Theo sat in the dimly lit apartment, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. The air was thick with silence, except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Kade stood by the window, arms crossed, watching Theo like a man preparing to restrain a wild animal.
"This is exactly what Elias wanted," Kade said, his voice careful. "You storm out there, guns blazing, and he wins."
Theo exhaled sharply through his nose. His knuckles were white against the glass of bourbon in his hand.
"I don't care," he muttered. "He crossed the line."
Kade sighed. "Yeah, no shit. But you need to be smart about this."
Theo's grip tightened.
The images of Evelyn in Elias's bed kept replaying in his mind, burning like acid. He knew the truth—he knew nothing had happened.
But the rest of the world didn't.
And Elias had made sure of that.
Kade eyed him warily. "What's the plan?"
Theo downed the rest of his drink in one sharp motion, then set the glass down with a thud.
His voice was cold, razor-sharp.
"No more warnings."
Kade's brows lifted. "You sure about that?"
Theo's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"I'm done playing nice."
---
Evelyn's Nightmare
Evelyn gripped the edge of the bathroom sink, staring at her reflection.
Her eyes were red, her hair disheveled. She looked—wrecked.
Her phone kept buzzing on the counter.
Calls. Messages. Emails.
Every major news outlet had picked up the story.
Social media was exploding.
"Evelyn Carter the famous romance author—heartbreaker or victim?"
"Inside her scandalous relationship with two brothers."
"Did Theo Bennett just lose to Elias Bennett?"
She wanted to scream.
This wasn't a damn game.
The world was eating her alive.
And Elias?
He was probably laughing.
A knock on the door made her jump.
"Evelyn," Theo's voice was quiet but firm.
She swallowed hard. "Yeah?"
"Come out."
She hesitated. "I just need a minute."
A pause. Then—
"We don't have a minute."
Evelyn slowly reached for the door handle, opening it.
Theo stood there, his eyes unreadable.
But there was something in them—something dark.
"We're going after him," he said.
Evelyn's heart stopped.
She had known this moment was coming.
But hearing it out loud—it felt real.
Too real.
She took a shaky breath. "Theo—"
"No more running," he cut in. His voice was firm, controlled. But beneath it, she could feel the rage burning.
"We end this," he said. "Now."
---
The First Move
Elias leaned back in his leather chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he sipped his whiskey.
Everything was falling into place.
The world saw Evelyn as his now.
Theo was probably losing his mind.
And soon, Evelyn would break.
She had no choice.
She couldn't fight this.
His phone buzzed. A new email.
He clicked it open.
And froze.
His smirk disappeared.
His grip on the glass tightened.
It was from Theo.
Subject: Your Last Warning.
Inside was a single attachment.
A video.
Elias clicked play.
And his blood ran cold.
It was footage from one of his own security cameras.
Theo—inside one of his offices.
Papers shredded
Computers smashed.
Files burning.
And then—
Theo turning to the camera, looking straight at him.
"You think you control everything, Elias?" Theo's voice was quiet. Dangerous.
"Watch me take it all from you."
The video ended.
Elias's jaw ticked.
His fingers dug into the armrest of his chair.
Theo wanted a war?
Fine.
He'd get one.
But Elias Bennett didn't lose.
---
End of Chapter 59