HIS ENTERTAINER

chapter 40

      HERMANN RODRIGUEZ POV.

 My command was swift.
The arsenal yielded my troops, weapons secured, converged on the training grounds.
I arrived, fully armed, a figure of controlled power.

"Team One ready, Signore," Genevieve reported, her voice crisp and efficient.

"Team Three's with me," Miguel confirmed, his tone conveying both readiness and grim determination. Norman added, "Team Two's deploying, Signore," his voice low and steady.

"Good," I approved, my gaze sweeping across my assembled forces. "Richard and I will proceed to the target." I stood on higher ground, surveying my men, a silent commander assessing his troops.

"Let's give them everything we've got!" Miguel's voice boomed, a rallying cry that resonated with the palpable tension in the air.

A chorus of approval erupted from the assembled men – a guttural, primal sound echoing their shared purpose. Norman, the strategist, added, "We are the Invisibles. Fight like it!" The words were a mantra, a reminder of their creed, their identity.

"Go!" Genevieve's sharp command cut through the air, a signal for action.

A thunderous cheer rose from the men as they moved with practiced efficiency towards their vehicles, a wave of controlled energy poised to unleash itself.

"Stay behind," I instructed Eve, my voice firm but laced with a tenderness that belied the harshness of the order. She reached out, her hand finding mine, a silent plea in her touch.

"Please, let me go!" Her voice was a desperate whisper, a plea against the inevitable.

"I can't risk your life," I replied, my tone resolute. The unspoken words hung heavy in the air – a promise, a sacrifice.

"Go to Morgan. Stay with her," I interrupted, my voice softening slightly as I gently kissed her forehead. "It's too dangerous." With a final, lingering look, I left her in the care of my most trusted guards.

As I approached my car, a sleek black Ferrari blocked my path, its sudden appearance a stark interruption. Richard emerged, his face a mask of concern.

"Wait," he urged, his voice laced with a desperate plea.

I ignored him. Today, there would be no distractions, no second-guessing.  My focus was unwavering.

"Hermann! Do you have a death wish?!" His voice was sharp, filled with the raw fear of a friend witnessing a descent into madness.

I turned, my gaze locking onto his. "Does it look like I give a damn about death?" My voice was cold, devoid of emotion, yet the words burned with a fierce intensity.

"Hermann, please," he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. "This is insane! You can't throw your life away for… just a girl!"

I moved closer, my voice dropping to a near whisper, a chilling intimacy in the quiet intensity. "Maris threw hers away for you. That's how much you meant to her.  This is how much Ivy means to me."  The words hung heavy in the air, a testament to the depth of my love, my grief, my unwavering commitment.

I stared into his eyes, my gaze unwavering. "Go back. Maira needs you." I patted his shoulder, a gesture of dismissal, of finality.  Then, I turned and entered my car.

A profound sigh escaped my lips as I settled into the driver's seat.  I'm coming, Ivy. Hold on. The words echoed in my mind, a silent promise whispered on the wind.

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                IVY SILVER POV.

The stylists had worked their magic, transforming me into a vision of perfection. My hair, a cascade of silken perfection; my makeup, flawlessly applied, giving me an ethereal beauty.  A princess, my father would have said, his pride echoing in my memory. But today, I was no princess; I was a predator, preparing for the hunt.  Today, I was close to having my mother with me, but because of one man. One asshole. Hermann Rodriguez.  His soul would be mine. I would rip his throat out.