Alexander hurried toward the office where the father and son were. From inside the warehouse, he heard gunshots. When he arrived, he saw the two talking, but Bernard signaled for him not to enter yet.
He scanned the area inside and out—no enemies in sight.
That bastard. He knew instantly it was Felix. The moment Felix's true identity was uncovered, they had tried to kill and silence him, but Felix had outwitted them.
His twisted mind… he's really something else. Alexander shook his head at the thought. He couldn't make out the conversation between the father and son, but another gunshot rang out, putting him on high alert. He stood and reached for his weapon.
That was when he felt something cold and sharp press against his neck.
"Don't let your guard down, Alexander." The sound of a gun cocking followed.
Even without turning, Alexander recognized the voice.
"You got me there, Charles," he said.
Charles's companion had already entered the room, startling the father and son. Alexander aimed at Giovane, but a sudden shot struck him in the side. Charles kicked him hard, then shot him in the leg, forcing him to kneel with a cry of pain.
Despite the injury, Alexander still aimed at Giovane. Their shocked expressions made it clear they couldn't believe what he was doing.
"Sir! Get out of here!" Alexander shouted.
"Alexander!" William called out before firing at Bernard, who quickly ducked behind a wall. Even so, the bullet grazed Bernard's foot, leaving him limping.
Giovane looked back at Alexander, breathing shallowly from the wound he'd sustained. Alexander collapsed to the ground as his leg gave out, numbness spreading through it.
Giovane laughed and began to crawl toward him.
"You really are pathetic, Alexander. Do you think everything you're doing now—do you think he will even recognize it?"
"You're both pathetic," Alexander spat back. "You believe that man. You believe his promises."
He noticed a man sitting in the shadows, watching them crawl.
"Jake… So you're really here," Giovane said, chuckling again.
"Yeah. Well, look at yourselves now," Jake replied, shaking his head. "You think I don't know what's happening to you, Alexander? When your father died, you stayed at Bernard's side as his right-hand man. He won't recognize you…"
Alexander kept silent, ignoring any mention of loyalty. For him, it wasn't about allegiance—it was about reclaiming the property Fuego had stolen from the Socorro family. His father had been a partner in their illegal market operations until Fuego's greed led to his murder and a hostile takeover.
He laughed bitterly. "And you, Giovane—did anything change when you gave yourself completely to that man? He still didn't recognize you as his son."
Giovane's jaw tightened, but Alexander continued, "You're from a Roman family, abandoned by your own blood."
"Stop that nonsense," Jake cut in angrily. "Don't think I don't know what happened. Stop trying to twist his thoughts."
"Why so angry, Jake?" Alexander taunted, laughing as he reached for his gun.
Then—click. The sound came from behind him. His wounds made it impossible to move quickly.
Smiling grimly, Alexander fired at Jake. The bullet only grazed him.
Pain flared in his arm, but he didn't realize Giovane had shot him again until warm blood trickled down his side. Sweat stung his eyes.
"You know me well, Alexander," Giovane said coldly. "I won't stop until I get my revenge. I don't care what memories I have left—I'll hold on to that."
"Oh, really? That's why you can't protect your so-called siblings?" Alexander retorted.
A gunshot rang out. Alexander felt another burst of pain in his side. He caught sight of Felix, who gave him a silent signal to stay quiet before turning his back as if nothing had happened.
Alexander fired without looking, but the dizziness from blood loss made the room spin.
Is this my fate? he thought. Maybe I'm selfish… I just hope the two of them are okay. I didn't even get to take back what was yours, Dad.
His eyelids grew heavy.
"Let's go," Felix ordered with authority.
Alexander forced his eyes open, fighting against the weight of death. If this is my last bullet, Felix, I'll use it on you.
He raised his gun toward Felix's back.
"Felix!" someone shouted. Alexander pulled the trigger—
—but the bullet struck Giovane instead.
"Giovane! Hang in there!" Jake's voice was desperate.
"Go on… You can go. I'm with Mommy now," Giovane murmured, claiming to see someone pushing Jake away.
Alexander lay face down, unable to move, staring at Giovane's battered, gasping form. Silence swallowed the room. Felix was dragging Jake away from where Alexander had fallen, but his eyes lingered on the two of them—especially Giovane.
"I don't regret being your friend since we were kids. I'm glad your memories came back, Giovane," Felix said before he and the others fled, just like Bernard had before.
Alexander's fading vision caught Giovane's face one last time. Is it really now that your true memories return? What terrible timing… pathetic.
Cold spread through his body. His heartbeat slowed. He was so tired… so ready to sleep.