Chapter 126: This is a terrible idea.

Fernando walks away, his phone already pressed to his ear as he gives instructions to my men,

I stand beside Jeremiah, watching as the tow truck hauls the remains of the car away from Victoria’s ice cream shop. The front half of the vehicle collapses inward with a deafening metallic groan, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

I watch until the wreckage disappears from sight.

I need names, i need answers and most importantly, I need someone to pay.

Shortly afterward, Fernando returns.

"I’ve got information on the body in the car."

I turn to him.

"Okay, and?"

He glances briefly at Jeremiah before looking back at me.

"He belongs to the Hamilton brothers. One of their men."

Silence settles between us as for a moment, I simply stare at Fernando, allowing his words to sink in.

My hands clench at my sides.

The Hamilton brothers.

Of course.

I should have known those two bastards wouldn’t know when to keep their fucking noses out of other people’s business.

They have been testing the limits of my patience. I’ve had more important matters to deal with, so I’ve allowed their little games to continue while I gathered enough information to dismantle their organization properly.

Apparently, they have mistaken my patience for weakness.

A dangerous mistake.

"Yeah," I mutter, a humorless smile spreading across my face. "The brothers have a death wish.

I wanted to deal with the Hamilton brothers later.

Later, when I had the time to enjoy every second of making them regret drugging and stabbing me.

But apparently, they’ve decided to move themselves up the schedule.

I turn my head toward Fernando.

"Guess who just moved up my kill list?"

Jeremiah, however, steps closer.

"Lysander."

I glance at him.

"Not now."

"Whatever you’re planning, we have to think about it first." His voice is measured, but I can hear the warning beneath it. "You can’t make irrational decisions because you’re angry."

I laugh.

"They just tried to kill me and my wife!"

"I know."

"Do you?" I take a step toward him. "Because from where I’m standing, you sound remarkably comfortable with the idea of letting them walk away from this."

"That’s not what I’m saying."

"Then what the fuck are you saying?"

Jeremiah exhales sharply.

"I’m saying you need to step back long enough to plan your revenge properly. You don’t have to rush into anything. We can investigate the brothers, find out exactly how involved they are, and then decide how to deal with them."

I stare at him.

He continues before I can interrupt.

"You have a bullet wound in your shoulder, a police investigation unfolding around us, and a wife who nearly died in that explosion. You’re angry, and understandably so, but anger makes people careless. You know that better than anyone."

For a brief moment, I consider his words. Not because I disagree with the importance of planning, but because Jeremiah is right about one thing.

Revenge is best served when the person delivering it has thought through every possible consequence...Unfortunately for the Hamilton brothers, I’ve already started thinking and I like what I’ve come up with.

I turn away from Jeremiah and look at Fernando.

"Pull our men from here. Let them go home and rest for a bit."

Fernando nods.

"Understood, Don."

"Make sure the men assigned to the investigation know where to reach us. I want updates as soon as they find anything else, and I want the footage secured before the police decide to become ambitious."

"I’ll handle it."

I pause.

"One more thing."

Fernando waits.

"Prepare a team. Quietly. I don’t want the Hamilton brothers hearing a single whisper about what we’re doing until it’s too late."

His expression sharpens.

"Understood."

"We have a kidnapping to carry out tonight."

Fernando doesn’t ask questions. He simply inclines his head and walks away to carry out my instructions.

Jeremiah, on the other hand, looks as though I’ve just announced my intention to set fire to the entire city.

He stares after Fernando before turning back to me.

"Yet again," he mutters. "I’m ignored."

I give him a dismissive glance.

"You’ll survive."

"That’s what you always say before doing something that nearly gets us all killed."

"And yet, here we are."

"Yes, because apparently, God has a peculiar sense of humor."

Jeremiah drags a hand over his face before looking at me again.

"What do you have planned?"

I slip my uninjured hand into my pocket. My smile slowly returning.

"Tonight," I say, turning to Jeremiah, "we kidnap the Hamilton brothers’ wife."

He goes completely still.

"I’m sorry. What?"

"You heard me."

"Lysander, tell me you’re joking."

I stare at him.

He lets out a disbelieving laugh, but the sound dies when he realizes I’m serious.

"We don’t go after women," he says firmly. "You know that. Whatever business we have with the Hamilton brothers, the wife can not be a part of it."

I tilt my head.

"That’s an interesting observation."

"I’m not joking."

"Neither am I."

Jeremiah steps directly in front of me, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"Listen to yourself. We have rules for a reason. We don’t involve innocent women in our disputes, and we certainly don’t kidnap them to settle scores with their husbands."

"All bets were off the moment those bastards tried to kill my wife, Jeremiah."

His expression hardens.

"And what makes you think their wife had anything to do with it?"

"Nothing."

"Then why her?"

"Because I need something they care about."

I have no intention of torturing the woman or making her suffer for her husband’s decisions. I don’t need her blood on my hands, and I have no interest in turning an innocent woman into another casualty of a war she may know nothing about.

But I do need leverage.

The Hamilton brothers have spent months hiding behind their men, their money, and the protection of their little criminal empire. They think they can strike at me and disappear before I can reach them.

I intend to show them how wrong they are.

Jeremiah shakes his head.

"You cannot be serious."

"I am."

"Lysander, this is a terrible idea."

"Then it’s a good thing I’m not asking for your opinion."

He swears under his breath.

I step closer, lowering my voice.

"Listen carefully. I don’t want the woman hurt. No unnecessary violence, no threats beyond what is required, and nobody touches her. She will be treated properly until her husbands decide to come and collect her."

"And if they don’t?"

My smile widens.

"Oh they will."

Jeremiah stares at me, searching my face for any sign that I’ve lost my mind.

Perhaps I have.

But there is one thing I know with absolute certainty.

The Hamilton brothers wanted my attention.

They have it now.

And by the time this night is over, they will understand that trying to kill Lysander Sanchez was a mistake.

I turn toward Jeremiah.

"Get the team ready, Jeremiah."

When he doesn’t move, i glance back at him.

"You’re going to regret this."

I smile

"Maybe."

"But the Hamilton brothers will regret it more."