Chapter 0369
Theodore had been raised by a strict military father, which meant his education at the military academy was rigorous and disciplined. When the time came, he left the service and began working in private security. His excellent performance and discretion quickly caught the attention of the city’s elite, including Frank Levett, a man who had risen from middle class to high society. Frank’s explosive temper and unorthodox methods often made personal protection a necessity.
Frank heard about a certain Bennett, an expert in security and personal protection–someone with additional, less -discussed skills. After a recommendation from a man named Spencer, Frank decided to interview him. From the moment he saw Bennett, he knew he had found the right man for the job.
Bennett and Levett worked together for several years. Most tasks involved basic protection or the occasional ” special job.” Even in Bennett’s line of work, there were principles: no killing women or children–unless, of course, there were exceptions.
One fateful day, Frank used Theodore Bennett’s team and resources to eliminate the Bartz family. It was supposed to be a male–only operation, but things quickly escalated when women and children were discovered on–site. This violated Bennett’s rules completely. His agents thought it must have been a mistake, but it wasn’t. Frank had explicitly ordered that “no one leaves alive.” He saw them as nothing more than gangsters no one would miss.
Many of Bennett’s men refused to carry out the mission. However, Frank held all the power and resources to coerce compliance. He made it clear: if they didn’t complete the task, they and their families would be six feet under by the end of the night.
One life was spared by chance. A coin toss determined the fate of Lawrence Bartz’s youngest son, Marcus. He had been gravely injured by gunfire, but when Bennett found him, he was still breathing. Without hesitation, Bennett chose not to finish him off.
Bennett carried out the rest of the mission, keeping Marcus’s survival a secret. At the time, he didn’t see himself as the one to make Frank pay for his actions–but he knew someone would, eventually. Marcus Bartz would become the only surviving member of his family.
Some of Bennett’s agents who abandoned the mission later blamed him for not clarifying the true nature of their task. They and their families subsequently vanished under mysterious circumstances. Frank’s iron grip on the city was unchallenged, and his reputation as an unyielding judge made him both feared and respected.
Frederick Sanders escaped death purely by coincidence. Lawrence Bartz had sent him abroad on a business trip as his right–hand man. When Frederick learned of the tragedy that had befallen the Bartz family, he returned to Valentia. With the help of old Catherine, he ensured each member received a proper burial–except one.
Catherine, hesitant but desperate, confided in Frederick that one Bartz remained alive: Marcus, the youngest. Though he was connected to various medical machines, he was still breathing. His survival was uncertain, but Catherine clung to hope, determined not to lose the last Bartz.
Seventeen years later, Theodore Bennett no longer enjoyed Frank Levett’s full trust. He still worked for him, but both men knew their partnership was nearing its end. It was only a matter of time before one of them betrayed the other.
When Frederick Sanders began his investigation, he uncovered a long list of people implicated in the Bartz massacre. To his surprise, Theodore Bennett was identified as a key figure. Frederick recognized the name–it belonged to a former comrade from their military days. Discovering his old ally among the killers made the situation deeply unsettling.
Years later, when Theodore opened his apartment door to find Frederick standing there, he knew his time had come. Fate had caught up with him. He wouldn’t resist–one shot would end the years of nightmares and guilt he
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Chapter 0369
carried for that and other sins.
“I’m not here to kill you. I want answers, and I want them now, Bennett,” Frederick said coldly.
“What do you want to know? Whatever I tell you, you already know,” Theodore replied.
“Why did you let Marcus live? I know it was you who spared him. Why?” Frederick demanded, his voice intense.
“Someone had to avenge his family,” Theodore said, resigned.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Frederick asked, shocked.
“Exactly what you just heard. Now you’ve got your answer finish it. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? I don’t think this is a courtesy visit,” Theodore said seriously.
“You’re right–it’s not a courtesy. But I’m not here to kill you. I’m giving you time to leave. After that, I’ll hunt you down like the rat you are. You broke the rules when you killed that family. Now Marcus is coming for all of us, and you, my dear friend, are first on his list,” Frederick said angrily.
“I know what I did, Sanders. I don’t need you to remind me. But why are you giving me time I didn’t ask for?” Theodore asked, a puzzled look on his face.
“Marcus knows you’re the one who saved him. You whispered something to him before you left. Do you remember?” Frederick asked, scrutinizing Theodore’s reaction.
“No,” Theodore denied, though his body betrayed him–he couldn’t hide the truth.
“You told him, ‘You will avenge them in this life. You cannot die.‘ Am I right? Why would a man like you say that? Unless, of course, you didn’t agree with your boss’s order,” Frederick said, his voice laced with certainty.
