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Both Ethan and Collins froze. O
“What?” Ethan stared at Axel. “That’s impossible. Only a handful of people knew.”
“Exactly,” Axel replied. “Which means the leak came from inside.”
Collins sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re saying someone from X–Guard betrayed us?”
“I’m saying,” Axel corrected calmly, “that ke didn’t find you by ident.”
Ethan’s hands clenched into fists, the veins on the back of his hands standing out starkly against his skin. A sh of fury crossed his gaze as he growled, “If that’s true, I will find them-”
“We’ll find them,” Axel corrected calmly, his voice low but firm, cutting through Ethan’s
anger.
On the speaker, Collins let out a long exhale. “I’ll dig deeper into the leak. Whoever it is, I swear I’ll personally escort them to meet their ancestors. First ss. No return ticket.”
Despite the tension, the corner of Ethan’s mouth twitched. He leaned back against the pillow, his expression a mix of simmering anger and irond resolve. “Axel, I will find the person who betrayed X–Guard. And when I do, I’ll kill them myself.”
Axel’s gaze hardened instantly, his sharp eyes fixing on Ethan, but he said nothing. The air in the room seemed to tighten.
“And ke Martinez,” Ethan continued, his voice dropping into something darker, more dangerous. “I’ll settle the score with him, too. That old man won’t stop. Not until I’m dead.” A sinister glint shed in his eyes.
“You won’t face them alone,” Axel said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ethan looked at him for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. It was small and gentle, nothing like the fury from seconds ago.
“No, Axel…” he said quietly. “Don’t get involved. You have a family now. My sister–inw and Oliver would be devastated if something happened to you.”
Axel’s expression softened despite himself. Evelyn’s face shed through his mind, followed closely by Oliver’s bright smile. For a brief moment, the ruthless businessman
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and strategist disappeared, reced by a husband and a father.
Then his jaw tightened.
His hand clenched slowly, burying the anger that surged in his chest.
Every instinct screamed at him to crush ke Martinez himself, to end the threat permanently.
But something heavier anchored him in ce–the weight of his identity as Axel Knight, and the image of his wife waiting for him in the Valley.
“Fine, you capture the traitor,” Axel said atst, his eyes snapping back to Ethan, sharp andmanding. “But you need to ask Renata to capture the traitor first. Don’t drag this out, and don’t touch ke Martinez.”
Ethan’s eyes flickered with cold approval. “Undestand. I’ll clean up the mess in X–Guard myself.” His tone was icy, his expression dark, as if a storm cloud had settled over him and refused to move.
Silence fell over the room, heavy but not awkward.
Axel moved to the couch near the window and sat down, loosening his tie slightly.
Collins, still on speaker, stayed connected.
At the same time, Ethan remained on the bed, staring at the ceiling with thoughts clearly racing through his mind.
It was Collins who broke the silence, his voice unusually serious. “Boss, how do you n to handle ke Martinez?”
Ethan snapped his head toward Axel at once. This was the question he wanted answered. He had every intention of eliminating ke Martinez himself once he recovered, but Axel’s earlier words suggested otherwise.
Axel didn’t answer immediately.
After a moment, he turned to look at Ethan, easily reading the questions written across his face. Ethan met his gaze, curiosity and tension swirling together.
Then Axel spoke. “I won’t kill ke Martinez…”
Ethan frowned, confused. Collins also expresses his confusion.
“You can handle that part,” Axel continued calmly. “But I’ll attack him through his
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business.”
“What?” Ethan’s brow furrowed.
“Axel, you-” Collins screams from the other end.
“Don’t interrupt me,” Axel said coolly, raising a hand.
Both Ethan and Collins fell silent.
“I won’t attack him through the Wright Group,” Axel continued. “But I will use my personalpany, Apex Holding…” His eyes darkened. “You recall what his daughter did to my wife, don’t you?”
Ethan nodded slowly. “She sent assassins to hurt Evelyn.”
“Exactly.” Axel leaned back against the sofa, his posture rxed but his presence dangerous. “That’s why I need to erase the Martinez Group from this country. Completely. I want ke Martinez to understand one thing very clearly.”
He paused, his voice dropping into icy tones, “Axel Knight is not someone he can afford to provoke.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Collins burst outughing, the sound loud and unapologetic, echoing through the speaker phone, “Boss,” he said betweenughs, “that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear! Corporate war against the Martinez Group? Count me in. I’ll dly sharpen the knives.”
Axel didn’t even bother to respond to Collins.
Instead, his sharp eyes see Ethan, “Are you satisfied now?”
Ethan studied him for a moment, then smirked. “I was just worried your identity would be exposed if you helped Wright Group–or me–too openly.”
“So?” Axel asked again, arching a brow. “Are you satisfied?”
“Yes,” Ethan replied firmly. “I’ll go with your n.”
“Good.” Axel nodded once. “I’ll take care of his business. I’ll make sure there’s no Martinez Group left standing in this country.” His eyes glinted dangerously as he continued, “As for ke Martinez himself… You can do whatever you want.”
Ethan’s lips curved slowly.
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“But,” Axel added sharply, “be careful. You have a family now. Don’t do anything stupid that puts your life or your mother’s at risk.”
Ethan’s expression softened for a split second. “I understand.”
Collins cleared his throat before he chimed in, “Well, this just became the most exciting assignment I’ve had in years. Corporate annihtion on one side, personal revenge on the other. I almost feel bad for ke Martinez.”
“No, you don’t,” Ethan said dryly.
Collinsughed. “You’re right. I really don’t.”
Axel stood up, straightening his jacket after ending the call with Collins. “Get some rest,” he said to Ethan. “You’ll need your strength.”
As Axel turned toward the door, Ethan called out, “Axel.”
He stopped.
“Thank you,” Ethan said quietly. Not as a subordinate. Not as a boss. But as a family.
Axel didn’t turn around. He only raised a hand slightly in acknowledgment before walking out.
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.