
“To do that, his emotions have to be awakened, and we both know he has no emotions inside of him. He wasn’t born with it.” Shelby’s lashes stilled.
“Every human has emotions, Your Excellency. Mio argued. “He wasn’t born with it, but he can grow lots of it if we make it happen.”
“For now, keep a close eye on him.” Shelby addressed.
“I will.” Mio bowed.
—
[Los Angeles, Beach]
The cops are here. Been here since the occurrence died down ten minutes ago, and now they’re busy uprooting the dismembered dynamites from the soil while asking questions about how it happened.
Louis was made to sit on the recliner while Stacy answered questions, but he wouldn’t sit still, so he’s on his feet right beside her, holding her hand while she spoke with the cops.
Kehlani and Trinidad are with another cop, talking.
Even Jeremy is talking with the cops too, but Tania it a sobbing mess right now, crying hard while Tania did a squat in front of her wheelchair, trying to calm her down.
“Babeeeee,”
“Don’t babe me, Tasha,” Tania sniffled. “You know me, I was a fighter, I could jump at danger in the face and still win, but earlier when the dynamites started the sandstorm and I was blown down from my wheelchair, I was disheartened. I mean….is this how it’s gonna remain for the rest of my life? Tasha I’ve been trying to walk again for six years but it ain’t working….I’m just useless and I don’t even deserve to breath oxygen…”
“Tania!” Tasha scolded, holding her teary face. “Don’t say such things to yourself, please.”
“Well, aren’t I useless? My legs look frozen!” Tania yelled.
Sensing her agitation, Tasha just lifted herself and hugged her affectionately, stroking her.
“I’m always here with you, Nia. You know that, and the doctor already said you’ll walk again.”
“But when??” Tania sniffled, crying harder without returning the hug.
The cops got done with Stacy’s questioning, and she took her seat on the sofa with Louis on her laps.
The little boy checked out her face, turning her cheeks around and running his eyes on her skin, making sure there’s no wound.
There’s no wound, so he sighed, levelling his eyes with hers.
“Did I space out again when the sandstorm started?”
“Louis—”
“Why do I get these spacing out periods? Why do I always not remember spacing out too? Is my father’s gene that contaminated? You said I have color blindness and I see most things as silver, and I space out too, and I have too much in my head too I always jot jargons. My teacher once called me I’m an abnormal kid too cos I knew too much about statistics and—”
“Your teacher called you abnormal?” Stacy frowned. “And you didn’t tell me? I’m gonna go with you tomorrow and hit the teacher.
“No don’t talk like I’m not really abnormal. My mates are reading A for Apple, but I find it boring and below me. What six year old kid has a father who tried to kill him?”
“Louis!” Stacy scolded.
“But he tried to kill me! Fûck, I should have gotten a different father. Imma kill him!”
“Stop cussing!” Stacy hit his shoulder, and he frowned, rubbing that shoulder slowly.
“I’m sorry, mama.” He muttered.
“Listen, you’re my son, my life, my world. You’re a Montana, not a devilish X.” She held his face.
He nodded, and she hugged him, stroking his hair fondly.
“I love you so much, mum.” He muttered.
“I love you, baby.” She kissed his ear.
Jeremy sat on the sofa beside them, and Louis clung even more to his mother, possessively.
“Hey,” Stacy smiled slightly at Jeremy.
He returned the slightness. “You good?”
“Thanks to you,” she nodded. “Didn’t know you’d come.”
“I’m outta jail now, of course I wouldn’t miss it. Matteo told me about his birthday every year, so I knew it was today.”
“Matteo? Still can’t call him dad?” She gave him a debating look.
“When he’s done something worthy of the title, I’ll start calling him by that.” He nodded.
She smiled subtly again. “So you told him to always check on me when you were in jail?”
“I didn’t—”
“Shit, don’t lie to me,” she cut in. “Matteo accidentally slipped it with his words once, so I know you told him. Though, even if you didn’t, he’d have checked on me. He’s a good person. Anita has been scarce though.”
“My mother?” He frowned.
