Chapter 124As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the imposing mansion, a chilling silence descended upon Connor's world. He had been waiting for this moment, the inevitable clash with his archenemy, Michael. For years, their bitter rivalry had festered, and now it had reached its boiling point."You are about to go down," he seethedMichael, a cunning and relentless adversary, had finally tracked Connor to his secluded safe house deep in the heart of the forest. He had gathered his forces, mercenaries and hired guns, and now they encircled the mansion, creating an impenetrable wall of danger.With the ominous click of a megaphone in his gloved hand, Michael stepped forward, his voice amplified to a deafening roar. "Connor!" he bellowed, the sound reverberating through the trees. "It's over! Surrender now, and I promise you a swift end. Your mansion is surrounded. You have no way out."Inside the mansion, Connor gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening aro
Chapter 125As Russo carefully navigated the winding, hidden backroads, Annah, Martha, and her baby nestled securely in the backseat of the inconspicuous SUV. The moonlight filtering through the dense canopy of trees overhead cast fleeting shadows on their anxious faces. The air inside the vehicle was thick with tension, each passing mile amplifying their unease.Suddenly, a voice crackled through Russo's concealed earpiece, sending a jolt of anxiety coursing through his veins. It was the unmistakable voice of his informant, delivering the news that he had feared most. Connor had apparently surrendered to Michael. Russo's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white, pain radiating through him.He had never anticipated Connor to capitulate so easily. A man of his caliber was known to never give up, never one to give up without a fight. Russo's mind raced with suspicions and doubts, his instincts warning him that this surrender was likely a part of a larger, mor
Chapter 126"You guys will stay here for the meantime," Russo said.The safe house where Russo took them to was beautiful, Annah couldn't deny it but at the same time, the very idea of staying here without seeing Connor was something that she couldn't quite believe. For as long as she could remember, Connor had always been her right hand person, the one person taking her hands and leading her right and the very idea that she might not even see him again was something that freaked her out."I know you are scared Annah, which is understandable but this was what Connor wanted. If Micheal had seen you and the baby, trust me, the result wouldn't have been funny so this is the best way that we can keep you safe," he said.Annah understood what he said but still, Connor was on her mind. She couldn't imagine a life without him and in that moment, she knew that she needed to be strong not only for herself but for her child who wasn't a partaker of all of this."Don't worry Russo, I will take g
Chapter 127"He's asleep now," Martha smiled.She placed the baby on the bed, as they watched him sleep soundly, peace in his eyes. Annah sighed, sitting on the bed. Martha knew that her heart was filled with a lot of worry because she didn't know the state Connor was in. If he was dead, no one even knew which made things worse. This wasn't what all of them had envisioned and they hated to think that this was how their life would always be."I hate living in fear," Annah said."I know dear and I understand but I want you to know that nothing will happen to Connor. He is a very strong man and this… we will get through all of this, that i can assure you." she smiled.Martha took her hands in his, giving it a gentle squeeze, silently assuring her that everything would be fine. She knew how this hurt her so much. One minute, you saw and was living with the love of your life and the next minute, you had no idea where he was and if he was even alive. It was a feeling that no one should eve
Chapter 128Connor heard the faint sound of someone coming in through the only door in the darkened room. He couldn't see because he had been beaten so badly by Michael. The blood streamed down his eyes, blinding him momentarily as he tried to understand and find out who was truly at the door."Well, well, well… I never expected you to still be alive."It was Micheal and with each footsteps of his, coming closer to him, Connor dreaded what he would do next. He wouldn't fold or bend, that was one thing he was sure of and he wouldn't also give him the satisfaction of knowing that he broke him. Connor knew without a doubt that he needed to be strong for Annah and most importantly, his child and he would rather die if it ever came to that than to give Michael the whereabouts of his family. Connor knew that he only wanted them for his own sick pleasures and that was something he couldn't allow him to do. Nothing good ever came out of Michael, he knew it and everyone else knew it too."It
Chapter 129Annah took a deep breath and dialed her uncle Matt's number again after what she had heard him say. Out of shock, she had quickly cut the call because she didn't want to believe what he said. Even as she thought about it, she was still finding it hard to believe what he said, she couldn't believe it at all. As the phone rang, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been gnawing at her for days. She had to know if what they said about Fred were true, and there was no one better to ask than them."Hello?" Matt's voice crackled through the phone."Hi, Uncle Matt," Annah began hesitantly. "I need to ask you something important, and I hope you can be completely honest with me because it seems I wasn't getting you well the other time."Matt's tone grew serious. "Of course, Annah. You know you can always count on me. What's on your mind? Is it about what Kate and I said?"Annah took a deep breath and asked, "Are you really sure that Fred is working for our enemy, Michae
Chapter 130Hans carried Connor all the way out of the building and towards a waiting van. The more they walked, the more Hans knew that Connor was growing weaker by the minute and he needed to get him to a doctor before it was too late. The beatings and injury he had sustained was something that he wouldn't be able to recover from unless he saw a doctor and he feared that if he didn't get him to see one soon, he would die."Almost there boss, just hang in for me a bit," Hans begged.Connor groaned, more blood dripping from his head and Hans knew that he needed immediate attention or else, it would be a lost cause.Finally, after what seemed like hours when in reality it was only minutes, they got to the van. There was Orlando and when he saw the state that Connor was in, he almost shed tears. He wasn't one to cry easily as grief had taught him a lesson, one that had molded and shaped him to be the kind of person he was now but still, looking at Connor, he knew that no one deserved to
Chapter 131Back at home, Annah anxiously dialed Russo's number. As the phone rang, her heart pounded with a mixture of anxiety and determination. She had discovered something that she couldn't keep to herself any longer. Russo answered after a few rings, his voice tense."Hello?" he said, his tone cautious."Russo," Annah began, her voice trembling with emotion, "I need to tell you something, something I've just found out. You have to promise me that you won't tell anyone else about this."Russo, sensing the urgency in Annah's voice, replied, "Okay, Annah, I promise. What's going on?"Annah took a deep breath, her mind racing as she revealed the shocking information. "Fred," she started, "Fred is the betrayer. He's been working with Michael all along to bring down Connor, and you know what Connor would do to him if he found out everything he has done."Russo's reaction was immediate and visceral. He felt a shiver run down his spine, his hands trembling as the words sank in. This was