Kieran stopped his car in front of a sprawling mansion, the Moretti Mansion. Its massive gates loomed like iron guardians of power. The guard at the post immediately straightened and, recognizing the sleek black car, opened the gates without hesitation. The vehicle moved smoothly into the compound, its headlights cutting through the shadows of the night.
When the car halted before the grand entrance, Kieran stepped out with his usual commanding presence. His shoes crunched against the gravel as he walked toward the mansion's towering doors.
Aiden stood there waiting, his posture tense, face carefully blank. But the moment his eyes caught Kieran, a trace of unease flickered. He hurried forward, lowering his voice.
"Boss… finally, you're here. Big boss is… hella angry right now."
Kieran's gaze narrowed. "What's the matter?"
Aiden gulped, visibly struggling to steady his voice. "Big boss found out about you… going around the red-light area."
Kieran's jaw tightened. He shut his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose. When he opened them again, his sharp gaze locked on Aiden, sending a cold shiver down the younger man's spine.
"Who told him?" The question came out like a blade.
Aiden flinched, shaking his head quickly. "No, boss… not me. I swear, it wasn't me."
Kieran looked at his terrified face for a long second, trying to read it, before brushing past him without a word. His heavy footsteps echoed against the marble floor of the grand mansion as he entered.
Inside, the living room stretched wide, its luxurious expanse smelling faintly of tobacco and polished wood. In the center, a tall figure stood like a shadowed statue, holding a hookah pipe. Each puff filled the air with curling smoke, weaving around the glowing chandelier.
"Where were you?" The deep, commanding voice sliced through the silence before Kieran could even cross halfway into the room.
Kieran inhaled slowly, steadying his composure. "I'm on the mission of finding Razer Luca."
"Shut up!"
The roar shook the room, rattling the atmosphere itself. The man turned, his eyes blazing. His grey-black hair, indicating he is in his mid-50s, streaked with age and authority, framed a face hardened by decades of ruling both family and empire. His neatly trimmed grey beard contrasted with the sharp, elegant lines of his black suit, tailored like armor.
Henry Moretti. The man who was not only the head of the Moretti family but also Kieran's father.
"Don't you dare lie to me," Henry thundered, his grip on the hookah stem tightening. "If you wanted women, you could have had the best, top-class. But you? You went to that cheap class red light area?" He spat the words as if they were poison. "Do you even understand what kind of place that is? Disgusting. And did you forget who we are?"
Kieran stood still, absorbing the wrath without flinching.
"We are the Morettis, we hold a reputation in the Montressa," Henry continued, voice deep with authority. "We operate the Moretti Gang to hold the power in the society, but to the world? We are a respected, powerful family. A name people bow to. And you? You risk staining our reputation by roaming in filth, dragging our name into the mud. If anyone whispers that Kieran Moretti was seen crawling around that disgusting place, having fun, what happens to our image? Our power?"
Henry's voice grew harsher with every word. His fury wasn't just about the act; it was about legacy, the weight of their name in Montressa.
Kieran finally spoke. His voice was low, almost pleading, but still firm. "Dad—"
"Don't call me that."
"Dad, please. Listen to me first. Then say whatever you want."
Henry's glare sharpened, but he allowed silence for Kieran to continue.
Kieran exhaled and straightened. "Yes. I went there. But not for the reason you think."
Henry said, "What do you have to say? That you are finding Luca in that disgusting place?"
Kieran said, "Yes, Dad. I suspect he is hiding there. And I'm in the middle of the mission. Please give me 2 days, and I'll get back with 100% confirmation."
Henry looked at him sharply and then said, "Fine. But you are not going back to that place. If you really suspect that he is hiding there, send someone else. But you are not going there, I don't want to hear from people that Kieran Moretti found having fun at a cheap red light area."
Kieran stepped forward, desperation flashing in his tone. "It's not what you think, Dad. I didn't plan to go there; it happened accidentally. And I found real clues. That's why I got involved personally. I can't pull back halfway. Just two days, Dad. Two days, and I'll make sure Luca is found. Trust me."
Henry's silence stretched like a blade. Then, finally, he gave a short nod.
"Fine. But don't show your face. No one should recognize you in a place like that. Understand?"
Kieran bowed his head slightly. "Yes, Dad."
Without another word, Henry turned and strode away, his commanding presence lingering in the air like smoke.
Kieran's chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh. He glanced sideways at Aiden, who offered a hesitant look as if to say, It's okay now.
But Kieran's mind was already somewhere else.
The Red-Light District — 3:00 AM
The building was finally still. Clients had left, laughter and footsteps fading into silence. Only the distant ticking of a wall clock filled the air.
03:03 AM.
Alena lay on her bed, eyes wide open, heart pounding against her ribcage. She had been waiting for this exact moment.
Everyone asleep. The halls are quiet. A rare window of opportunity.
She sat up slowly, slipping off the sheets. Her fingers brushed against the small device Kieran had given her earlier. It felt heavier than its size suggested. A lifeline, a test, maybe both.
Opening her door as silently as possible, she tiptoed into the dim hallway. Every creak of the old floorboards made her pulse spike. She forced her breath to stay calm, her ears straining for footsteps.
The ground floor stretched in dead silence. Then her eyes caught it, a locked door. The kind that screamed "hidden secrets." It had a card lock. She cursed under her breath.
How am I supposed to…
Her gaze shifted toward Madam Rosa's desk. Slowly, silently, she approached, fingers trembling as she opened the messy drawer. Lipsticks, receipts, jewelry, clutter everywhere. And then… a slim rectangular card.
Her breath hitched.
She snatched it and closed the drawer quickly, moving back to the locked door. Sliding the card against the lock, she waited.
Beep.
Nothing.
She tried again. And again. Her frustration bubbled. Until—
"What are you doing here?"