Chapter 4 A PRICE TO PAY

Gad's pov

The hideout was buzzing with activity, a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few days. My men were busy sorting through the spoils of our latest operation-Victor's hijacked drug shipments. It was a bold and costly move, but it was one that had to be made. The thrill of revenge was still fresh, and I could feel the weight of my actions settling in.

I leaned back in my chair, reviewing the reports on the desk in front of me. Each shipment contained billions of dollars' worth of product, a severe blow to Victor's operations. The thought of him scrambling to recover from this setback brought a satisfied smirk to my face.

But this was more than just business. It was personal. Victor had crossed a line by taking Elena, the one woman I had always loved from afar. My feelings for her had been a closely guarded secret, something I kept buried while I focused on my work. I had always been too busy with the drug trade to pursue her or even let her know how I felt.

When I heard that Victor had taken her, I knew it was a move meant to hurt me. Victor was a man driven by jealousy and pride. He was envious of my success in New Jersey, and taking Elena was his way of trying to undermine me. He knew that Elena was the one thing that could truly get under my skin.

I paced the room, thinking about my next move. Elena was a key part of this game now, and her presence in Victor's life was a vulnerability I intended to exploit. I had already sent him a message, letting him know that this was just the beginning. Victor had to feel the sting of my retaliation, and I was prepared to escalate things further if necessary.

One of my trusted lieutenants, Marco, walked in, his face grim. "Boss, the message was sent. Victor's not happy."

I looked up, my gaze sharp. "Good. Let him stew over it. I want him to know that this is far from over."

Marco nodded. "What's the next move?"

I thought for a moment, my mind still on Elena. "We need to keep the pressure on him. I want Victor to feel every bit of this loss. And if he thinks this is the end, he's sorely mistaken."

The door to my office opened, and Elena entered, her demeanor more resigned than ever. She had been in and out of the hideout, but her presence was a constant reminder of why I had done what I did. I could see the sadness in her eyes, a reflection of her own turmoil.

"Gad," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "I didn't think I'd see you here."

I looked at her, the weight of my emotions conflicting with the harsh reality of our situation. "Elena. You're here because of Victor. He took you because he knows what you mean to me."

Her eyes met mine with a mix of defiance and sorrow. "And what does that change? I'm still in this mess, and you're still fighting Victor."

"It changes everything," I said, my voice firm. "Victor thought he could hurt me by taking you. He wanted to provoke me, to make me react out of anger. But this isn't just about revenge anymore. It's about making him pay for everything he's done."

Elena's gaze softened, but she remained silent. I could tell she was struggling with her feelings, trying to make sense of everything happening around her.

"Gad," she finally said, her voice trembling, "I need to understand why all of this is happening. Why did you have to get involved?"

I sighed, my frustration and pain evident. "Because Victor took the one thing I cared about. He's made it personal, and now I have to deal with him in a way he'll never forget."

Her eyes searched mine, trying to find some reassurance or understanding. "What is the thing you cared about?

I took a deep breath, struggling to balance my personal emotions with the reality of the situation. "You Elena, he took you from me, Elena. "It is late Gad, you had the chance to avoid this from the start, but you were too busy," Elena said and I could feel the pain in her voice.

I reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Am sorry Elena. I believe you came over because you believe there is still hope," I said, hoping for something positive. "No Gad, me and you can't work. My brother had sold me out to Victor, he now own me," She said.

"I can still fight for us, just give me time," I said, trying to make her see I love her so much. "No, don't fight, you won't win. Am only here to tell you to leave me alone," Elena said and then worked out from the room.

As Elena left the room, I felt a renewed sense of determination. The fight against Victor was far from over, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to come out on top. Elena's presence was a constant reminder of what was at stake, and I wouldn't rest until I had achieved my goals and made Victor pay for his arrogance.