His younger brother, Ezren, was only a four years old back then. He wasn't in the car. He was the only one untouched.
Wolfe never forgets that day.
He never talked about it either tho.
As they crossed the main hallway, a voice came out of nowhere.
"Wolfe!"
Avianna appeared suddenly, her high heels clicking, arms already reaching for him. She threw herself into his chest with a bright smile.
He hugged her back, just barely.
Not tight. Not long. Just enough.
She started talking before she even pulled away.
"You didn't text me all day. I've been picking a dress for hours. You're lucky I found the perfect red one. You'll love it, I swear. And I've been thinking about that wine you served last time. I need a bottle for myself. Can I get one from the cellar? Also, why didn't you reply to my message last night?"
Wolfe didn't answer.
He just kept walking.
Zayne followed a few steps behind them, quiet as usual.
They reached the dining hall. The table was already set, white candles, silver dishes, soft music playing from the corner speakers.
Granny Hayes was already seated at the far end. Wolfe gave her a small nod.
"Evening, Gran."
She smiled warmly.
"Finally. I thought you'd never show."
Beside her sat Ezren. Seventeen now, with messy hair, dark eyes, and a quick smile also looking handsome,definitely runs in the family. He stood up from his chair and wrapped Wolfe in a tight hug.
Wolfe actually hugged him back.
"Still short," he muttered.
Ezren laughed.
"You're the one who's too tall bro, I'm 176cm now"
"Still...Short" Wolfe smirked.
"Whatever" Ezren chuckled.
Dinner began after that.
Avianna kept talking. Flirting. Her hand kept trying to touch Wolfe's arm. Her voice dipped sweetly every time she said his name.
Wolfe said almost nothing.
He checked his watch. Once. Twice.
Then after ten minutes passed.
He stood up.
"I have to go."
Avianna blinked.
"Wait, what? We just started."
Wolfe was already walking away.
Zayne moved to follow, but Wolfe raised a hand without turning.
"I'm going alone."
Zayne paused.
Wolfe didn't look back.
The guards outside opened the door as he stepped out.
He got into the car, shut the door himself, and drove off roughly.
Everyone stood there,exchanging glances.
--
[AIRPORT]
Wolfe parked near the private gate, engine still humming. He stepped out, tugging his coat back over his shoulders as he glanced down at his phone. His fingers hovered over a number, he was about to dial.
Then he heard the voice.
"Still dramatic as ever, I see."
Wolfe paused. Head up.
That voice.
He turned, and there he was, standing a few feet away, black duffel slung over his shoulder, wearing dark shades even though it's almost fucking dark.
Kyren Cade..his best friend.
Wolfe didn't say a word. He dropped his phone back in his pocket and walked straight to him.
They hugged hard, fast. The kind of hug that didn't care who was watching.
"Six months," Wolfe muttered, pulling back.
"You look like shit."
Kyren grinned.
"You look like a CEO who hasn't slept in weeks."
"I haven't."
Wolfe took the duffel from him without asking and motioned toward the car.
"Before cameras catch your pretty face," he said.
They slid into the backseat just as a group of press rats rounded the corner...but well, too slow, too late.
Inside the car,
Kyren leaned back with a loud sigh.
"I swear, if I had to spend one more week in Berlin pretending to care about that tech conference, I'd have jumped out of the hotel window."
"You? Pretend to care?" Wolfe asked. "What a shock."
Kyren scoffed.
"Please. You're worse. At least I try to fake interest. You just sit there and make people sweat."
Wolfe smirked.
"I don't make people sweat. They do that on their own."
Kyren looked at him for a second.
"God, I've missed this mouthy version of you. I was starting to think you turned into a damn statue."
Wolfe let out something that was dangerously close to a laugh.
"I'm still in there. Just buried under contracts, press meetings, and whatever the hell Zayne schedules without asking me."
"And the assistant?" Kyren asked with a smirk.
Wolfe raised a brow.
"New."
Kyren leaned forward with a smirk.
"Hot?"
Wolfe didn't answer. Just looked out the window with a blank face that said drop it.
Kyren held up his hands and grinned.
"Fine. No questions."