“Yeah. She didn’t visit even once. I once went to her place to congratulate her on her hairline company five years ago, but I wasn’t let into her mansion. Stood outside for thirty minutes before leaving.” She explained.
Jeremy looked ahead, gaze settling on the disheveled shore with uprooted sand and pebbles everywhere.
He knew his mother had something under her sleeves, and now it’s coming together bit by bit.
“So how’s you generally?” He faced her. “How’s motherhood?”
“Not as bad as I expected,” she shrugged, rocking Louis on her shoulder since he wouldn’t come down. “I’m loving it.”
“Hey,” Louis suddenly looked up from her shoulder. “Do you have a crush on my mum?”
He threw the question at Jeremy, and the guy paused.
“Louis!” Stacy cautioned for the uncountable times today.
“Yeah,” Jeremy replied. “Yeah I used to have a heavy crush on her in uni. It was more than a crush even, but things flipped, and now I only want her to be happy with whatever she wanna do.” He said.
“But you still have the crush,” Louis pressed on.
“Just stop!” Stacy placed him down, and he smirked, his eyes turning cold as he walked away to sit faraway on the shore, turning his back.
“Oh, shit, he got an attitude.” Jeremy grinned lowly.
“That’s that I’m dealing with,” Stacy nodded. “Now I gotta pet him with a movie night or something.”
“Stace, why are you talking to me?” He suddenly asked.
She faced him. “What do you mean why am I talking to you?”
“I went to jail for killing Lynn and impersonating Dor—”
“Oh Matteo told me everything that really happened, and I believe him. I believe you’re innocent.” She said.
“You do?” His eyes softened like that statement from her gave him the long expected reprieve.
“I do, Jeremy,” she nodded. “And I hope you get the revenge you deserve. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Thank you,” he smiled widely for the first time today.
“And your DID pills like a promised, I made it while you were in prison.” She smiled back.
“I’m not suffering from DID. My condition was because I was battling with my real self and Dorian’s personality that I was forced to act. I lied on DID.” He confessed.
“Darn, so your real Jeremy self was that violent one that was trying to break out?” Stacy gasped.
“I don’t get violent unless pushed beyond my limits.” He said quickly.
“Oh I know,” she tilted back, glancing at the cops around. “I don’t trust these peeps. I’m just gonna have to get my agent to get me the perpetrators of this dynamites.”
“I’ll find out within twenty four hours, and I’ll tell you.” Jeremy said.
“You sure?” She faced him.
“I have my ways,” he nodded, pointing a gift box at her.
She took it.
“It’s the birthday boy’s gift. That is; if he won’t throw it away cos he doesn’t seem to like me.” He said.
Stacy opened it, and she smiled when she saw a really big silver diary and a silver pencil, exclusive limited edition.
“Matteo told me about the codes he writes, so I figured I could get him something for the trouble.”
“Oh you got the right color, he likes silver.” Stacy said. “But this is an exclusive art edition and it probably costs 200k or more. Where did the money come from? You just came outta jail Jeremy.”
“I have my ways,” he smiled.
“That would be the second time you said that sentence today,” she brought her face closer for mean look. “Is that like your new favorite line?”
Jeremy chuckled, his heard skipping a beat at the closeness of her face.
He quickly stood. “I’ve got things to do, ASAP. I’ll call you when I find out the culprit.”
“Dude, you don’t even have my number,” Stacy blinked.
“I’ll get it from Matteo,” he assured and rushed off without looking back.
“What’s up with him?” She muttered, moving to the other side of the shore where Tania is.
She’s still crying in Tasha’s arms, and Kehlani and Trinidad are with them now, trying to console her.
“Her legs?” Stacy asked, getting it.
“She got triggered again,” Kehlani sighed sadly.
“She’ll come around after a good sleep.” Trinidad said.
“You think these cops would catch the culprit?” Kehlani asked.
“Who still waits for damn cops these days?” Trinidad scoffed. “I already contacted my dad’s private investigator. We’ll get an answer in twenty four hours.”
