Captivated Desires

55

Azar rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Reign's recklessness. "Yeah, I know," he mumbled. "Just try not to burn the whole city down in the process, alright?"

That's when one of Antonio's men stopped them as Reign whispered "Don't even touch him, Azar,". Azar tensed at Reign's command, his hand twitching slightly as if itching to reach for his gun. But he obeyed, restraining himself despite the tension coiled in his muscles.

"Antonio wants to see you," the man's lackey said, his voice almost emotionless. "He says it's urgent."

Reign's eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued by the sudden summons. "Lead the way," he said calmly, gesturing for the man to take the lead.

Azar stayed close to Reign, his senses on high alert as they followed the man through a maze of corridors. The tension hung heavily in the air, the walls seeming to close in as they approached Antonio's office.

Antonio's office was as opulent as ever, the man himself seated behind a large mahogany desk. His dark eyes flicked up as they entered, his expression guarded but his gaze sharp. "Thank you, James," he said dismissively to the lackey who had led them in, his gaze now firmly fixed on Reign. "Leave us."

The lackey obeyed Antonio's command, slipping silently out of the room and closing the door behind him. Silence hung heavily in the air for a moment, the only sound the ticking of a lavish antique grandfather clock in a corner of the room.

Antonio leaned back in his chair, his fingers playing idly with a Montblanc pen as he studied Reign. "I hope your trip here wasn't too boring," he said, his voice nonchalant. "Asia can be a bit dull at times, I find."

Reign's expression didn't betray his surprise, his face remaining calm and composed. "The trip was fine," he said slowly, watching Antonio closely. "Though I didn't expect to be summoned again so soon after our meeting."

Antonio chuckled at that, the sound lacking any real warmth or humour. "There's been a change of plan," he said, setting down the pen and folding his hands on the desk. "A minor adjustment, but one that needs to be addressed promptly."

"And what would that be?" Reign asked, his tone carefully neutral. His mind was working overdrive, trying to decipher what Antonio was leading to.

"Well, my friend," Antonio said, leaning forward in his chair. "What I'm about to ask you might go against your morals, but it's a necessary step if we're going to make this partnership work."

Reign's eyes narrowed slightly at that, his guard going up as he sensed the weight of Antonio's words. "Go on," he said cautiously, his voice carefully controlled. "What are you proposing?"

"I want you to eliminate one of my underlings," Antonio said bluntly, his gaze never wavering from Reign's. "He's been a stubborn hindrance to our operations lately, and I need him dealt with before he becomes a real problem."

Reign schooled his features, his expression remaining a mask of cool stoicism. Taking out a member of another family's crew was a risky proposition, one that could start an outright war. But he knew better than to let his emotions show. "And why can't you do it yourself?" he asked, his voice smooth as silk.

Azar spoke up "He could be just setting you up Reign,". Reign shot Azar a subtle glare, silently telling him to stay quiet. He knew that was a possibility, but at the same time, he also knew that Antonio wasn't a fool. He wouldn't ask this of him without a good reason.

"Sometimes, it's better to let outsiders handle these matters," Antonio said, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Less... messy, if you understand what I mean. And with your reputation, I know you're capable of handling this discreetly and efficiently. Something I greatly appreciate."

Reign's mind raced, weighing the pros and cons of accepting the job. On one hand, this could be a trap designed to test his loyalty and capability. But on the other, it could also be a chance to further earn Antonio's trust and strengthen their partnership.

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Reign asked bluntly, his tone laced with scepticism. "How do I know you won't have your men waiting to take me out the moment I finish the job?"

"Well, I want you to do this on your own," Antonio said before he shot Azar. Azar let out a curse under his breath, his jaw clenching as he took the hit. But he held his ground, glaring at Antonio defiantly despite the pain. 

Reign's eyes flicked towards Azar, a flicker of concern passing through his gaze. But he quickly turned back to Antonio, his expression hardening. "This isn't the time to be playing games, Antonio," he warned, his voice cold and firm.

Antonio chuckled at Reign's words, unconcerned by the threat in his tone. "No games, my friend," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I am allowing you to prove your loyalty and strength. And in return, I will honour our partnership fully and sincerely. A win-win situation, wouldn't you say?"

Reign held Antonio's gaze for a long moment, his mind still racing as he weighed the risks and benefits. Ultimately, he decided to trust his instincts. Antonio wouldn't make such a request without a valid reason, and the potential rewards far outweighed the risks. "Alright," he said slowly, his voice steady. "I'll do it. But I have some conditions."

"Reign-" Azar spoke before Antonio stood up. Azar realized that it was a setup all along. He tried to warn Reign, but it was too late. Antonio was holding a gun and pointed directly at Reign. Reign's eyes went wide with surprise as he saw Antonio's true intentions. His instincts kicked in, his mind quickly racing to find a way out of this situation.

In a split second, he lunged at Antonio, trying to knock the gun away. But Antonio was faster, sidestepping him and aiming the gun point-blank at Reign's heart. "You were a fool to trust me, Reign," Antonio sneered, his finger on the trigger. "I never intended to work with you. I only wanted to get you here so I could end this problem myself."