Chapter 19 - The Ultimatum
Before Sadi could formulate a reply, the heavy oak door swung open with a resounding crash. Vincent stood in the threshold, soaked by the relentless rain, his charcoal suit dark and heavy with water. But it was the expression on his face—a mask of cold, absolute fury—that made Viktor’s guards instantly reach for their concealed weapons.
"Viktor," Vincent said, his voice dropping into a lethal, quiet register that reverberated through the empty cafe. "You always did have terrible manners when visiting uninvited."
Viktor turned slowly, a calculating smile playing on his lips. "Vincent. I wondered when you would crawl out of your domestic fantasy. You've gone soft, boy. A empire cannot be run from a coffee shop."
"An empire is built on loyalty, not fear," Vincent replied, stepping closer until he stood directly between Viktor and Sadi. The air between the two men crackled with a violent, electric tension. "You touch her, or her brother, and I will dismantle what remains of your legacy down to the last brick in the foundation."
"Is that a threat?" Viktor sneered.
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"It's a promise," Vincent said softly. "And unlike your threats, mine always come true."
With a slow, dismissive wave of his hand, Viktor turned toward the door. "We will settle this tonight, Vincent. At the old railway yards. Just the two of us, and the ghosts of our past."