“You’re fast!” Kehlani commended.
“Now we have two sources,” Stacy said, remembering Jeremy’s promise. “I can’t wait till tommorow.”
“Why is your little boyfriend sitting there?” Trinidad pointed at Louis.
“Oh I pissed him off again.” Stacy sighed out. “I’ll go appease him.”
She walked over to him and crouched in front of him…
He rolled eyes, and she smiled, pushing his hair away from his face. “He’s gone now, and he even got you a gift.” She said.
“I don’t want a—”
Before he could finish, she pulled out the big diary, and his eyes shone.
The thing is…he sees most colors as silver, but when he sees silver color itself, it appears brighter to him, and he likes the brightness.
“Well I like it, doesn’t mean I like him,” he said, taking the diary. “And you better not crush on him ever. All men are same.”
“I hear you, Commando.” Stacy gave him a hand. He took it, following her.
—
[Roxy’s Art Skyscraper]
“What‽ No one got hurt?” Elmira spranged up from her chair as the words of the dynamite planter hit her earbuds clearly.
“Yes, unfortunately. Stacy and her son would have been thrown into the sea to drown, but your brother was there, playing hero.”
“Jeremy?” Elmira gasped. “Jeremy saved Stacy and her son?”
She cut the call and threw the phone, sweeping her hair back with an hand before resting the palms on the desk, panting so much.
“What? Your plan went grainy?” Roxy asked from the front of her canvas.
“Jeremy was there at the beach. He saved the bitch and her son.” Elmira replied furiously.
“What! Your twin brother?” Zendaya stood. “Why the fûck would he ruin the deed for us?”
“He’s headfirst in love with that bitch!” Elmira faced her. “Don’t act like you dunno it.”
“Isn’t tommorow the Vogue runway for you both?” Roxy talked.
“So?” Elmira and Zendaya chorused.
“So calm down and get enough exercise for the big day and don’t let a failed operation wipe your grease. There are still many chances to get her son, why gloat over just one failed chance?” Roxy said.
Then, she faced the board of canvas, widening her arms in front of it.
In there, there’s a canvas of a person’s head with a dagger stuffed in his mouth. The dagger protruded at the back of his head too.
“And i’m bout to shake the art world again with my exhibition! No one can dim our lights! We’re bigger than those Glitz bitçhes!”
“Shit, you have a way of awakening my morale.” Elmira said.
“She’s an artist, of course she has a way with words.” Zendaya laughed.
“C’mon! Emira, call Max and the guys. Let’s hit Remo’s slut-house tonight.”
“Right on it!” Elmira laughed loud.
—
[Y Group]
Remo, Max and Frank left just five minutes ago. After the shock they witness earlier, they had to still wait and absorb the aftereffects too, making sure they weren’t seeing wrong before they left.
And after they left, Scott decided to clock out too, so he wrapped things up and left the office.
He’s gonna get drunk at his mansion tonight and sleep off this craziness.
He emerged from the lift entrance and threw his suit over his shoulder, going for his car.
But the closer he got to the car, the closer a shadow got behind him till the shadow fell over his own frame.
Scott was caught and flipped by familiar arms which slammed him on the nearest staff car.
He threw his head back against the car body, his smirk growing angrily as his face clashed with the face of the person in front of him.
Kane.
Slender, sharp, sleekly handsome. He still looks crazily mischievous in his green suit and styled hair.
He turned out to be the new secretary, but of course Scott rejected him and sent him away.
Typical Kane, he didn’t leave. He waited here like a predator, till he appeared and he caught him.
“You’re hungry for a criminal record, and I’ll form one for you.” Scott muttered hatefully, trying to tear himself away from Kane’s grip.
“I got the job, I’m your new secretary,” Kane muttered back, voice still slapping. “The only criminal activity here is you not giving me the job I got fair and square!”
“Fair and square?” Scott’s smirk widened. “Has anything ever been fair about you? Bitch, why the fûck would you even wanna be a secretary in a firm that’s not about law? You studied law with deception as your side quest!”
