Jake entered the basement, his eyes dark and sharp as ever locked on Lillian, her limped body lying lifeless on the cold cement floor.

The sight twisted rage in him and his jaw clenched tightly. Without a second thought, he pulled out his gun.

Bang!

He fired at the wall. The loud bang echoed through the basement like thunder.

After another shot, Lillian jerked awake, her breath hitched as her eyes fluttered opened. She coughed weakly and looked around, only to find Jake staring down at her. The side of her neck hurts and it didn't take a second before it registered in her head that she had been kidnapped.

He stood over her, his gun still in his hand smoking from the shot. Her lips trembled as she swallowed her saliva, her lips quivering as she fisted on her dress.

"You are the root of all the problems I'm facing right now," He muttered, his voice low but laced with venom. He raised his gun again but pointed it directly at her. "How about I just kill you?"

Her heart dropped to her stomach. Panic hit her hard. She wanted to speak but only shaky sobs that escaped her lips.

Jake moved closer, crouched in front of her and lifted her face with the barrel of the gun. Her already flowing tears streamed down her cheeks, her body trembling all over.

"P-Please," She quivered but he smirked. A dangerous one.

"Welcome to my wrath, puta," he sneered, watching her tears like it amused him. But just then, his phone rang.

The sound sliced through the tension. Lillian swallowed hard, thanking God silently for the interruption.

She watched as he stared at the screen longer than expected, his irritation was evident. His jaw clenched again before he stood up and walked out of the basement without a word.

Lillian collapsed back to the floor, rubbing the side of her neck. It aches like hell. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in them, crying quietly. She had no hope of escaping.

Her parents were in the countryside. She always made sure to call them. Now, she didn't know if they even knew she was missing.

Jake marched out of the basement, his phone to his ear.

"Yes," he said shortly, heading to his room and stripping off his shirt.

"Your father called me, boss," his right-hand man, Carlos reported. That was expected.

He hummed and grabbed clean clothes from his closet.

"The tanker will arrive by dawn, but it needs you it be there. He's pulling strings to stop the delivery but I'm working on it already,"

"Drop it," Jake told him, "Get the plane ready. You're coming with me to Los Angeles," He ordered and ended the call.

That b!tch didn't even wait for an hour before running to Daddy. He thought, getting dressed before he left the house.

BACK IN THE BASEMENT, Lillian stayed in the same spot crying for hours. Her voice was weak and her body was cold. The silence in the underground room was crushing. The tears wouldn't come anymore.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching.

Her body tensed, thinking Jake was back. Her heartbeat picked up when the door creaked open slowly, but it revealed a woman in a maid's uniform holding a tray of food.

"Dinner," Olivia said.

Lillian stared at the tray, the delicious aroma hitting her nose, but after considering all possibilities, she shook her head gently.

"I'm not hungry," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible, hoarse from crying.

Olivia gazed down at her with a mix of curiosity and pity, wondering what she had done to incur Jake's wrath and a flicker of concern because of how pitiful Lillian looked.

She doesn't look like those b!tches that warms his bed.

"It's past dinner time," She replied gently. "Whatever relieveness it might bring you, Mr. Hernandez travelled this afternoon,"

Lillian looked up quickly. "Really?"

Olivia nodded once, stepping further in to set the food on a small table in the corner.

"I'll come back for the plates."

"Ma-please wait!" Lillian shot up, wobbling a little from weakness.

"Can you lend me your phone? Just for a minute. I won't call the police, I swear. I just want to let my parents know I'm alive. They'll be so worried. Please." Her voice broke on the last word.

Olivia sighed. She knew this girl wasn't lying, there was no defiance in her eyes. Just pain.

But she knew better. Bringing her food was wrong in the first place but Ms. Rose insisted she brings her food. And now this?

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I really am. But I can't. Just eat and I'll come back later."

Lillian dropped to her knees. "I'm not trying to run. I just want them to sleep without worrying that their daughter's dead somewhere. If it were your parents, would you want them to be left wondering?" she cried, trying to guilt-trip her.