Silence for a beat. Then Wolfe spoke again.
"You around tomorrow night?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"8 p.m. I'll be free."
Kyren grinned.
"You trying to take me on a date?"
Wolfe rolled his eyes.
"I'll text you the name. We haven't hit that place yet."
Kyren nodded.
"Good. I need music. Booze. A terrible mistake or two."
Wolfe cracked his knuckles and smirked.
"Then it's Club Noxx."
"8 it is," Kyren said, already leaning back with a satisfied grin.
"And don't be late, Wolfie. I'm not above dancing without you.I swear"
"You mean fucking?"
They both laughed. The first real one Wolfe had let out in weeks.
--
[7:30PM, SERENA'S PLACE]
The bathroom door creaked open quietly.
Serena stepped into the bedroom, wrapped in a short white towel, her skin still wet, drops of water trailing down her arms and legs. Her hair clung to the back of her neck as she moved toward the dresser.
The room look clean. Quiet. Her bags already packed in one corner.
She had spent the last hour preparing for tomorrow, her move into Wolfe Hayes' estate. Her clothes already folded. A black case for her work tablet and a second one for what no one should see.
She opened her closet to pick something to sleep in.
Suddernly, her phone buzzed.
Not her regular one.
The black one.
The one Lucien gave her.
Serena grabbed it instantly.
One message. No subject line.
She opened it fast.
💬 New target. Job confirmed. Tomorrow night.
Her body stilled.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Immediately, she dialed.
Lucien answered on the second ring.
"Why am I getting a mission?" she asked. Her voice calm, but sharper than usual. "I'm already on one. A big one. What the hell is this?"
"It's unrelated," Lucien said, voice flat.
"Quick job. In and out. Different client."
"I'm in the middle of an assignment."
"You're in Chicago. So is he."
A pause.
Lucien continued.
"You're the closest to the target. This one won't take your focus. It's just cleanup."
"Cleanup?"
"Don't overthink it. You're the best. You can handle both."
Then....click.
He ended the call.
Serena stared at the phone blankly.
Seconds later, it buzzed again.
This time, the full briefing appeared.
Name. Photo. File.
Location: Club Noxx
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Her eyes narrowed.
A club.
Tomorrow.
She didn't say a word. She Just walked across the room and opened her second bag.
She slipped in a second outfit. Black, fitted, meant for dark corners and fast exits.
Then she picked her gun as well and the other weapon just in case,she hid if in a flat compartment beneath her heels
Tomorrow is gonna be a long day,obviously.
[NEXT MORNING, WOLFE'S ESTATE]
Serena arrived in her car this time around, and already with her stuffs as told to.
The tall gates opened the moment the guards saw her.
She drove in and behind her the gates closed back and she just kept going on and on.
She finally parked in front of the building and stepped out, dressed in black slacks and a clean white shirt, her hair tied neatly.
As soon as she stepped down from her car, Zayne appeared.
"Morning," he said simply.
"Hi, morning" Serena responded.
"I came with my things" She said, opening the car trunk, she sat her two bags on the floor and glanced at Zayne.
"Come with me." He told her shortly and headed inside.
She followed him immediately, dragging her bags with her, not like she's expecting him to help her carry them but he didn't even try to be a gentleman.
Such a cold human.
They walked for a while before stopping in front of a door on the second floor, Wolfe stays on the third floor which is also the last.
"This is yours," Zayne said, opening it.
Serena stepped in.
The room look smaller than Wolfe's wing, but still big. A large bed, clean lines, soft light, bathroom, everything looking clean and perfect. She would hate to admit it but this is totally better than driving in every morning, except for the fact that now..Lucien already made up his mind.
She will be the one taking care of all their targets in Chicago and near, but whatever, she gets paid for it.
Zayne turned back toward the hallway.
"You can find your way to Mr Hayes' suite from here right?"
Serena nodded once.
"Good."
And with that, he left.
She stood in the middle of the room for a second,looking around.
It's time to start unpacking and make the room look like hers, again.
Although temporary, but she loves her things neat and perfect. Most importantly, she doesn't know yet when she would leave this place.
All she knows is that she definitely can't wait to get the hell out of here.
