The warmth of the cabin felt almost unreal after the freezing storm.
Luca helped Adrian sit on the old wooden chair near the fireplace while the old man quietly closed the door behind them.
The firelight flickered across the walls, casting long shadows in the small room.
"Sit," the old man said calmly.
Luca hesitated but obeyed.
The man walked over to Adrian first, examining the wound in his shoulder.
"A bullet wound," he muttered. "You're lucky it didn't go deeper."
Without asking, he pulled out a small metal box filled with medical supplies.
"Hold still."
Adrian barely reacted as the old man cleaned the wound.
Luca watched silently.
"You said you knew my father," Luca finally said.
The old man paused.
For a moment, his sharp eyes studied Luca again.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"I knew him very well."
Luca leaned forward.
"Then tell me who he really was."
The old man sighed and finished bandaging Adrian's shoulder.
Then he stood and walked toward a dusty wooden shelf.
From it, he picked up an old photograph.
He handed it to Luca.
Luca looked down.
His breath caught.
The man in the photograph was his omega father… younger, but unmistakable.
But he wasn't alone.
Standing beside him were several powerful-looking men.
And one of them…
Luca's eyes widened.
"…that's Viktor."
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Luca's voice trembled slightly.
"Why is Viktor standing with my father?"
The old man sat across from him.
"Because once," he said quietly, "they were allies."
Luca froze.
"Allies?"
"Yes."
The old man leaned back slightly.
"Years ago, the Neon Syndicate wasn't just a criminal empire."
"It was a kingdom."
"The most powerful underground organization in the world."
Luca's fingers tightened around the photograph.
"And my father?"
The old man's eyes darkened.
"Your father wasn't just part of it."
"He ruled it."
Luca felt the room spin slightly.
"The king of the underground," the old man continued.
"Feared by governments, respected by mafia families, and hated by those who wanted his power."
Luca shook his head slowly.
"That's impossible. My father never talked about any of this."
"Of course he didn't," the old man replied.
"Because fifteen years ago… everything changed."
The fire crackled loudly.
"What happened?" Luca asked.
The old man's voice lowered.
"The Syndicate betrayed him."
Adrian, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"No," he said.
"They didn't betray him."
Both Luca and the old man looked at him.
Adrian's eyes were serious.
"He betrayed them first."
Silence filled the room.
Luca looked between the two men.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"Your father stole the Syndicate's master key… and disappeared."
Luca clenched his fists.
"You keep saying that, but you still haven't told me why."
The old man finally spoke again.
"Because your father discovered something."
"What?"
The old man's voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"The Syndicate wasn't just controlling crime."
"They were planning to control the world."
Luca's heart skipped.
"What?"
"They had a list," the old man continued. "Blackmail files on politicians, presidents, billionaires… enough to manipulate entire governments."
Luca stared at him.
"And my father stole the key to stop them?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Luca leaned back, trying to process everything.
"So that's why they're hunting me."
The old man looked directly into his eyes.
"No."
Luca frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The old man's next words made Luca's blood run cold.
"They're hunting you…"
"…because your father is still alive."
The fire crackled loudly.
Adrian slowly looked up.
"What?"
The old man's expression was calm.
"The underground king never died."
Luca's voice barely came out.
"Where is he?"
The old man gave a faint, mysterious smile.
"He's closer than you think."