“You still got that sharp tongue. No…it got even sharper.” Kane’s smirk drowned Scott’s, their faces just a breath apart they were exchanging oxygen in their nostrils.
“Get. The. Fûck. Off!” Scott pushed him off, dusting his suit as if a plague had just touched him. “Go find someone else to deceive, again.”
He hopped in his car and rode off the park, out of the company.
Kane leaned on his own car, reaching for a cigar box in his suit inner pocket. He lit it and took a drag.
“See you on Monday, Scottie.” He muttered, getting his ringing phone.
It’s Reid calling.
“You met him yet?” Reid’s excited voice asked immediately.
“When the fûck are you gonna fly over here?” Kane asked, ignoring his question totally.
“Sooner than you expect.” Reid said.
—
[JeMira Haircare – CEOs Office]
Anita sat behind her desk, suit professionally molded against her body, bob hair smooth, face poker.
She’s with documents regarding her new shampoo product finalization, but she’s barely concentrating.
Jeremy’s words when she went with Matteo to get him this morning is still haunting her.
Jeremy doesn’t know about her deal with Zendaya six years ago, right?
She was jolted from her thoughts when her phone buzzed. It’s Jeremy’s Parole Officer.
“Yes?” She picked.
“Jeremy beat up a restaurant owner and even stabbed him on the thigh some hours ago,” the officer reported.
“So?” Anita rolled eyes.
“Ma’am, you know these things might land him back in jail. He’s out on parole and —”
“And what?” Anita cut in. “I payed you to reduce your watchfulness on him, so what are you talking about?”
“I’m not saying I’m gonna report, but just tell him to be careful. There might be other officers in disguise, watching him.”
“Sure,” Anita sighed, hanging up.
She dialled Matteo almost immediately and went straight to point.
“Talk to your son, Matteo. He’s back to his former self, going around beating and stabbing people. He can’t ruin his parole, you know that.”
“I’ll reach him,” Matteo assured, ending the call.
“Damn,” Anita mumbled.
—
[Monroeville Hospital]
Frank’s father wanted Frank to come see him in this hospital.
He got the call immediately they left Scott’s office, and he came here with his friends.
Till now, they couldn’t stop talking about Kane’s reappearance.
“I’m telling you he has something under his sleeves again,” Max said.
“No, that fruitcake wants something under his arse instead. He’s probably cóvk-starved and came back for some. Scott sent him away, but I don’t believe it’s over.” Frank replied as they walked the hall.
“Nah,” Remo voiced. “He has been acting cranky and pouring his frustrations on work for six years, bro. It’s all because of Kane, you know these things. Now that Kane’s back, watch the rekindling.”
“Scott’s done with his shit,” Max argued.”
“Scott will never be done, I bet 500k.” Frank said.
“I bet 500 too,” Max shrugged.
“What are you both? Pubescents? Humiliating.” Remo hissed and walked ahead of them.
But he suddenly stopped, sighting something in a exercise ward. He reversed and peeped inside.
He saw right.
Tania is here for her legs examination, and she came with all the girls.
While the girls cheered her up to stand from the wheelchair with the nurse, Louis just sat in a corner, scribbling codes in his new diary.
Tania’s arse is currently up from the chair, her palms pressing the armrest and her face squeezed as she tried to lift her heavy knees too.
She’s sweating subtly.
“C’mon babe!” Stacy clapped.
“I love you! You can do it!” Kehlani shouted with a clap.
“Bîtch you better get the fûck up from that ugly chair!” Trinidad said.
“Get your legs, twin!” Tasha added.
They all held their breaths, and the nurse too.
“Miss Delgado, you’re almost there!”
But before she could even lift her knees, she fell back on the chair.
“I stood far than last time!” She gasped happily.
“Yes you did, miss. I told you it’d get better.” The nurse smiled.
“You’re walking soon, babe!” Stacy smiled, wiping Tania’s face with a face towel.
“I can’t wait,” Tania nodded.
“We all can’t fuckin wait,” Trinidad nodded cheerfully.