While thinking about all that, Serena already dressed up. In a short cream gown which stops a little above her knees, her heels clicking on the floor as she walked toward the door. Her pinkish red lipgloss shiny, and she chose to let down her hair for a change finally.
She came across the maids as she walked down the hallway which leads to the third floor, they all stopped for a second to greet her which she responded to shortly as well.
The elevator door opened and she entered, a minute later she got to the third floor and went straight to Wolfe's suite.
To her surprise, she found him already dressed up. And unconsciously,her heart skipped beats...why?? She doesn't even know, there's just something about him that screams power without trying.
"Sir...I..." She paused when Wolfe turned and faced her.
Okay, even the tie is perfect.
She blinked.
"I'm...not late" She found her voice.
"So??" Wolfe raised his brows.
"You dressed up...."
"Because I didn't like what I wore yesterday, is there a problem with that?" He snapped.
"You didn't complain about it yesterday, you should have told me." Serena stood her ground.
"Are you here to work or here to find silly facts?" Wolfe frowned.
"Silly facts? I am just...."
"One more word and you are fucking fired" Wolfe glared.
Serena swallowed and clenched her fists, even gawd knows she was dying to punch the hell out of his face. If this was her normal job? She would have spoke,,cursed him and then quit. But right now, she's on a mission and this bastard keeps giving her more reasons to look forward to his death.
She was still thinking about all that when Wolfe's voice hit again.
"I don't fucking care if you're real or Fake, if you're here for the benefit of my companies or you're here to destroy it, that's nothing new. I've worked with people like you, snitches,traitors and guess where they are right now...."
Serena blinked and watched him let out that smirk again.
"I won't tell you, that's why I told you to guess. Get me my gum, Miss Serena" Wolfe said, in a real icy voice that even an assassin like herself felt it deep in her soul.
What the fuck was that? He spoke like tho,He's well aware of why she's here but Serena herself is not the type that gives up easily.
"I don't know what you're talking about, just because you've met a lot of traitors doesn't mean we are all the same. I wanted this job and I worked hard for it, and I won't give up until you trust me and know I'm not like that, sir" She rushed her words, bowed shortly and walked out of his sight to get the gum.
Wolfe rolled his eyes.
Serena returned and took one gum, ready to put in his mouth like yesterday but instead he took it from her and popped it into his mouth.
Serena stared, his slow mouth movement....
Before she finished thinking, he walked out of her sight.
Serena sighed.
Okay, seems she's not the only one who hates him...it's mutual and she loves it.
She rolled her eyes and walked to the closet to get his second outfit,but this time she was more careful, gosh..to please him is gonna be too hard.
But she wouldn't lie tho, He's got a great fashion sense,the outfit he picked for himself looks insanely hot on him.
After packing everything, she rushed out of the suite.
Getting downstairs, Serena heard Wolfe rejecting the breakfast the maids prepared. When she got down,he was already out.
"How about you ma'am? Breakfast?" They asked.
Serena looked at the table,different delicacies,just for breakfast?
And is she hungry? No
But will she reject the offer? Hell no
She will obviously be hungry by the time they arrive at the office, she wouldn't allow what happened yesterday to repeat again today.
She needs strength.
"Yes please. I will have the bread..." The maids started picking.
"Some jam please and the fruit salad, yeah thanks...oh I love pineapple juice too, thanks"
They picked randomly,even the ones she didn't ask and they packed everything for her.
"Thank you so much" Serena smiled,and ran out.
Thank goodness Wolfe was just about entering the car, so she immediately joined.
Zayne sat at the front, the driver also. Before she knew it,they already out of the estate and she let out a sigh.
--
[MONARCH CROWN HIGH SCHOOL]
A sleek red sport car drove into the school parking garage featuring Ezren inside, the car smells new and yes it is. Wolfe got it for him on his seventeenth birthday which was just three months ago and this is the first time he's bringing it to school.
The door opened and he stepped out, his pure white sneakers hitting the floor first then he stood in his full height,looking as handsome as a sin.
Monarch Crown doesn't deal with uniforms,the students wear whatever they wants and you know definitely there will be competition about fashion.
