Chapter 5 - He Was Offered His Empire Back If He Gave Them the Woman He Loved
The explosion destroyed Marty's Diner.
Nobody died.
That was the only mercy.
Sadie stood in the street wearing a borrowed coat, staring at the burned sign.
Her childhood memories were inside that building.
Her first paycheck.
Her mother's recipes.
The booth where she had eaten birthday cake alone after her father disappeared.
Gone.
Silas stood beside her.
“They'll pay for this.”
Sadie looked at him.
“Don't.”
“Sadie.”
“I don't want more blood.”
His jaw tightened.
“They came for you.”
“And I don't want you becoming the man they think you are.”
He stared.
“You think you can change me?”
“No.”
She touched his hand.
“I think you already changed yourself.”
The next morning, Elliot contacted him.
Come alone.
Silas went.
The meeting took place in an abandoned factory.
Elliot stood in the center.
“You're different.”
“Yes.”
“You've gone soft.”
“Maybe.”
Elliot smiled.
“You know what I want.”
Silas looked at him.
“The territory.”
“The warehouses.”
“The clubs.”
“The money.”
“And?”
Elliot smiled.
“Her.”
Silas's face became expressionless.
“No.”
“Then everything burns.”
Silas stepped closer.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“She isn't negotiable.”
Elliot laughed.
“Everyone is.”
Silas walked away.
Elliot shouted after him.
“You have forty-eight hours.”
Silas returned home.
Sadie was waiting.
“What happened?”
“He wants you.”
She closed her eyes.
“I knew.”
“I can send you away.”
“No.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
She walked closer.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“Then let me choose.”
Silas looked at her.
“And if choosing means staying beside you?”
His throat tightened.
“Then I won't send you away.”
They spent the night together talking.
Not about sex.
About the future.
About the bakery.
About children.
About ordinary life.
Silas had never imagined ordinary life.
Now it seemed beautiful.
The next day, Sadie discovered a locked room in Silas's house.
Inside was a wall of photographs.
His family.
His brother.
Old friends.
People he had lost.
And one photograph of his mother.
Sadie stood behind him.
“You kept them.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So I wouldn't forget who I was before.”
She looked at him.
“Do you know who you are now?”
Silas turned.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“A man who wants a life with you.”
She smiled.
Then the door slammed open.
Gideon entered.
“Boss.”
Silas looked up.
“What?”
“We found the person feeding Elliot information.”
“Who?”
Gideon hesitated.
“Your lawyer.”
Silas stared.
“Impossible.”
“He was taking payments.”
“Bring him.”
Hours later, the lawyer confessed.
Elliot wasn't the real threat.
Someone higher was financing him.
Someone who wanted Silas dead.
A man named Victor Hale.
Victor had been waiting six years.
Waiting for Silas to return.
And now he wanted the entire organization.
Including Sadie.
That night, Silas held her tightly.
“I'm not losing you.”
She whispered:
“You don't have to.”
But neither of them realized Victor had already made his move.
The following morning, Sadie disappeared.
There was only one thing left behind.
A lemon candy.
Wrapped in white paper.
May you like
And a note.
COME ALONE.
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