“How heart-touching,” Remo said from the door, strolling inside with his friends behind.
The girls turned, and Kehlani’s expression turned sour immediately she saw Max.
“Oh it’s the once-upon-a-time dullheads of RIDE!” Trinidad scoffed.
“And it’s the once-upon-a-time best friend of the Pyro!” Remo returned.
“Things shouldn’t be like this when we’re meeting for the first time in six years, yunno.” Frank said.
“Are you trying to make sense? Sorry but you’re already failing.” Tania replied from her chair.
“Even if I get you an orthopedic who can make you walk again?” Frank smirked deeply.
Silence fell in the hall.
“My dad is the great Neurosurgeon Stallion like you know, and he has an anonymous friend who specifies on bones in secret. I can promise you a standup in a month if you get him.” Frank continued proudly.
“Get him!” Remo said loudly.
“That was quick…” Frank frowned.
“Get him already!” Remo snarled. “Anything to humble Roxy and her friends? I’m game. I wanna see the disappointment in their faces when they see all members of Glitz back on their feet again.”
“You’re unbelievable, Remo Lane.” Tasha nodded.
“I’d walk straight into a colony of phantom ants it it means setting people straight. I can’t stand those girls. I can’t stand you Glitz bitçhes too, but at least none of y’all grabbed me by my collar.” Remo smirked.
“You realize my fiancee is part of the friend group you’re badmouthing, right?” Max talked like he hasn’t been staring at Kehlani.
Remo seized him up and down with his eyes, scoffing. “Bîtch, I don’t care about your fiancee.”
“Fûck you!” Max spat, taking another look at Kehlani before he stormed out angrily.
“I’ll go talk to my dad,” Frank winked and went for the door.
“I’ll follow you!” Tania ran after him.
“Wait…I haven’t seen him in person before but it’s true!” Remo grinned, looking at Louis at the corner. “He really looks exactly like his father!”
He was already walking to him when Stacy blocked him.
“Don’t go near him,” she warned.
“Yeah you better not,” Trinidad said from behind.
“He bites,” Tania said.
Remo looked at the three ladies, scoffed and walked out. “It’ll be odd if he doesn’t bite, considering his father is a madman.”
“I’ll wound that bastard,” Stacy muttered.
—
[Jeremy’s Mansion – 10pm]
The mansion is located in the middle of a far quiet estate in LA. No one knows Jeremy is the occupant.
Neighbors just know he’s a low profile person who loves his peace.
He bought this house when he was in prison so he’d have something to come back to when he gets released.
All from the secret jobs he did in prison. He made his cool money, and within those six years, he became a silent millionaire.
As he came out of the bathroom in his bathrobe, he didn’t bother throwing anything on. His hair was still damp when he came out to the cellar and got himself a bottle of cognac.
He poured silently and drank silently, facing the city through the top walls.
He had sent the details of the beach attack to his secret helper, and he’s expecting a response with the culprit’s name soon.
So… he’s calm.
Thinking of what Stacy said about his mother not coming to visit her for once made him pause his drink.
Where did Anita get her haircare company capital from? Is it related to Albert’s death?
He doesn’t wanna think that way, but he can’t wipe off possibilities.
He took another sip, his damp hair hanging over his lashes.
He picked his phone when it buzzed, and his expression froze when he saw the text…
Unknown Line: Get ready to honour my arrival on Monday, I’m coming over to LA to see you, doppelganger. I allowed your release for a reason.
Jeremy dropped the phone immediately, sipping cognac again.
It’s obviously from Dorian.
So he allowed the release? No wonder it was smoother than expected.
Well, his downfall is coming.
And Dorian should seriously be counting his days instead of this shit.
He picked his phone back to call his helper, but the lights in the house suddenly went off.
Total blackout.
“Shit, what the—”
He couldn’t land, cos a blade thrusted into his head from nowhere, but he didn’t let it sink past the skull surface before he pushed back.
Someone else is here.
In the dark, Jeremy moved without hesitating.
