The warehouse monitors flickered as the video stabilized.
Everyone stared at the screen.
Rain lashed against the camera lens on the recording, but the image was clear enough.
Viktor Orlov stood calmly in the center of the frame.
And beside him—
A trembling woman sat tied to a chair.
Elena's breath left her lungs.
"Mom…"
Her mother looked terrified, tears streaking down her face as a gun was pressed against her temple.
Elena stepped closer to the screen instinctively.
"No… no, no…"
Then the camera shifted slightly.
Revealing the person holding the gun.
The traitor.
The room went completely silent.
Adrian whispered,
"You've got to be kidding me."
Because the man standing beside Orlov—
Was Marco.
The Betrayal
Marco.
Alessandro's trusted head of security.
The man who had guarded the De Luca estate for years.
The man who had personally trained half of their soldiers.
The man Elena had trusted to protect her.
And now—
He stood beside Orlov.
Holding a gun to her mother's head.
Elena felt like the world had tilted beneath her feet.
"Marco…?"
On the screen, Marco looked directly into the camera.
Directly at them.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"I suppose the secret is out."
Adrian shook his head slowly.
"Why?"
Marco shrugged slightly.
"Money."
Elena's voice broke.
"That's it?"
Marco's eyes softened slightly.
"No."
He looked toward Orlov briefly.
"Survival."
Orlov Speaks
Orlov stepped closer to the camera.
His smile was calm again.
But there was rage hiding behind it now.
"You destroyed my empire."
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"You built it on corpses."
Orlov ignored the comment.
He looked directly into the camera.
"Tonight you exposed everything."
"Yes."
"Tonight you turned the entire world against me."
"Yes."
Orlov nodded slowly.
"Good."
Elena frowned.
"Good?"
"Yes."
His smile returned.
"Because now I no longer have to pretend."
The New War
Orlov placed his hand on Elena's mother's shoulder.
She flinched violently.
"Elena Rossi."
Elena stepped closer to the screen.
"Let her go."
"No."
"If you hurt her—"
Orlov chuckled softly.
"You misunderstand."
He gestured toward Marco.
"Your mother is my insurance."
Elena's voice trembled.
"For what?"
Orlov answered calmly.
"For the next war."
Adrian muttered,
"I really hate that phrase."
The Demand
Orlov leaned closer to the camera.
"You wanted to destroy the mafia."
"Yes."
"You wanted to expose everything."
"Yes."
"And you succeeded."
Elena felt dread creeping into her chest.
"But now," Orlov continued, "you will help me rebuild it."
Elena's eyes widened.
"Never."
Orlov smiled.
"You don't have a choice."
Marco pressed the gun harder against her mother's head.
Elena's heart stopped.
"Stop!"
Orlov raised a finger slightly.
"Then listen carefully."
The Impossible Choice
"Twenty-four hours," Orlov said calmly.
"That's how long you have."
"To do what?"
Orlov's voice turned cold.
"Bring Alessandro De Luca to me."
The room went silent again.
Elena felt the words hit like a hammer.
"No."
Orlov tilted his head slightly.
"Then your mother dies."
Elena's voice shook.
"You won't get away with this."
Orlov smiled.
"Oh… I will."
He gestured toward the burning skyline visible behind him.
"The council is gone."
"The police are chasing ghosts."
"And now the city has only one enemy left."
Adrian sighed quietly.
"That would be us."
Marco's Final Words
Before the video ended, Marco leaned closer to the camera.
His gaze locked onto Alessandro.
"I'm sorry, boss."
Alessandro's expression remained completely still.
But his eyes had turned dangerously dark.
Marco continued quietly.
"You were the best leader I ever served."
Elena frowned.
"Then why betray him?"
Marco's answer came calmly.
"Because Orlov offered something Alessandro never could."
"What?"
Marco smiled faintly.
"Winning."
The screen went black.
Aftermath
The warehouse fell silent again.
Only distant police sirens echoed through the docks.
Elena felt like she couldn't breathe.
"My mom…"
Alessandro placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"We'll get her back."
"How?"
Adrian rubbed his face.
"Well… we could start by killing Marco."
Valentina's voice crackled through the radio again.
"I already started tracking Orlov's signal."
Elena looked toward the monitor.
"Did you find him?"
Valentina paused.
"Yes."
"Where?"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"You're not going to like it."
Adrian sighed.
"Why does everyone keep saying that tonight?"
Valentina answered quietly.
"Because Orlov isn't hiding."
Elena's stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Valentina pulled up a satellite map on the screen.
A location appeared.
A massive compound on the outskirts of the city.
Alessandro's eyes narrowed instantly.
Elena looked at the name on the map.
And felt her blood run cold.
Because the location where Orlov was waiting—
Was the De Luca estate.