THOMAS.

I couldn’t quite place it, but something about the situation felt... off.

What could possibly make my ever-calculated brother grow so suspicious, to the point of acting strange toward my beloved Eva?

The thought lingered in my mind, refusing to settle. Alex was not the type to act without reason. Every move he made was always precise, always controlled. For him to suddenly become distant, cold, and unpredictable, it meant something deeper was at play.

Whatever it was...I was going to find out.

A slow breath escaped my lips as I straightened slightly, my gaze hardening with quiet determination.

But no matter what the truth turned out to be, one thing remained certain.

Nothing—absolutely nothing—must interfere with my plan.

My fingers curled slightly at my sides as old thoughts resurfaced, bitter and familiar.

I was the eldest son.

Wasn’t it my right?

The right to inherit my father’s pack... his company... everything he had built?

And yet, he had chosen Alex.

That bastard.

My jaw tightened at the thought, a flicker of anger igniting within me. It was always Alex. The one everyone admired. The one everyone trusted.

The smartest.

The most intelligent.

The so-called benevolent and kind one.

I clenched my fists tightly, the tension in my body rising as those titles echoed mockingly in my mind.

And then...I laughed.

The sound came suddenly, low at first, before growing louder, more unrestrained. It filled the room, sharp and edged with something darker.

"Oh, dear Alex..." I muttered, shaking my head slightly as amusement flickered in my eyes. "I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you realize I’ve outsmarted you."

The laughter slipped out again, softer this time, but no less dangerous.

Slowly, I turned my attention to the man standing nearby.

"My patience is wearing thin," I said calmly, though the underlying threat in my tone was unmistakable. "Ezekiel, how is the investigation going?"

I lowered myself into my seat, leaning back slightly as I reached for the glass of whiskey in my hand. The liquid swirled gently as I tilted it, my eyes fixed on it for a brief moment before lifting them back to him.

"According to our intel, sir..." Ezekiel began cautiously, his posture stiff, "the Ironclad Group seems impenetrable at the moment."

For a second, there was silence.

"Nonsense!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

My voice rang out sharply as I slammed the glass down onto the table with force. The impact was enough to shatter it instantly, shards scattering across the surface as the remaining whiskey spilled out.

Ezekiel flinched.

"There is always a loophole," I continued, my voice lower now but far more dangerous. "Always."

I leaned forward slightly, my gaze locking onto him with intensity.

"Look carefully," I added, each word deliberate. "Dig deeper. You can start by locating either of the triplets’ weaknesses." My lips curled faintly, not quite a smile. "Everyone has one."

"Yes, sir," Ezekiel responded immediately, lowering his head as his voice trembled ever so slightly.

"Get out," I said coldly.

He didn’t hesitate and within seconds, he was gone, leaving the room in silence once again.

And in that silence, my thoughts returned to Alex... and the inevitable fall that awaited him.

I was going to take back the Bloodfang Group...every last piece of it. It had always been mine by right, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else sit comfortably in what belonged to me.

But reclaiming it wasn’t enough.

I also had to deal with anything, and anyone that could pose a threat to my company. I couldn’t afford loose ends, not now, not when everything was finally beginning to fall into place.

My gaze dropped briefly to my wristwatch, and I noted the time. Eva would be arriving at our agreed location any minute now.

A faint smile touched my lips.

I didn’t want to keep her waiting.

Without wasting another second, I reached for my keys from the table and made my way downstairs, my steps steady and purposeful. The quiet hum of my thoughts followed me as I stepped outside and got into my car.

The engine roared to life, and within moments, I was already on the road.

As expected... she was there.

Waiting.

The moment I pulled up, my eyes landed on her figure, and something in me instantly softened.

"My love," Eva called out, her voice light and familiar as she rushed toward me.

Before I could say anything, she was already in my arms.

And damn...I melted.

There was just something about her, her scent, her presence, it had a way of calming the storm inside me, easing the tension I carried without even realizing it. For a brief moment, everything else faded into the background.

This was why I couldn’t wait for Alex to fall.

The mere thought of him touching her, holding her the way I was right now, it irritated me deeply. It burned in a way I didn’t care to explain.

Eva slowly pulled away from the hug, and I took a moment to really look at her.

Damn...She looked even more beautiful than I remembered.

"How is my baby?" I asked softly, my hand instinctively moving to her stomach as I rubbed it gently, almost protectively.

"Your baby is fine, Thomas," she replied, but there was something different in her tone, as it was too serious. "But we have more pressing issues," she added, her expression tightening slightly. "Alex refused to give the ten percent shares."

My face darkened instantly.

For a second, I said nothing. The words echoed in my head, each one fueling the anger rising within me.

He refused?

"How then do you plan to make yours equal to his?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me, searching, expectant.

My hands slowly curled into fists at my sides, the tension building rapidly. My jaw tightened as I looked away briefly, trying to contain the surge of rage threatening to spill over.

"Alex..." I muttered under my breath, my voice low, dangerous.

A dark promise lingered in my tone as I exhaled sharply.

"I’m going to kill you."