He twisted at the waist, letting the force in his chest glance off instead of drive through, his hand snapping forward to trap the attacker’s wrist.
With a sharp pivot and a brutal yank, bone met resistance with a dull crack.
No pause. He drove his shoulder in, merciless, slamming the figure backward into something solid.
With the person’s breaths lost and footing broken. Jeremy followed the weakness like instinct, his knee rising hard, a second strike which cut off any chance to recover.
The dark didn’t slow him, it quickened his senses.
The opponent lashed out blindly, desperate, but Jeremy was already gone from where he’d been, a shadow moving inside shadows.
He circled silently, then struck from behind, his arm locking tight around the person’s throat, the other arm pinning him down.
The person struggled, tried.
The struggle persisted for a second, then faded just as quickly.
Jeremy held until the person’s desperate fight drained out completely, then released him.
The lifeless body dropped without a sound.
Jeremy straightened, breathing unsteady, eyes scanning the dark as he staggered to pick the lights remote from the table.
He turned the lights back on and saw the face of the dead motherfucker on the floor, nodding as he stared.
He’s obviously American.
“Fucker, you should have asked about me…” He muttered. “You should have asked about me!!!”
He pressed a towel to his bleeding scalp and picked his phone with labored breathing, dialling his helpline.
“Send people here to clear a body, and I also want the name of whoever sent him to me.” He ordered.
—
[Australia – 12AM, X Third Lab]
The syndicate’s main lab is sleek cold and highly organized with glass partitions separating different operations.
Soft artificial lighting reflects off polished floors while a constant low hum from machines fill the air.
One section houses tall cryogenic pods lined in neat rows, faintly glowing as frozen human bodies rest inside.
Another area is filled with developers working at large screens, building and testing apps in a fast-paced but silent rhythm.
Further in, a darker corner serves as the satellite hub where large digital maps track signals and movements across the globe.
This place is the third lab…the smallest of all the labs which still feels like the busiest place in the world right now.
The lights at the entrance rotated to dull grey when Thiago stepped inside with his rogues behind.
The working developers and scientists inside knew to keep their mouths shut and breathings low immediately he entered so he won’t set anyone on fire. They already heard news of what he did at the yard.
But Cove ain’t even seeing them. His eyes are on the cryogenic pods and the frozen humans inside. He scanned with mockery.
“How long has he been frozen in the pod?” He pointed at the first human in the first pod.
“We’re not allowed to snitch on experimental specimens, sir.” The closet scientist cleared, and she instantly received a loud shot on the leg from Eleven.
“Fûck!!!” She screamed, crashing down on a knee and holding that bleeding leg, wriggling as the unrelenting hands of pain gripped her. “Four years!! He has been frozen for four years!!!” She confessed.
“And he’s supposed to be unfrozen and wake up when?” Thiago asked coldly, hands lifting a black cigarette to his lips.
“Next week Monday!” The Scientist spilled, the blood from her leg running down wastefully. “He’ll be unfrozen and awakened on Monday!”
Thiago’s smokes followed his nostrils out as he stared mockingly at the body in the pod again.
“If he really unfreezes and awaken on Monday, then I ain’t Thiago,” he muttered. “Shelby ain’t shit after all.”
He walked out of the lab with his rogues behind, the cries of the shot scientist resounding agonizingly.
“It’s been hours, and the Spy hasn’t reported yet. He’s dead.” He muttered suspiciously, stopping in the middle of the lab hall. “That only means the someone who touched her shoulders is Jeremy, that lecherous nip.”
“What’s next, T?” Ten asked.
“Arrange a flight to Los Angeles tommorow. I’ll bring back Dollface and that little bastard.” Thiago said, resuming his stride. “And before I get on the flight tomorrow, I’ll handover OBSCURE to Shelby.”
“T?” Ten gasped.
“There’s a reason for every move, fool. If this war is gonna start,it’s gonna start from somewhere, and that somewhere is me.” Thiago glared, cutting the corner.
“I’ll fill you in later,” Eleven mouthed to Ten before they followed him.
