Just as Pierrick hesitated with growing suspicion, Zeke strode in from outside.
“Don’t let him twist your mind. This man is nothing but an arrogant, power hungry traitor who plotted against me in secret. I truly aged him. Believe his lies, and you’ll only fall into his trap!”
Zeke’s words cleared away the last of Pierrick’s doubts. There was no way he could trust someone who had impersonated the deputy leader
“I understand. You deal with him however you see fit.”
With that, Pierrick turned and walked out, leaving Zeke standing before Samir.
Samir glared up at him with hatred. “Zeke! You know what’ll happen if you harm me! Do you think you can bear the consequences? it he won’t let you live!”
“You keep calling Zorro your father, but has he ever acknowledged you publicly? Who can even prove you’re his son?”
Zeke crouched down and lightly slapped Samir’s face a few times.
If anyone was to blame, it was Zorro himself. He thought hiding Samir’s identity would protect him. But now, who would believe a word Samir said?
Zeke had long since won the loyalty of Shadow Moon Pavilion’s forces. That was the result of everything he had done at the Greystone estate.
Zorro had publicly appointed him as the new leader of Shadow Moon Pavilion. Zeke had seized real power.
And Samir? He would always be nothing more than a secret bastard son, hidden away in the dark.
“Zeke! You traitor! You’ve betrayed my father!” Samir roared.
Zeke responded with a sharp slap to his face. “Shut up. Don’t you dare call him your father. You’re not worthy.”
Zeke stood up and called for his men. “Take him away.”
His subordinates stepped forward, taped Samir’s mouth shut, threw a black hood over his head, and dragged him out of the room.
It was a full thirty minutes before Samir saw light again.
The hood was yanked off, revealing a dimly lit underground space. It looked like a lab–but also a dungeon. Strange equipment and surgical instruments lined the walls. It was eerie, chilling.
Samir immediately recognized where he was. He’d followed Zeke for years–he knew this place well.
Terror flooded his body. He tried to get up but was bound like a mummy, unable to move.
“Mmmph-!”
He tried to scream, but only muffled sounds came out.
The door creaked open. Leather shoes tapped on the floor as several men in white lab coats entered. Zeke followed behind them.
Samir strained his neck to look. When he saw the men holding a bone saw, his entire body went cold.
Zeke sat down on a leather chair, motioning for Samir to be strapped to a chair as well. One of the men tore the tape off his mouth.
The two faced each other.
“Do you know why I brought you here?” Zeke asked.
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Chapter 533
Samir didn’t reply. He only struggled harder, but the guards pushed him down.
“This used to be Zorro’s private lab. He had me build it for one purpose to run an organ trafficking ring on the dark web. Do you know hogy much day money he made with this place?”
Samir shook his head violently, his eyes wide with fear.
“I used to be his tool. Did a lot of evil things for him. But I’ve decided to walk away from all that still… I owe him one last gift. Think of it as my farewell present to Zorro.”
The sweat on Samir’s forehead turned ice cold.
Was Zeke planning to use him as that gift?
When he saw the men in white coats approach, he lost control. Fear surged through him like an electric shock.
“No! Zeke… no–Deputy Leader, I was wrong! I admit it! I shouldn’t have fought you for recognition. I don’t want anything now, just please, please let me go!”
“Afraid now? Too late.”
Zeke stood as the guards lifted Samir and slammed him onto the steel table. Both his arms were pinned down.
Zeke walked to the wall and took down a long machete. He checked its edge, then stepped toward Samir.
“No, no, no–please don’t!”
Samir lost it. He wet himself in pure terror, screaming until his voice cracked. He knew how ruthless Zeke could be. But he’d never imagined he’d be on the receiving end of it.
“This is the price of betrayal.”
Zeke raised the machete. With a heavy swing, it crashed down.
Bang!
Samir let out a guttural scream of pain–but then realized… his arms were still intact. The blade had landed next to his elbow, sinking deep into the steel table but not touching him.
The terror alone was enough to break him.
Zeke adjusted his collar, muttering, “You know why I didn’t cut you? Because trash like you isn’t worth dirtying my hands.”
To him, Samir wasn’t even a human being. Just a filthy, useless pawn.
Without another word, Zeke stepped back.
“Lock him up. I might still need him later.”
“Yes, sir.”
His men dragged Samir off the table and threw him into a caged holding cell inside the lab.
Zeke had only meant to scare him. He spared his life for a reason–Samir was still a useful bargaining chip, especially if things with Zorro went south. If Zorro ever discovered Zeke’s escape, Alicia could be in danger. Samir might prove useful in that scenario.
Zorro wouldn’t abandon his own son.
Chapter 533
The hostage exchange may have failed, but Zeke’s return had completely shifted the tides. His safe arrival alone gave them a massive advantage
After returning to the Vanderbilt estate, Caitlin called Ximena and filled her in on everything that had happened.
When Ximena learned that Zeke had survived and made it back safely, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.
“Caitlin, thank you. Thank you so much. As long as Zeke is okay, I can breathe again.”
“No need to thank me. But there’s still one threat we haven’t eliminated–Pierrick. Until he’s dealt with, none of us can relax. Let’s wait for news.
After ending the call, Caitlin summoned Tyler.
She gave him instructions. He nodded, received his orders, and quickly left the Vanderbilt estate.
Just as Caitlin sat down for a moment and barely took a sip of tea, she spotted Federico rushing in from outside.
“Trinity! Good news! We found Ashfall!”
“You did? Where is he?!”
Caitlin shot up from her seat, heart racing.
If Ashfall had been found, her mother couldn’t be far behind.
AD
