The early morning sun cast a golden hue over the city, but the warmth outside couldn't pierce the cold tension that hung in the air inside Benjamin's estate. Clara awoke to find Benjamin gone from their bed, the emptiness beside her an unsettling reminder of his unrelenting battle with the underworld's shadows.
She quickly dressed and made her way downstairs, her steps echoing softly against the marble floor. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted her, but the familiar comfort felt hollow without Benjamin's presence. Evelyn sat at the kitchen table, her laptop open and her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Morning," Clara said cautiously, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
Evelyn looked up briefly and nodded. "Morning. Benjamin's in the study."
Clara hesitated. "Is everything okay?"
Evelyn's lips pressed into a thin line. "Depends on how you define 'okay.' He's planning something big, and I'm not sure he's thought it through entirely."
Clara's heart sank. She knew Benjamin's determination often bordered on recklessness, especially when it came to protecting her.
---
Clara found Benjamin in the study, standing by the large window that overlooked the sprawling estate gardens. His phone was pressed to his ear, his tone low but sharp as he gave instructions to someone on the other end.
When he noticed her, he ended the call and set the phone down on the desk. "Clara," he greeted, his voice softening, though his eyes remained clouded with thought.
"You didn't come back to bed," she said, approaching him.
Benjamin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I couldn't. Too much to plan."
"Benjamin, you can't keep carrying this alone," Clara said, placing a hand on his arm. "Talk to me. Let me help."
He turned to her, his expression conflicted. "I appreciate that, Clara. But this isn't something I want you involved in."
"I'm already involved," she insisted. "Whatever this is, we face it together."
Benjamin's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked as if he might let her in. But then the mask returned, and he shook his head. "Not this time."
Before she could argue further, Evelyn entered the room, holding a tablet. "We've got movement," she announced.
"What kind of movement?" Benjamin asked, his attention snapping to her.
Evelyn handed him the tablet, which displayed a live feed from a surveillance camera. "Ricci's men have been spotted near the docks. They're meeting with someone new—a man we haven't identified yet."
Benjamin's jaw tightened as he studied the footage. "The Black Vipers' new leader, perhaps."
Clara stepped closer, peering over his shoulder. The screen showed a group of men gathered near a shipping container. One figure stood out—a tall man dressed sharply in a dark suit, his face partially obscured by shadows.
"Who is he?" Clara asked.
"We don't know," Evelyn admitted. "But he's definitely calling the shots."
Benjamin's eyes narrowed. "Then it's time we introduced ourselves."
---
Benjamin's plan was as daring as it was dangerous. He intended to intercept the meeting at the docks, not to attack outright but to send a clear message: anyone targeting him or Clara would face his wrath.
Clara wanted to protest, but she knew better than to try to change his mind once it was made up. Instead, she focused on preparing herself for whatever was to come.
"Stay here," Benjamin said firmly as he strapped a holster to his side.
"No," Clara said, crossing her arms. "I'm not sitting here while you put yourself in danger."
"Clara, this isn't up for debate," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
"Then it's not up for debate that I'm coming with you," she countered.
Benjamin stared at her, his frustration evident. But beneath it, Clara could see the flicker of admiration for her stubbornness. Finally, he relented with a sigh. "Fine. But you stay in the car. No exceptions."
---
The docks were eerily quiet when they arrived, the sound of waves lapping against the wooden pilings the only noise breaking the silence. Clara stayed in the car as promised, watching anxiously as Benjamin and Evelyn moved toward the meeting point.
From her vantage point, she could see the group of men gathered near the shipping container. The man in the dark suit stood at the center, exuding an air of authority that was impossible to ignore.
Benjamin approached with his usual confidence, his presence commanding attention. The men turned to face him, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Benjamin said coolly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The man in the suit stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, Benjamin Blackwell. I was wondering when we'd meet."
"And you are?" Benjamin asked, though his tone suggested he wasn't particularly interested in the answer.
"Call me Lucien," the man replied. "I hear you've been causing quite a stir. Thought it was time we had a little chat."
"Funny," Benjamin said. "I was thinking the same thing."
The two men stared each other down, the tension palpable.
---
Back in the car, Clara's anxiety grew with each passing moment. She couldn't hear what was being said, but the body language of the men suggested things were about to escalate.
Suddenly, a movement in the shadows caught her eye. A figure emerged from behind a stack of crates, a gun glinting in his hand.
Clara's heart leaped into her throat. Without thinking, she grabbed the car door handle and flung it open.
"Clara, no!" Evelyn's voice came through the earpiece she'd left behind in the car.
But Clara was already running, her only thought to warn Benjamin.
---
As the figure raised his gun, Benjamin turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Clara running toward him.
"Clara!" he shouted, his voice laced with both anger and fear.
The man in the suit—Lucien—smiled coldly, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The sound of a gunshot rang out, shattering the tense silence. Clara froze, her heart pounding as she tried to determine where the bullet had landed.
Benjamin lunged toward her, his face a mask of terror and desperation.
And then, everything went dark.