But nobody is even good enough to match Ezren's dress sense, and trust me he doesn't even try.
But is it the height? The figure? The aura? How he carries himself? Nobody is on that level, or maybe in future???
His bag hung on one shoulder as he walked, ignoring all the eyes and screams from the students,He's used to them anyway and actually? He finds everything very annoying and silly.
To him, He's not even that handsome so why are they so old fashioned? There was even a time Ezren knowingly came to school wearing just hoodie and jogger pants with shoes.
And he regretted it even more because...gosh....let's not even go there.
He entered his class and everyone started greeting,both boys and girls.
He only responded shortly and walked straight to his seat, he could still feel on the eyes on him. Sometimes he would wish to just disappear.
Reason why he doesn't have friends,hard to believe right? But he doesn't even have a single friend,because to him they are all fake,they just want to talk to him because of who he is,his family name and all.
Rich kids cares a lot about standards,ranks and levels. Ezren is totally different so he doesn't get along with anyone at all.
He already used his headphones and his eyes closed when suddenly he heard loud laughter, yeah his music isn't that loud.
Ezren opened his eyes and he saw him again, the same guy who always get bullied for an entirely dumb reason.
Just because he's schooling on scholarship.
Some group of boys who think they are stigma acting like gang,proving to be the strongest in school, Dylan,their leader, then the foolish Ryan and Xavier who follows everything he says.
Currently the three of them are stomping on Benjamin and some students are either making videos or just laughing.
"I told you to get me strawberry drink you fool!" Dylan yelled, kicking Benjamin in the face that he puked out blood.
"How can you be poor and at the same time stupid?" Ryan asked and Xavier laughed.
Ezren's fists clenched on his laps as he watched everything..
His plan was never to get involved in anything till he leaves this darn school,but these boys are provoking him more every day.
He sat there,watching and it was beginning to look like Benjamin was struggling to breathe,still the bastards kept hitting him.
Maybe he lost control or he just wasn't thinking that very time but before he could control himself,he took his phone and threw it straight at Xavier,the last to hit him.
And the phone didn't miss, it hit him on the forehead and he fell on the floor with blood oozing out of his head.
Everyone gasped and all eyes fell on Ezren.
* What the fuck
* I bet that phone hit his brain
* Ezren reacting to other's business? New
* That was hot as fuck
"What the fuck! Are you insane?" Ryan was the first to speak up.
"Oh sorry, it was a mistake. I wanted to dispose that phone" Ezren said calmly and stood up.
"Bet you're insane,you want to dispose Iphone 16?" Ryan scoffed.
"Oh sorry, I forgot you're too poor to even think of disposing such" Ezren muttered and everyone laughed.
"What? Poor??" Ryan glared.
"Should we make this about money? Coz If we start and that's the reason you dumb asses are bullying Ben, it means I can actually decide to make you my table for the whole year we would spend in this school and nobody will do shit about it....."
Everyone in class already went silent
"I'm just trying to say that your family life savings is not enough to buy five out of my cars" He dropped the last bomb and crazy gasps filled the air.
Ryan gulped.
"Let's be careful, dumb ass, I have anger issue" Ezren mumbled and shoved his hands into his pockets.
He picked his phone,threw it in the bin and walked to his seat without sparing anyone a glance.
Xavier was still on the floor,wiping his bloody head.
"Let's go to the school clinic" Ryan said and they left the class together.
Dylan?? He only watched Ezren like a movie,then he chuckled before following his friends.
Everyone kept on stealing glances from Ezren, this is the first time he would say more than two words in their ears.
Benjamin managed to get up too and walked to his seat.
--
[2PM, HAYES GLOBAL]
Serena walked out of the elevator and ended up bumping into Zayne, their eyes met and he moved away,giving her space to go.
"Where are you going?" She asked sharply.
Zayne raised his brows.
"I mean...have you eaten lunch already? We aren't that busy today so there's time for me to eat" Serena said, in a plain tone.
"Go ahead and eat..."
"I asked if you've eaten, stone" Serena flashed her eyes and Zayne sighed.
"No"
"Then let's go get something to eat, I saw a restaurant along this...."