Olivia flinched at her words. Inwardly, she rebuked such a curse over herself or her parents. She had no business angering the devil she worked for.

"I'll come back for the tray," she said again and quickly left the room before she changed her mind.

Lillian could only wept, hoping Evie would be nice enough to tell them she was fine.

Years ago...

Lillian had always believed in justice. She had believed that as long as people worked hard, they would reap the benefits of their labor.

But that belief shattered the day a gun was pressed against her temple. The cold metal burned against her skin, sending a shiver of terror down her spine. Her body trembled as she dared not move, her breath caught in her throat.

Her mother gasped beside her, frozen in shock, while her father clenched his fists, his face pale with fear.

A piece of paper landed at their feet, a pen landing beside it.

"Sign it," the man in dark shades ordered, cøcking the gun. "Refuse, and your daughter dies."

Lillian gasped in fear, her head hanging low. Her father was sweating bullets, his hands shaking violently. He turned to look at his wife, at his daughter, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.

They had fought too hard for this land. This was their home, their livelihood, their legacy. For generations, their family had grown and harvested strawberries, producing the best strawberry jam in the countryside. Their land was their pride. But lately, men in suits had been coming, offering money, demanding they sell.

They had refused every single time. But now, refusal was no longer an option.

Her father reached down, picking up the pen with trembling fingers. His hesitation only made the gun press harder against Lillian's skin.

"Sign it, old man!" The man spat, clearly impatient.

Her father had no choice. With one signed signature, their entire future was stolen.

The gun was finally pulled away from Lillian's head. She gasped, her knees buckling, and her mother held her tightly.

Bundles of money were thrown at their feet like they were nothing but beggars.

"You have one week to pack your things and leave," the other man said indifferently. "Shalom."

They turned to leave, but rage burned in Lillian's chest.

"Who sent you?" she whispered, her voice shaking with fury.

The man with the gun heard her and stopped, then turned around, smirking.

"Jake Hernandez." His voice dripped with amusement. "Do you want to question him?" the man mocked. "His men would throw your body a few meters away before you could even reach him."

He hissed before entering their cars and drove away. Leaving behind a broken family.

And Lillian Hayes never forget that name. For years, that name haunted her. And she swore that one day, she would destroy him. Defeat had never been in her nature. She lived by one rule after that incident, justice. That was the motto she carried when her parents entrusted her with the money, urging her to pursue an education.

So she studied law to become a lawyer then a judge, determined to fight for those who had no voice to ensure that no one else suffered the same fate her family had.

Her parents often told her to let go, and to see the brighter side, she was able to return to school because of what happened. But Lillian wasn't one to listen.

Her years in school were filled with hardship, working part-time jobs to survive and support her parents. Finally, she graduated, and after years of digging into Jake Hernandez, she uncovered the truth.

He wasn't just a businessman, but a Mafia King. A man whose name sent people into silence.

A man no one dared to cross, but Lillian didn't care. She was willing to risk everything for justice. But she needed more. Her family's case alone wasn't enough to send him behind bars.

Every police station in Spain refused to help her, and warned her against him. Lillian saw them as a corrupted authorities, fearing a dangerous citizen they ought to bring down together. So she traveled all the way from Spain to California, their police men over there had the balls to help her mission to bring Jake down.

So Lillian kept digging until she found a way to reach him.

Jake had a habit. Every week, he slept with a different woman in a particular hotel. And that was her way in.

Six Months Earlier From The Present Day.

Lillian stood in front of the hotel room, her heart hammering. She took a breath, forcing a seductive smile onto her lips. The authorities were outside, waiting for her signal.

After tonight, it would all be over. Her body was tense as she raised her fist to knock, but before she could, the door opened on its own.

The air in the room was thick with the scent of whiskey and burning tobacco filling her lungs the moment she stepped in. Her gaze landed on him, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his broad bare back facing her.

The man who had built an empire on blood and power. The one she had stalked for years, and now, she was in his room.

The dim lighting cast shadows across his muscular, tattooed body. Deep scars marred his skin, his broad shoulders moved slightly as he exhaled a cloud of smoke from the tobacco between his fingers.

