Ace Jr.’s screams tore through the open construction yard as Dante’s men dragged him across the muddy ground toward the far end of the site. Workers—manual laborers, junior engineers, even Ace’s own friends—stood frozen, watching the scene unfold as if witnessing a public execution. Nobody dared move. Nobody dared breathe.
The pit ahead was shallow but wide, a section meant for water storage during the concrete curing process. Heavy rains had filled it halfway, leaving the water murky and cold. The moment they reached the edge, two soldiers lifted Ace as if he weighed nothing and threw him into the pool.
Ace’s body hit the water with a loud splash.
He resurfaced instantly, sputtering, thrashing—then two more soldiers stepped into the pit, boots sinking deep into the sludge. Without hesi
