Beyond the Kill

CH 10- The Betrayal and the Rival

---

**Chapter: The Betrayal and the Rival**

Greg’s footsteps echoed in the dim corridor as he approached the ornate double doors. Each step was heavy with dread and regret. He paused, taking a deep breath before pushing open the doors to the lavish office. Alex sat behind a grand desk, the city skyline casting long shadows behind him.

"I'm sorry, Alex," Greg said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I failed you."

Alex glanced up, a smile playing at the edges of his lips. "My man Greg," he said, almost warmly. "Why the apology?"

Greg’s brief flicker of relief vanished as Alex’s smile hardened into cruelty. "You were always a disappointment," Alex said, rising from his chair and circling the desk like a predator. "You failed Jacob, you failed me... and now you’ve failed Maclovin, who actually believed in you."

Greg’s stomach churned. He tried to defend himself, but the words were stuck. The room, once a symbol of power, now felt suffocating.

Alex stopped in front of Greg, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Your time is up, Greg. You won’t disappoint anyone again."

Before Greg could react, Alex’s hand moved with lethal precision. The last thing Greg saw was the flash of a knife, and then darkness enveloped him.

---

The fog hung thick over the old dock, muffling the distant sounds of the water lapping against the pier. Maclovin and Dr. Hayes advanced cautiously, their senses heightened. The cold, damp air stung their skin, and the creaking wooden boards beneath their feet added to the tension. Ahead, a lone figure stood with a hood pulled over his head, Natasha bound to a pole, struggling against her restraints.

"Let her go," Dr. Hayes demanded, his voice tight with anxiety.

"What do you want?" Maclovin asked, his hand subtly inching toward his concealed weapon.

The hooded man chuckled, his voice echoing eerily across the dock. Slowly, he removed the hood, revealing a familiar face twisted in a mocking grin. "I’ve been expecting you," he said, laughing.

Maclovin’s eyes narrowed. "Henry... is that you?"

Henry spread his arms wide, still grinning. "You should’ve seen your face, Maclovin. And who’s this? Your intern?"

Dr. Hayes bristled. "Not an intern. Partner."

Hayes shot Maclovin a questioning glance. "Who is this joker?"

Henry cut in with a proud flourish. "I’m a hitman—Maclovin’s greatest rival."

Maclovin scoffed, shaking his head. "Rival? More like a persistent nuisance."

Henry’s grin widened. "Well, it looks like I’ve won this round."

Maclovin’s voice turned icy. "What are you doing here, Henry? Why are you with Alex?"

Henry leaned against a post, shrugging. "I’m not with anyone."

Dr. Hayes frowned, his tension palpable. "Then why kidnap Natasha?"

Henry’s eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction. "To finally get one over on you, Maclovin. I know you’ve got a beef with Alex and the Syndicate."

Hayes turned to Henry. "You know about the Syndicate?"

Henry’s expression darkened, his smile fading. "Oh, I know. I worked for Alex, but he double-crossed me. There’s a lot more at stake."

Natasha, furious and gagged, tried to scream through the cloth. Her eyes blazed with anger.

Maclovin glanced at her, then back at Henry. "Enough games. Free her."

Henry cut the ropes. As soon as Natasha was free, she delivered a swift, brutal kick to Henry’s groin. He doubled over with a strangled yelp.

Dr. Hayes, wincing, rushed to Natasha. "Oh, my love, I’m sorry—"

But Natasha wasn’t done. She kicked Hayes in the nuts too. He collapsed, groaning in pain.

Maclovin, trying to stay calm, approached. "Natasha, hold on—"

Too late. She kicked him as well, and Maclovin crumpled to the ground, clutching himself.

All three men lay on the ground, groaning in the most excruciating pain they’d ever felt—worse than any bullet wound or punch.

Henry, gasping, managed to speak. "The Syndicate’s in massive debt... Oh God, that kick was brutal..."

Hayes, grimacing, asked, "What do you mean?"

Henry winced, his voice shaking. "Since Jacob left, the Syndicate’s lost its power. They’re desperate, letting in rookies who can pay."

Maclovin, recovering, asked, "And Alex’s plan?"

Henry, despite the pain, managed a grin. "Alex wants to put one of his own at the top, clear out the money, and go public. He wants to stop being a shadow and become a world leader."

Natasha, her fury still simmering, glared at Henry. "And if we want to stop him?"

Henry grimaced. "Now’s your chance. Alex is away from the Syndicate, with minimal security. If you’re going to strike, this is it."

Dr. Hayes, still in pain, asked, "Why’d you turn on Alex, Henry?"

Henry’s face hardened. "Money. Alex promised me riches, then cut me out. That’s why I’m here."

Maclovin’s gaze hardened. "Sounds like Alex has a habit of betrayal."

Henry nodded, still wincing. "He does. So, don’t let him betray you."

Maclovin exchanged a determined look with Natasha and Dr. Hayes. The pain was still sharp, but now they had crucial information—and a fleeting chance to act.

Please read previous chapter too ..and vote and comment