"I can't leave the company while Mr Hayes is inside" Zayne cut in.
Serena batted her lashes.
"So you mean even while he's safe in his office you can't go out and get something to eat?" She asked.
"No, I must not be too far from him," He answered.
"He must be paying you so well..."
"I'm not doing this for money alone, I must protect him even with my life,that's it" Zayne cut in again.
Serena blinked.
"Oh..okay then. I will just go ahead and eat on my own" She mumbled and walked away, still thinking about what Zayne just said.
Even with his life? Really??
--
Inside Wolfe's office, He's currently checking out Serena's resume,Reading carefully since he doesn't know anything about her anyway.
All her information,everything she submitted.
Full Name: Serena Vale
Age: 27 years old
Nationality: American
He read everything under it and came back to her name,then her age again. She's really 27? What was he expecting, a 20 years old to be his PA??
He rolled his eyes and returned everything to it's right place before he continued his work.
About thirty minutes later,the door opened and he looked up.
His brows furrowed when he saw Serena standing with a package in her hand.
"I didn't call for you" Wolfe said.
"Oh yes, I went to get food from the restaurant close by and got you something..." She answered.
Wolfe stared at her blankly like she was speaking in a weird language he doesn't understand.
Serena blinked..is he angry or pissed? Why Is it so hard to please him? How is she supposed to get close to him if he doesn't even like her??
"I will drop it on the table...sir" She said and slowly walked closer.
She dropped it and went out of the office.
As she sat down on her desk, it's just right opposite Wolfe's office, and in fact you will have to pass through her desk before you enter Wolfe's office.
Just about ten minutes after she sat down, Zayne entered Wolfe's office and almost just one minute after he came out again.
Serena blinked and almost stood up when she saw him holding the package she initially gave to Wolfe.
"Thanks for the food" Zayne muttered.
Serena frowned and clinch her teeth at him.
"Don't bother yourself next time, He's more careful than you think" he added.
"I will enjoy the food" He concluded and walked away.
Serena blinked and stayed still the first five minutes.
If he's this careful,then that obviously means he must really have lots of enemies like he said.
She sighed and bit her lip, she glanced through the glass door,staring straight at Wolfe inside. He's currently on a call and he's facing the window side so his back is turned on her.
Serena's eyes remained on him, but not for too long.
Who cares? Her job is to eliminate him. That's what she was paid for.
--
[8PM, CLUB NOXX]
Wolfe could hear the loud noise mixed with music coming from inside the club as he stepped down from his car, after spending so much time convincing Zayne that he doesn't need to follow him at all.
Thank goodness he succeeded? No he didn't succeed because Zayne is right inside the car.
"Stay right here ....."
"I'm sorry but that won't be possible sir" Zayne cut in as he also came out of the car.
Wolfe looked at him, he wanted to speak but changed his mind, he just turned around and began walking inside so Zayne followed.
Apart from being an expensive club, Noxx is totally one of the naughtiest clubhouse in the city. Here you will find naked girls dancing and men spending their savings on them, strippers whose wears are barely covering anything and as their legs are stretching sideways,you can easily see their p**sy.
Different sizes of boobs bounced in front of Wolfe as he walked in but he didn't glance at them even once,and as usual,he was turning heads. Even the girls with men couldn't control their sex hunger.
Including for Zayne, but his only focus was on Wolfe walking right in front of him.
Finally Wolfe found Kyren and his cold face became soft,but the smile went down the moment he saw Avianna also.
"Wolfe!!" Avianna immediately dropped her whiskey glass and rush to hug him.
Instantly,Wolfe and Kyren began speaking with their eyes.
"What the fuck? How come she's here?" Wolfe asked.
Kyren only smirked.
Avianna broke the hug and pecked his cheek.
"Why are you here?" Wolfe asked.
"Oh...since you ignored all my texts,I called him and he told me....."
"Fuck you man" Wolfe snapped at Kyren.
"Easy dude" Kyren chuckled and poured him a drink.
Wolfe scoffed and took it from him.
"I'm so happy to see you again Kyren" Avianna smiled.
"Yeah me too"
Wolfe sneered at him secretly and he almost laughed.