From the other end of the hall, Mio appeared with her arms folded on her chest, her warmth-stripped eyes following their receding shadows.
—
[Next Day, Washington DC, White House – Oval Office]
Kaylee was preparing to receive Mr. Brown in her office, getting her buds soaked with coffee as she say cooped up behind her desk which resembles the weight of the country to her.
Her Secretary and five staffs are in with her, awaiting her orders regarding the first appearance of the day, and it was at this moment Dorian decided to enter with Angela behind.
“I have a meeting with Mr. Brown, Rian.” Kaylee said gently.
“But I wanna talk!” Dorian argued stubbornly, looking determined.
Kaylee dismissed the Secretary and staffs for five minutes, and Dorian threw his weight on a chair in front of his mother.
“Look, if you’re not gonna let me rape anyway cos you’re the president and your reputation is at stake, then get me my wife! Her son clocked six already! I’m not a patient person!” He said rudely, nearly hitting the desk.
“My Secretary is done printing your engagement invites, and I already sent her her copy as a reminder. You’ll be getting engaged next week, can you stop shouting?” Kaylee said eloquently, relaxed.
“You should have told me that before,” Dorian grinned, relaxing too. “Anyways, I’m flying over to LA to meet Jeremy on Monday. Since I’ve found one, I should make him understand the deal before we’ll find the second one.”
“Second one? Thiago?” Kaylee smirked.
“Who else?” Dorian scoffed. “Yeah, the loser pyro who’s in jail.”
“He’s not in any penitentiary in Australia or beyond. Believe me, that criminal ain’t in jail. Her sister Shelby probably cooked up his jail story six years ago.” Kaylee said.
“Well that’s fucked,” Dorian frowned.
“I got on this seat, thinking I’d be richer, but that bîtch is still leading. She might be blind, but she’s got the smarts.” Kaylee continued.
“Then talk to her and let her hand her brother over since she hates him! There’s no time! I need the song!” Dorian urged impatiently.
“You have a fan sign event this morning, isn’t it?” Kaylee leaned forward. “Go for it, be a good idol to your fans as usual. I’ll take care of Thiago.” She assured.
“You better, mama K. You better.” Dorian swung his finger to her, standing and leaving with Angela trailing like a puppet behind him.
“I’ll see Mr. Brown in the evening,” Kaylee told her secretary. “Prepare for my impromptu conference.”
—
[Los Angeles, Montana Mansion]
Stacy’s phone was ringing on top of the dresser when she came out of the bathroom in her bathrobe and a head towel wrapped around her head.
Time is 12pm, so she knows whose call it is.
“Siri, pick the call,” she ordered.
“Hello Mrs. Montana,” her private investigator’s voice came through.
“Any juice?” She asked.
“We’ve started investigation on the bullet Mr. Albert Montana was shot with. It’s only available in Japan.”
“Japan?” Stacy blinked. “You mean a Japanese shot my dad? Why?”
“It’s not necessarily a Japanese, ma. You know how crime stories work. Criminals will use any method to divert attention. Can you calm down and let’s just continue digging?”
“I don’t have much patience left,” she sighed, lowering her robe from her shoulder to cream her skin.
“Trust us,this is only the beginning.” The investigator assured, hanging up.
Another call came through, and Siri automatically slid green.
“Stace?” Jeremy’s voice came.
“Jeremy! I’ve been waiting!” Stacy quickly went closer to the phone.
“Promise me you won’t do anything silly if I tell you the culprit,” Jeremy said immediately.
“C’mon you promised to find out who, and now you’re telling me to promise?”
“Stace—”
“Jeremy!” She snapped.
“It’s my sister. Elmira and her gang. They ordered the dynamites using anonymous identities, but my source identified them.” He replied.
Stacy didn’t wait to hear the rest.
She hung up, dressed up real quick, made quick calls too and left the mansion.
—
[Brooke Investments]
Trinidad was barely hanging on as she came out of the skyscraper with her purse hanging in her left hand and tiredness written on her face.
She’d have to rethink this working with her dad thingy.
