Chapter 57
“So, where the hell did she go?”
Just as Derek opened his mouth to respond, a sharp voice came from the entrance. Blake had arrived; Haney was right behind him. Their cars had pulled into the factory one after the other.
Dominic turned his gaze toward them, his eyes sharp and cold, as if silently asking, “Since you’re here, do you really think it’s your place to speak?”
Blake shrank under the weight of his gaze. He rubbed his nose before quickly stepping behind Haney.
Meanwhile, Luke was barely holding it together. He had been seconds away from the truth, only for these two nobodies to burst in and derail everything. The fury surging through him could have burned the entire building to ashes.
He jabbed a finger at Blake and barked at his men, “Take him outside and beat him senseless.”
Blake’s eyes widened in terror as he saw a group of towering, menacing figures—clearly seasoned enforcers. As they closed in, he spun around and bolted. Without a second’s hesitation, the men pursued him relentlessly.
Nancy stood frozen, completely caught off guard. She wondered who Luke was. She turned to Dominic for answers, but before he could say anything, Gerard spoke first.
“This is Ms. Gildon’s…” He hesitated. The divorce was still pending, and if he even mentioned “ex-husband,” he could very well be the next target for a bullet to the head.
Vespera was married?
Nancy stood frozen, shock momentarily rendering her speechless. The emotions that had been building up throughout the drive suddenly hit her, leaving her at a loss for what to do next.
Meanwhile, Blake—who had been darting around the office in a desperate bid to escape—was finally caught.
Just as Luke’s men were about to drag him outside, a new group of intruders stormed in. They looked like local thugs.
The moment the leader saw Derek being restrained, he stopped dead in his tracks.
“Mr. Chavez!” he shouted before charging straight toward them. In an instant, several men followed, forcing Luke to release his grip.
Fearing for Luke’s safety, the bodyguards holding Blake had no choice but to abandon him and rush to shield their boss instead.
Amid the chaos, Derek was quickly whisked out of the meeting room.
Gerard shot Dominic a look, silently asking, “Should we step in?”
Dominic responded with a sharp glance. That was all the answer Gerard needed; without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and sent out a command.
By the time the scuffle ended, Luke realized Derek—the person who knew Vespera’s whereabouts—had slipped away. Without wasting a second, he led his men in pursuit. Meanwhile, the battered thugs on the ground struggled to their feet and took off into the night.
The meeting room fell into silence.
“Urgh, my back hurts!” Blake groaned loudly, clutching his waist. “What the hell is wrong with these people? Is there no love here? Can’t we just talk like civilized human beings?” Someone promptly stepped forward to assist him, while another pulled out a chair.
Blake sat down effortlessly, exuding the confidence of someone who clearly held the reins.
Dominic, however, remained utterly unfazed, offering not a single word in response. With one hand casually resting in his pocket, he looked down at Blake, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. And watched. And watched.
Until Blake finally broke. It felt as if Dominic’s intense gaze was peeling away every last shred of his composure. Finally, Blake stood up, awkwardly forcing a smile. “Mr. Reid, please, take a seat.”
“Mr. Blake, your authority is truly something to die for,” Dominic said nonchalantly. With a sharp, decisive motion, he slammed his hand onto the desk. “Maybe this branch should drop me and take yours instead.”
The sound hit Blake’s chest like a hammer blow. His resolve wavered, trembling beneath him.
Dominic, unfazed, casually pulled out a chair and sat down. “So, where is Ms. Gildon? Where did you send Derek to take her?”
Blake’s legs were still unsteady, but he took a deep breath, masking his unease with a stern expression. “Mr. Reid, I have nothing to do with this. You can’t just accuse…”