She had seen his pictures a thousand times before, but standing in front of him now was something else. He was terrifying, larger than life, and radiated power that sent a shiver down her spine. His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, adding to his dangerous allure.

Lillian clenched her hands, pushing down the fear that curled in her stomach.

"You're late," he muttered, not bothering to turn around. She swallowed hard.

"I had to prepare," she replied, adding a nervous giggle. She needed to sound like one of those girls.

Jake finally turned.

His piercing gray eyes locked onto her, studying her from head to toe. Lillian forced herself to maintain eye contact, though every fiber of her being screamed at her to look away. His gaze was hard to read, but there was something dark lurking beneath it.

"Strip," he ordered casually, as if he were telling her to pour him a drink.

Her breath hitched.

"What?"

Jake cøcked his head, his expression hardening. "I don't repeat myself, whøre. Get on the bed!" He barked.

Her stomach twisted, bile rising in her throat, but she knew hesitation would only make him suspicious. She had one chance to do this right. She stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the hem of her dress.

He watched her, his face stoic. But then, as if noticing something, he strode toward her without hesitation and grabbed her wrist in a bone-crushing grip. His scent was overpowering, cologne was mixed with smoke and something purely him.

He suddenly bent her over the table, and the whiskey bottle fell to the floor. The shattering sound fueling her anxiety.

His body pressed against her back, and his warm breath tickled her ear. "You're nervous," His tone husky. "Why?"

Her brain scrambled for an answer.

"I-It's my first time," she blurted out, trying to sound small, fragile.

Jake went still.

Then, with an amused chuckle, he pulled back slightly, allowing her to turn and face him again.

"I know," he affirmed, "It was my preference for tonight."

She gulped, knowing she had to act now. With shaky hands, she reached into the folds of her dress under his intent gaze, where the syringe she was planning to inject him with was hidden. But before she could pull it out, his grip tightened around her.

"You're lying." He accused, taking in how she was being slow to undress.

"No, I-I'm not..." His smirk silenced her with her heart pounding.

"I know it when someone is hiding something, Dulzura,"

He spun her around that instant and slammed her against the wall. The force knocked the air from her lungs. One of his hands pinned her wrists above her head, while the other roamed her body, searching.

Then, his fingers brushed against the hidden syringe. Lillian's blood ran cold.

Jake's expression shifted from amusement to pure fury.

"You sneaky little b!tch!" he growled, feeling the traces of the syringe in her dress.

Lillian knew she was out of time.

With every ounce of strength she had, she kneed him in the stomach, making him stumble slightly.

It wasn't much, but it was enough. With her free hand, she grabbed the syringe in her dress and drove it into his thigh, pressing down hard.

The effect was immediate.

Jake's body tensed, his grip loosened, his expression flickering between rage and confusion as the tranquilizer took effect.

"You..." he slurred, trying to reach for her, but his body wouldn't cooperate.

Lillian stepped back, panting. Her hand trembled as she pulled out the second syringe-truth serum.

She crouched in front of him as he sank to his knees, his muscles locking up.

"You talk too much, Mr. Hernandez," she whispered, "I'm one of the families you ruined. And tonight, I'll get justice." She then jabbed the needle into his neck.

Jake's eyes burned into her, but he was powerless. His body refused to obey him, his limbs felt like lead.

Lillian exhaled, her victory sinking in. She pulled out a recorder, setting it on the table in front of them.

"Do you acknowledge that you've unlawfully taken the lives of more people than you can count? Especially the recent murder of Callum Blackwood? One of your men who died in a fire outbreak?"

Jake clenched his jaw. He fought the serum, fought with everything he had. But it was useless.

His lips parted, and the word slipped out against his will.

"Yes."

Lillian felt her knees go weak with relief. But the moment was short-lived. Jake had forced his body to move with inhuman willpower, his hand shot out, gripping her throat in a crushing hold.

She gasped, her nails digging into his arm as he slammed her onto the floor.

"You think... you could take me down with this pathetic trick?!" he snarled, his voice thick with venom.

His grip very tight, cutting off her air.

