Chapter 192: Men Can Bleed

Julius snatched my wrist, and the sudden action made me snap my wide gaze to him.

Slowly, he assessed me before leveling his eyes to my leg.

Oh no.

I was tightly stiff as he pulled the rim of my gown up, and I closed my eyes in a shuddering breath, knowing I had been caught.

"Beautiful anklet."

I opened my eyes and found him simply observing it with no suspicion at all. If anything, he looked rather curious about the sparkling jewel.

"Emerald. Zade gave this to you, didn’t he?"

"..."

He pinned me with his eyes, and up close they repulsed me greatly.

"Take it off."

I froze.

"I think it’s important you know that I don’t want anything of Zade’s on you."

"E-Excuse me?"

"Don’t make me repeat myself, Anastasia. Take it off."

He’s fucking serious. Well, I’m too.

"No—"

Slap!

The sound echoed throughout the room. When I grabbed my bearings, all eyes were on me like I was an exhibition for the evening.

"Sorry about that. I have to teach her one or two, so that she learns her place."

I scoffed, and I couldn’t help it as I chuckled too. The mere action shot pain across my face, and when Julius stroked my cheek, I pinned him with an intense glare.

"I’m sorry I had to hurt you. But you weren’t listening. What did you expect me to do?"

"N-Not hit me?" I reasoned with this maniac, and he shot me a smile.

"I wish there were other methods. I’m sure Zade had his other ways of putting you in place. I have mine."

I forced my face from his hold, more bitter pain creeping my face.

"Now, I don’t want to interrupt this further, and we must start at some point."

I eyed the table. They had their eyes on me as though waiting for me to comply with Julius wishes before they could get a move on.

God, this is so ridiculous. I’m guessing, from the way they acted, Julius was their leader, and they were being considerate by not interfering.

Swallowing the shards down my throat, I reached for my anklet and took it off. When Julius seized it from me, he hurled it to the nearby fireplace, and it felt like my heart was melting away.

I never thought I was that attached to that piece of jewelry until now. I swore that moment Julius was gonna pay for that, but I can’t afford anything that would put me in a more difficult situation.

That anklet was Zade’s way to track me here, but now that was gone. From the start, I couldn’t bring my phone with me because it wasn’t allowed for the evening.

Now thinking about it, it was just Julius’ way to isolate me more so that when he revealed his true intent, I’d have no one to call.

What am I gonna do? Is Zade gonna be able to find me?

"I suggest you entertain restraint."

"Restraint...?" I mumbled with a faint huff.

I should say the same for you. Because he looked like he was gonna hit me again, and enjoy it.

"Yes. Don’t let it get to your head because you took down Stinger. I know why I chose her for the job. She may have been excellent in her sniper skills, but close combat not so much. That was the only reason you could’ve taken her down. You had her at a disadvantage."

"And because she underestimated me." I darted my bloodshot eyes to him.

"True. I did too..." he said, amused, before turning back to the company.

Gabriel cleared his throat. "Now, the rest of you take off your masks. This is a safe space."

They did.

My eyes scanned in speed, but I didn’t see anyone I recognized. I don’t see Annabeth.

My skin crawled when Julius took my mask off and set it down on the table.

"You look disappointed, Anastasia... were you expecting to see someone?"

I didn’t miss the tease in his tone, and that made heat swamp my insides, and it took everything not to explode.

But how could I? Despite everything that had happened, I still held onto the thought that Annabeth could be here.

"Stasia," I murmured just enough to grab Julius’ attention. "The name on the wall that Cynthia wrote at my father’s office. How did you know that name?"

Julius and my father had their fallout years ago, and I never saw him when I was little, so there was no chance that he could have known about that name.

Julius grinned broadly. "I see what this is now. Did you think your sister was alive? Was that the other reason why you came to this ball and were so eager to uncover the Syndicate?"

I didn’t reply, and my silence spoke volumes more than using words.

"I’ll tell you how I knew that name..."

My breath came off shaky, awaiting his next words.

"After we tie the knot. Consider it a wedding gift."

I clenched my teeth. "Do you honestly think you can bring down Zade?"

"He’s no god, Anastasia. He’s a man and men can bleed and die. He was considered untouchable because of the name he made for himself, but I can touch him. First, he’ll lose his mind when he finds out you’re missing, and then the rest would just be so easy. He won’t even know what hit him."

I couldn’t bear to look at Julius anymore because there was this feeling that he might get away with this after all. He had kept this group hidden for years and only revealed it when he wanted to.

Zade may be here, but could he take down Julius? Doubt clouded my mind, but I didn’t let it dictate the situation. I need to think of something, but I don’t know what to do.

"He will be pleased when he finds our plan is in perfect motion."

Gabriel’s voice found me. I had been so focused on Julius that I hadn’t even realized the meeting had commenced.

Wait... "he?"

"So far, everything has worked as he said it would," A woman said, amused. "His predictions were so on point."

Who are they talking about?

I looked at Julius, but he didn’t seem like the ’’he’’ they referred to.

Who was it then? Was there a member who didn’t make it to this dinner?

"And with this..." Gabriel placed a black briefcase on the table and opened it, taking out a flash drive. "We have the names of the Serpents’ networks, shipping details, along with his company’s confidential materials... even the ones that haven’t been made public yet."

This was it, wasn’t it? This was how Julius was gonna destroy Zade. How did they get that? This was even more than what Shane tried to take.

"H-How?" I murmured.

"Curious?" Julius asked as though he had been waiting for me to speak.

"T-The least you can do is tell me how you got your hands on that."

"At least now you know your husband isn’t so untouchable. That single flash drive is all I need, and it will be distributed to every single person seated here so that they may use that piece of info to begin."

He was planning to bring down not just Zade’s company but his place in the undercity, from different angles.

Not even Zade would see this coming!

"A-All this because you want me?" I questioned, trying to steady my voice.

I was scared before, but now I was downright terrified to the bones.

"You’re just the bonus for me, little one. As for destroying Zade, it’s someone else’s wish."

It must be that... he. Deja vu found me, and I recalled how Shane was hellbent on destroying Zade too. It was too big of a coincidence to ignore.

Suddenly the door badge opened, and someone came toward Julius in a hurry, whispering to his ear.

Julius’s eyes widened instantly, and then he shot them at me before glancing over to his group.

"We have to leave. Now!" He shot to his feet and grabbed my arm, forcing me up.

"Gabriel, pack everything and let’s go!"

Gabriel clumsily gathered everything into the briefcase, and I caught the files too.

There was more!

I grunted as Julius yanked me with him and out of the room.

"W-What’s wrong?" I demanded as I tried to twist my arm off his grip, but his nails dug into my skin.

"I should be asking you that question!" he hissed at my face. "How did the Serpent know about this location?"

The back of his hand slammed into my face, and the force plunged me to the floor.

"Answer me!" he boomed.

I used the back of my hand to wipe the blood off my mouth and turned my head to him, smirking.

He inhaled sharply before kicking me in the stomach, knocking the breath from my lungs.

"Julius, enough! We have to—" Gabriel’s words were cut short when bullets suddenly tore through the hallway, puncturing everything around us.