"I'm going to use the restroom,I will be back" Avianna stood up and left.
"I will be going home soon" Wolfe said.
"Dude come on, don't tell me you haven't asked her out yet. Are you seriously still avoiding her?" Kyren asked.
"Avianna is just...."
"Just a friend? Oh dude you bore me sometimes,you think she sees you as just a friend?" He demonstrated with his fingers.
Wolfe rolled his eyes.
"I don't like her that way...."
"Learn how to, trust me she's the best for you. We promised not to date anyone who's after the money, and obviously she's not" Kyren groaned.
"I will think about it" Wolfe sighed.
"Just try to be less cold dude, she's perfect, you can change her bratty attitude, we all know she only listens to you" Kyren added.
Wolfe didn't say anything after that.
Two strippers came over to them but Wolfe immediately rejected the one coming to him so they both focused on Kyren instead.
"Fuck, I've missed this shit so much" Kyren groaned out as the two strippers touched him in the right places.
"Crazy idiot" Wolfe chuckled, lighting up a wrap of blunt to smoke.
Zayne just stayed at the back,watching everything going on
--
Outside, Serena got down from the taxi. Yeah she didn't bring her car because she actually sneaked out of the house by jumping through the fence even though it's all mad tall.
But Serena is too skilled to be stopped by ordinary fence,she has climbed even taller ones and was never hard for her.
She dressed in her all black outfit, black fitted top,black leggings,black shoes, black mask,black facecap and also a black backpack on her back.
As she walked, her brain was calculating through her targets information.
His name is Nick, a man in his thirties, as always she doesn't know why she's killing him and obviously not her business,she's here for the job which is to take his life.
She passed through the back entrance because she already read everything about this club and from what she discovered,they are quite strict, they will definitely wanna know why she's dressed this way and she has no time.
Personally,she had to make sure Wolfe left home before she also did, so obviously she needs to finish up and return home before he does,coz who knows,that dude might decide to call her for some meaningless work.
Within five minutes,Serena already found her way inside through the back door,quietly and successfully escaped the dumb securities, gosh so dumb.
Now inside the club,but not really the main floor,upstairs where she could see and at least find her target.
And there he was...Nick, surrounded by three girls. Serena rested her arms on the stairs rail,watching him through her mask and cap while thinking of her next step.
Definitely she can't just shoot him from here, she needs to get close,even if she gets close,shooting will only cause mad chaos in this place.
She was still thinking when her eyes suddenly fell on a familiar figure.
Wait....she stood properly,this is no familiarity, it's actually him, Wolfe.
"What the helly?" Serena gasped and immediately turned away, she stood behind the pillar sharply, looking at him with shock on her face.
She could see him with another guy,then a girl beside him,smiling and being touchy.
That aside..He's here?
What the fuck? What if he....
Again she was still thinking about that when Wolfe stood up, she watched him shook hands with the other guy before he started going out,Zayne followed,they left the clubhouse.
Okay this might look good but for real? It's not. This only means he's going home....what If he gets home and can't find her?
Sharply, Serena started walking, downstairs.
She needs to get rid of Nick and get the fuck out of this place.
Getting downstairs, she was already holding something like a pin in her hand,but it's no pin.
It's the most poisonous weapon one would ever experience, they use it whenever they want to kill a target silently even in public,this is the best way.
As she walked in the midst of people having fun,her eyes remained on the target,Nick.
Getting close, she intentionally pushed one of the bitches with him and her wine glass fell.
As the glass fell on the floor and they gasped, few crashes happened right there.
And in the middle of that little chaos, Serena already inserted the pin into Nick's back. She didn't even look back,she just adjusted her cap properly and kept her pace.
Back to Nick, suddenly he started throwing up blood, thick blood. Everyone screamed and the once lively place scattered, as everyone watched Nick puked blood till he became cold and motionless on the floor, having no darn idea about what happened to him.
"He's gone" The guy who checked him announced and a louder gasp followed.
Outside, Serena already dialed Lucien's number and he answered right away.
"Target eliminated"
Lucien let out a dry chuckle.
"Good job, check your account" He said and hung up.