"Yes, I got it," Charles said while listening intently to the person on the other end of the line. He nodded, then added, "Got it. Bye." He ended the call and immediately turned off his phone.
He was still fiddling with the device when he felt a presence behind him. Instinctively, he turned around and saw his companion.
"It's heavy!" the companion complained, struggling with the weight of the bag they were carrying.
Charles glanced at the bag, already knowing what it contained. He sighed and started walking towards them to help, but was suddenly interrupted.
"Charles, Giovane is calling for you," Vince said, motioning urgently. "I'll help with that."
Without responding, Charles composed himself and turned toward the direction of his boss.
"Where are you going to dispose of that this time?" he asked his companion.
"The boss said the family shouldn't see it immediately."
Charles just nodded and proceeded to meet Giovane. As his right-hand man, he was familiar with all current movements and information.
"Ah, there you are, Charles," Giovane greeted him with a mischievous smile, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Charles asked, clearly unimpressed.
"Your plan, Charles—it's brilliant."
"What plan?" he asked with a raised brow.
Giovane laughed and slung an arm around his shoulders. "The plan to kill and silence the child of Cuerdo. It's working perfectly."
"Oh, that one," Charles replied plainly.
Giovane chuckled again. "Jasmin's game—your game—is exquisite. Structured and effective. It's like watching magic unfold. Thanks to that, I saw my cousin… and my half-sister, Chesca. She's not dead."
He erupted into laughter once more. "The funny thing is, he trusted you—trusted the lies you fed him. Damn, bro, you're a master manipulator. Glad I'm working with you."
Charles remained silent, waiting.
"So, what do you need from me now, Giovane?" he asked calmly. "I know you. You wouldn't call me here without a reason."
Giovane smirked. "Yes, I do have a task. I need you to persuade Mikaela further. She's already falling under your influence, but I want her completely pliable. Ask her if Jake is working on anything."
"Why?" Charles asked.
"I suspect he's up to something. Our black market connections are dwindling. Some of our partners are being silenced," Giovane said, swirling the wine in his glass.
"Investigate. You have contacts in the police."
"They're working covertly. They can't just jump into it—they're being careful. Our enemies are vigilant," Charles replied.
"So, should I take on this case?"
Giovane gave a dry laugh. "Nah, stay focused on Mikaela. She'll come back—I'll make sure of that."
Charles nodded silently.
"By the way, be mindful. There are whispers of betrayal within the organization—because of Fernan and his cousin," Giovane said, his voice sharpening. "Be careful what you share with our people."
Charles arched a brow. "You don't trust me?"
Giovane gave him a long look, then suddenly chuckled darkly. "You're funny, Charles. If you were helping them—" he paused and pointed a gun directly at him, "—I'd kill you right here."
Charles stared at him calmly.
"But," Giovane added as he lowered the weapon, "I know you're not one of them. You're like me, Charles. A demon inside."
"I'll be heading back to the mansion," Giovane said as he finished his wine and turned to leave.
Charles gave a slight nod and watched him go. Then, without hesitation, he drew his gun and aimed it at Giovane's back.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that," came a voice from behind.
He turned to see Zenne step out of the shadows.
"If you kill him now, you won't get the answers you're after, Charles," Zenne said.
Charles lowered his weapon.
"How's your end of things?" he asked.
"Felix is already moving. He can't avoid what's coming," Zenne replied.
"You could've saved Jasmin. You had the chance."
"It was for the plan. We can't make a move here without being watched. Giovane isn't an idiot. Keep your actions hidden, Charles."
"I know, I know."
They exited the basement, stepping into the dimly lit grounds. The surroundings were eerily beautiful, cloaked in darkness.
Charles observed his companions. How many more women and young people would have to be sacrificed before this madness stopped?
He saw another lifeless body being dumped into a pit. The organization was running many operations—some victims were returned to their families, others were used by a mad scientist for experimentation. Once discarded, they were buried with the rest—unidentified, forgotten corpses.
Despite witnessing such horrors countless times, Charles still felt the burn of conscience. His hatred for the suffering of the innocent only grew stronger.
He was haunted by the deaths of Fernan and the two siblings. Now, only two remained.
"I still have something to do," Charles muttered to Zenne.
"Yeah," Zenne replied as Charles turned and walked away, leaving the rest of the organization behind.
He had someone he needed to speak with—urgently.