She’d focus on her computing and football. Her dad uses her heartlessly whenever she comes to help him with work. Is it a crime to be brilliant?
She shook two pills out of her pill bottle and swallowed without water as she entered her car, then she retrieved her phone to go to the Italian forum again.
Trevor’s family are so overprotective that they refused to post his face, so she has no idea what he looks like now.
She can only imagine.
She was about to start reading news about his achievements again when she received the call from her dad’s private investigator.
“Yes?” She picked up.
“They call themselves the Champz. The artist Roxy, and the models Elmira and Zendaya.” He reported.
“Good,” Trinidad smirked, cutting the call. She dialled Stacy immediately.
Stacy ain’t picking.
Once, twice, thrice.
She ain’t.
So she called Kehlani and the twins.
—
[Vogue Vision]
It’s ten minutes to showtime. Ten minutes for the most popular December Vogue vision walkway to open up for wonders.
The venue itself is a long, minimalist polished hall. The runway stretched in a reflective way through the center, bordered by neat rows of seating already filled with murmuring guests of global icons and worldwide popular faces.
Overhead, rigged lights glowed, and the scent of expensive perfume and fresh fabric lingered subtly. In the midst of the guests, preferences could be heard in gossips and whispers.
• I can’t wait to witness the two icons again! Elmira and Zendaya are the yearly IT girls, and they own this shit.
• I’m telling you. Within their one second of stepping on the runway last year, their coutures were sold out.
• That only happens if you’re an original. They’re too good.
• It’s about the bodies, y’all. Bodies! They’re perfectly made.
“They’re definitely god’s favorites,” Roxy who’s one of the guests chuckled. “I’m so lucky to have them. So damn proud.”
The dressing room is filled with racks of garments, each piece tagged and ordered, yet constantly being touched, adjusted, rushed.
Makeup artists moved carefully as they did perfect finishes on the faces of Zendaya and Elmira.
The stars of the noon.
They’re ready for the stage, ready to go shake the modelling industry again in their outfits.
They wore the same dress, just different colours.
A couture gown that feels almost alive—fitted through the torso, sculpted, then loosening into fluid layers that move like slow fire with every step. The fabric flicker, shifting between deep crimson and burning scarlet under the lights with clean but intentional cuts,. A daring neckline and a precise slit broke the softness, giving it an edge.
Elmira’s is black, but Zendaya is red, and as expected, they’re the first pair on the runway.
They stepped out of the dressing room at the same time, and the overhead lights did justice to their faces and apparels as the runway received them.
Quietness rented the space, cameras flickering, shuttering, capturing and getting busy, gasps tearing off throats and eyes widening in admiration.
• I just knew it!
• The neckline is so fuckin sèxy!
• Their full breasts, omg!
• This would look so good on me!
• Who else is ordering already?
• I’mma rock this!
• holy puxxy!
• They’re unreal!
• Mama Mia!
Elmira and Zendaya switched lanes on the runway, red going black and black going red with their poker expressions, their rare smoky makeup hot in a dangerous way, causing another uproar, another excitement.
But the thing is…the uproar is not for them..
At all.
This new uproar is for another person. All cameras shifted away from Elmira and Zendaya, and all gazes and attention and lenses landed on another person at the back.
The guests stood, the models stopped, the air seems to ice up. Eyes widened with moths and faces.
Elmira and Zendaya turned, and they were hit with utter flabbergast too at what they’re seeing.
A new model is on the runaway, wearing exactly the couture that they’re wearing, but this one is in colour pink, and instead of the thigh slit, this one as a tiny slit at the waist, revealing shinny wait chains that are dancing as the person walked with effortless charisma, perfection, beauty and refined hotness.
The cameras in the space tripled, and her makeup glittered under the lenses as the shutters kept hitting her unapologetic face as her heels made regal struts on the floor.
There’s a cigarette burning between her lips, a smirk on her lower lip, and there’s a short axe hanging on her shoulder like a grim reaper.
The runway froze. Zendaya and Elmira froze with it as she approached like premature death.
TBC.