My Enemy's Daughter (Edited)

chapter 20

Samuel's POV

The shrill ring of my alarm clock cut through the darkness, but I wasn’t jolted awake by it—I’d been awake for hours already, lost in a restless sleep filled with nightmares. I sat up in bed, my heart pounding as I wiped sweat from my brow. The dreams were always the same: chaotic, filled with the faces of my wife and child, their screams echoing as I stood helpless. It had been years, but the pain never seemed to dull.

I glanced at the clock: 3:00 a.m. I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep anytime soon. The only way to clear my mind was to throw myself into something productive. I slipped out of bed and decided to hit the gym.

The early morning hours were silent, and the house seemed to hold its breath as I worked out. The rhythmic pounding of my fists against the punching bag was a welcome distraction, a way to channel the pent-up rage and frustration. After an hour of intense exercise, my muscles ached pleasantly, and I felt a semblance of calm settle over me.

When I finally made my way to the study, the light from the desk lamp cast long shadows across the room. I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the task at hand. As I sifted through my notes and files, a breakthrough came to me. There was a crucial piece of information that could be the key to taking down Jake Bruckner. However, I needed a specific detail from Dina, my secretary.

I glanced at the clock again—it was now 4:30 a.m. I grabbed my phone and dialed Dina’s number, fully aware that it was far too early. She answered on the fourth ring, her voice groggy and barely coherent.

“Hello?” she mumbled.

“Dina, it’s Samuel,” I said briskly. “I need the details on Bruckner’s latest shipment. Now.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a sigh. “Samuel, it’s 4:30 in the morning. Can’t this wait?”

“I’m afraid not,” I replied, my tone leaving no room for negotiation. “I pay you to be available at all times. Regardless of the hour.”

Dina groaned, clearly annoyed. “Fine. I’ll get it for you. But you owe me for this.”

I heard her rustling around, probably dragging herself out of bed. “I appreciate it,” I said, trying to maintain some semblance of politeness.

As I waited for her to retrieve the information, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Dina was a good secretary, and I knew this wasn’t fair. But the urgency of my plans left little room for mercy.

Finally, Dina’s voice came through the phone again, this time more awake. “I’ve got the details you need. Here’s the information you requested.” She rattled off the specifics, her tone now resigned but professional. When she's done, I hear her mumble something about switching off her phone after work

“Thank you,” I said. “And just so you know, I know where you live. If you decide to slack off in the future, I won’t hesitate to come by and remind you of your responsibilities.”

There was a brief silence before Dina’s sarcastic reply came through. “I’m sure you would.”

I ended the call with a smirk, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. I had what I needed. I quickly set to work, calling my men and relaying the new instructions. They had been making progress and reported that they had located several of Bruckner’s warehouses, including ones with weapons. They were still searching for the drug warehouse, but their progress was promising.

“Good work,” I said. “Keep me updated on any further developments. We’re closing in on him.”

After ending the call, my thoughts inevitably turned to Fiona. Despite everything, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a beautiful soul trapped in a situation beyond her control. The thought of her always brought a tinge of guilt, a reminder of the beast that had fathered her.

I resolved to set up our next meeting soon. I was excited to see her again, and I couldn’t deny that part of me looked forward to it. However, I needed Fiona for another part of my plan, and that necessity made me feel conflicted. The guilt over using her in this way was real, but my obligation to avenge my family’s death pushed those feelings aside.

With a sigh, I sent her a text: *“Fiona, I need to speak with you when you wake up. Please let me know when you’re available.”* I hit send, hoping she would respond favorably.

The day slowly crept in, and I began to receive updates on other fronts. One of my solicitors reached out with news of Clara khems letting my know that they'd began tracking her activities

“Keep things as discrete as possible,” I instructed the solicitor. “I don’t want any unnecessary attention or complications.”

He assured me that he would handle it with the utmost confidentiality. I appreciated his discretion, and as I hung up, I felt the weight of the day’s tasks pressing down on me.

With Fiona’s text unanswered and my plans moving forward, I settled into a long day of work, knowing that the road ahead was fraught with challenges but determined to see my plans through to their conclusion.