Panic clawed at her chest. Black dots danced at the edges of her vision. And she struggled in his hold, using her last strength to reach for the broken glass of the whiskey bottle and dragged it across his face.

Jake barely flinched. Blood dripped from the deep cut, staining her face. That instant, there was a loud banging from outside before the door busted open.

"Hands in the air! Now!" Six officers stormed the room, guns aimed at Jake. Two officers rushed forward, tackling him off her before forcing him onto his knees.

"Jake Hernandez, you are under arrest for multiple charges, including assault, illegal arms trafficking, organized crime, counts of murder, extortion," one of the officers listed, "And your confession has been recorded and will be used as evidence in court." The sound of handcuffs clicking shut followed.

Jake chuckled darkly, unfazed. He could feel his blood tracing his face, almost entering his eyes but he kept his keen gaze on Lillian.

A mere woman had the balls to get him.

He had his smirk intact on his bloodied face as he was forced to his feet, and Lillian met his gaze.

"Te arrepentirás de esto, lo juro por mi vida." He vowed in a low dark tone.

Lillian blinked at him, her chest rising and falling heavily, watching as they dragged him away.

Every nerve in her body screamed that this wasn't over. But she tried to comfort herself, he was arrested and can't get away from the law.

She was helped up by one of the officer, she swallowed before she asking. "What... what did he say?"

The officer answered, "He said you're going to regret this.That he swears it on his life."

A chill ran down her spine, gripping her bruised neck.

The officer smiled. "But don't worry, Ms. Hayes. The law will protect you."

She forced a smile, ignoring the way her hands still shook. The officer returned the smile, and without much, they both walked out of the hotel.

On her way to her apartment, she doesn't understand why she felt this way. She had been planning for this night for years, yet only felt void are not triumph.

His bloodied face kept surfacing in her mind. When she got to her apartment, she collapsed on the bed. Staring at the ceiling.

Her mind kept replaying what happened moments ago before sleepiness took her.

.

.

.

The Next Morning.

RING! RING! RING!

Lillian jerked awake, her hand fumbling to get her phone. Her heart pounded as she squinted at the screen.

Chief Judge Kingston.

She sat up so fast that made her head spun. Why was he calling her this early?

She swiped the screen. "Hello, sir..."

"Leave whatever you're doing and get to my office. NOW!" His voice was sharp and urgent. "You have five minutes, Ms. Hayes!"

The line went dead.

Lillian stared at the phone, her stomach twisting. There was no congratulations, no praise. Something was wrong.

She barely had time to wash her face before rushing out of her apartment.

As soon as she stepped into the Chief Judge's office, she barely had time to greet him before he slammed his hands on the desk.

"Why didn't you inform me?!" He thundered.

She flinched. "Tell you what, sir?"

The man let out a frustrated breath, pacing the office. "Do you even realize the kind of trouble you've brought upon yourself?"

Her brows furrowed. "Sir, I don't understand..."

He stopped pacing and turned to her, his face grim. "Jake Hernandez was released last night."

"What?!" Lillian exclaimed with widened eyes, her heart stop beating that instant. She stepped closer, finding it hard to find her voice.

"But... but how? He confessed. He..."

"Do you know who you just messed with?" The Chief Judge cut her off, "That man runs this country from the shadows! You think a simple arrest from another country would stop him?"

Lillian's throat went dry.

"Listen to me, Lilly." His tone softened slightly, but the urgency remained. "These people kill for fun. If you value your life, resign immediately and leave this country. Disappear." He emphasized.

She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off again. "This isn't a joke. He won't just kill you, but ruin you. And everyone around you."

She gasped, a tear slipping down her cheek. The Chief judge opened a drawer and pulled out a set of plane tickets. Lillian stared at them, stunned.

"Why are you giving me this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

He sighed. "You're a brilliant lawyer, Ms. Hayes. But you don't know the kind of world you just walked into. Take these. Pick any destination and don't look back until all these dies now. I'll take care of the rest from my end."

Her hands shook as she reached for the tickets. Her body was trembling, and just like that, she disappeared totally from her old life.