The Killer's Rose

When the Past Strikes Back

"When will the shipments be arriving?" I asked Victor. I had just left my mansion after receiving a call from him that the shipment was arriving today.

"Soon, boss..." Victor replied as I gave a nod. The area was quite dark, yet I could manage some visibility around the place.

I waited for a while before hearing the loud horns, indicating the ship had arrived.

I had a thought that possibly it had been hijacked or something was wrong, but at least they all knew where they stood in such matters.

"Have the shipments loaded, Victor. I entrust you can take it from here..." I said, to which he replied, "Yes, boss..."

I only came to check on the shipments' arrival, and now that I was done with that, I decided to return to the mansion. Marcus must have woken up, and even though he hates me right now and doesn't want to see me, I wouldn't want to be late home tonight.

I approached where I had parked my car but paused in my tracks when a weird feeling sank in; I could tell I was being followed. I glanced back but caught sight of no one.

"Could it be that I was wrong?" I thought. I was sure no one was here; I must have mistakenly felt it.

Returning my gaze to my path, the same feeling came again, but this time I didn't check back; instead, I took further steps, entering my car. I started my car engine and drove into the dark, quiet street, my gaze remained on my car's windshield, checking for any suspicious cars following me, and then I caught sight of one. It was a blue car, one that trailed my every turn.

"Is he an enemy or a spy?" Whoever he was, I would make sure to find out. I turned my car to the side, pressing into the brakes as I stepped out, hiding myself behind the walls.

"f**k!" I could hear him grunt. He was close. When I tried peeping for a view, it was a man.

I brought out my rifle, holding it up, deciding not to shoot him dead now. From the way he acted just now, I knew he wasn't the mastermind.

"The boss will be angry." He added, confirming my suspicion.

I watched him draw out a phone, dialing a number. "Sorry, boss. I lost him in the way..." He said before suddenly pausing at his words, his gaze dropping downcast as I noticed a little sweat dripping from his forehead.

Who was on the line, and why was he feeling sudden dread? I was sure this boss must frighten him.

All I needed was a name, and the rest I would make sure to handle. I can't let anything slip by me this minute.

I steadied my rifle, aiming it at the guy as I stepped out into the open.

But I paled when I gazed upon who it was. It wasn't a stranger. I knew him from somewhere; I had seen him before. It couldn't be. This was one of Sebastian's men. Then that means...

"Why are you here? Don't tell me he is planning on coming back..." I questioned. But the man only chuckled softly.

"I am only here to do as my boss had ordered, Mr. Damien Salvador." The man replied.

But what was that? Sebastian was my younger brother. How many years would I say it had been since we had last met? I had helped him leave the city many years ago, so why, all of a sudden, was he planning to return, knowing very well the danger that still lurks?

"Boss said I should give you this," the man said, dropping a piece of paper on the ground, and in a blink, he disappeared into the night.

"He must be an assassin," I thought.

I took some steps, approaching the paper as I gently opened it up. It was a letter.

"I have heard of all that's happening, dear brother. I think it's high time I return and remind them who the Salvatores are. And I heard of the mastermind being back, the one who killed your wife. Be safe, brother," the letter read. My hand tightened as I squeezed it, crumpling it in a fist.

"What is he thinking of doing?" I could have easily handled things myself. Even though I wasn't sure how Sebastian also found out about the mastermind still being alive, him coming back wasn't going to help me in any way; it was merely going to worsen the whole situation.

But I doubted I could eventually put some sense into him; he probably was on the flight by now.

I remained in the same spot for a while, processing how I would handle things, but it was of no avail in the end. I entered my car, starting the engine, but just then, before I drove off, my phone buzz caught my attention. I grabbed it, checking the number—it was one of my men at the house. "What could this be about?" I wondered, hoping something wasn't wrong with Marcus. I picked up the call.

"Boss, I am really sorry, boss, but I only seemed to have failed you," I heard him say, proving my doubts that something was wrong.

"Speak. Tell me what happened," I demanded.

"It's her, boss. The woman you ordered us to monitor. She has escaped, boss," he said, his words spurring a rage within me. How could this happen? Why did they let this happen?

Yet one thing was certain: I had to stop her.

"Send my men after her and make sure they don't lay a single finger on her, or they pay with their lives. I want her alive," I ordered. As I heard the man respond with, "Alright."

I drove off, leaving the place where I was.

This mastermind returning from the dead all of a sudden... it wasn't good for Isla to be walking in this city. She was a perfect look-alike of Evelyn. And if any of my enemies spotted her, thinking she was my dead wife... no, I can't let that happen. I can't let them harm her. Marcus needs her; she is the only one who can help him.