MEETING THE DARKNESS

15

Dia felt the weight of her confession lift a little, but there was still more to say—something far more dangerous. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. Kai, Sahasra, and Vivian had reacted with surprise and concern about her double life, but what she was about to reveal next would change everything.

"I'm not done," Dia said, her voice serious. Her friends exchanged worried glances, bracing themselves for whatever was coming next.Sahasra looked at her with concern. "Dia... what else could there be? You already run a mafia."Dia nodded grimly. "There's a new threat. A syndicate known as OCTI. They've been making moves globally, quietly expanding their influence. They're brutal, organized, and have access to resources I've never seen before. The men who came for me the other night—they were with OCTI."

Vivian's eyes widened. "OCTI? I've never heard of them."Dia clenched her jaw. "Not many have. They operate in the shadows, but they're powerful enough to take control of entire regions without anyone even noticing. And they're after me."Kai narrowed his eyes, his posture tense. "And you're planning to take them down by yourself?"Dia nodded, determination in her eyes. "I have to. They won't stop until they've destroyed me—and everyone close to me. But this isn't something I can fight alone. I need help. Real help."There was a long silence as everyone processed her words. Then, Kai leaned forward, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Dia, there might be someone who can help. Someone with enough power to take on OCTI."

Dia frowned. "Who?"

Kai hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "My father. Rhys Dexter."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Sahasra and Vivian exchanged shocked looks, clearly recognizing the name.

Dia's breath hitched as she stared at Kai, her voice low. "Rhys Dexter? *The* Rhys Dexter?"Kai nodded solemnly. "Yeah. He's my father."

Sahasra blinked, disbelief etched on her face. "Wait... your dad is Rhys Dexter? The mafia king?"Vivian gasped, covering her mouth. "The most powerful mafia leader the world has ever seen?"Kai shifted uncomfortably but nodded. "Yes. Rhys Dexter is my father. He ruled the underworld for years before stepping down. I never told any of you because... well, I wanted to live a different life."

Dia stared at Kai, the pieces of his past slowly falling into place. She had heard of Rhys Dexter, the man who had dominated the global criminal scene for decades. His name was legendary in the underworld. If anyone could help her against OCTI, it was him.

"Does that mean... you're involved in the mafia too?" Dia asked, her voice tense.

Kai shook his head firmly. "No. I'm not involved in the mafia. I've stayed away from it my whole life. My father always wanted something different for me. He respected that I didn't want to follow in his footsteps."

Sahasra's eyes were wide with shock. "But... you've never mentioned this. Not once."Kai shrugged. "It's not exactly something I like to talk about. My dad's past is... complicated. I didn't want that life for myself, and my dad supported that decision."

Vivian was still in shock. "But you said Viktor is taking over the family business, right? So, he's... running the mafia?"