Chapter 146: One Piece At A Time
As Luca’s executive Range Rover glided through the main gates of Crescent Security Solutions, two tactical minivans rolled out from a secondary bay, their engines roaring to life as they sped toward Greenland Garden Villas to reinforce the estate’s security perimeter.
"Boss, we’ve arrived."
The moment the SUV came to a stop, Agent Zeffen hurried around and opened the rear door.
"Good. Take me straight to Chainsaw," Luca said as he stepped out. He glanced at Captain Rico. "Lead the way."
Rico nodded and guided him through the sprawling training facility.
The vast indoor complex buzzed with activity. Dozens of operatives, both men and women dressed in dark training gear, were in the middle of intense drills. Some sparred inside combat rings while others practiced live-fire simulations with training weapons. The instant they spotted Rico walking beside Luca, every operative halted what they were doing and snapped into a crisp salute.
"Boss, this wing is our primary tactical training center," Rico explained proudly. "Beyond the main hall is our private medical facility. Chainsaw is being held in a secure recovery suite on the third floor."
As he spoke, he couldn’t help stealing another glance at Luca.
Rico had personally investigated Chainsaw’s background. He knew the man had once served as an elite mercenary and possessed frightening combat ability. Earlier that morning, despite suffering multiple fractured ribs, it had still taken three of Crescent’s finest operatives working together just to subdue him during extraction.
Normally, a single Crescent operative could comfortably deal with several ordinary opponents.
Yet Chainsaw had required three.
And this same man had been completely dismantled by Luca in less than two seconds.
Rico couldn’t even begin to imagine where his boss’s true limits lay.
’Boss alone... is probably stronger than everyone training in this building combined.’
The thought alone sent a chill down his spine.
A few minutes later, they stopped outside Chainsaw’s room.
Two armed operatives stood motionless on either side of the reinforced door like iron statues. Through the observation window, four more guards occupied each corner of the room. Near the bed, a refined woman in a white coat and surgical mask quietly reviewed a medical chart.
After receiving the physician’s approval, Agent Zeffen pushed the heavy door open.
"Captain Rico, Agent Zeffen," the doctor greeted calmly.
"Dr. Evelyn," Rico replied before gesturing toward Luca. "Allow me to introduce our ultimate owner, CEO Luca Hale."
Dr. Evelyn had initially assumed the handsome young man accompanying Rico was an important client or executive. Hearing the introduction, surprise flashed across her eyes before she smoothly regained her composure.
"Good morning, Mr. Hale. I’m Dr. Evelyn, head of Crescent’s Medical Unit."
"Pleasure to meet you, Doctor."
Luca returned the greeting politely before shifting his attention toward Chainsaw, who lay motionless on the hospital bed.
"How’s his condition?"
"Stable," she replied. "His fractured ribs have been set properly. Assuming there are no complications, he’ll be fit for discharge in about a week."
She knew nothing about Chainsaw’s true identity. As far as she was concerned, he was simply an exceptionally high-value detainee. In all her years working here, she’d never seen a patient guarded so heavily.
"Thank you for your work," Luca said. "I have a private conversation to conduct. You may continue your rounds."
"Of course, Mr. Hale."
The door closed softly behind her.
Silence settled over the room.
Luca walked toward the bedside.
From the moment he’d entered, Chainsaw’s bloodshot eyes had never left him.
Gone was the swagger he’d displayed outside the villa.
Only fear remained.
Until today, he’d had no idea why Crescent Security had suddenly hunted him down.
Now he understood.
This enormous private security company belonged entirely to Luca Hale.
What frightened him even more was that none of his investigations into Luca had uncovered even the slightest trace of Crescent Security Solutions.
If an entire military-grade private security company could remain hidden from public knowledge...
Just how many other empires did this man possess?
Everything Luca had shown so far was probably only the tip of the iceberg.
Luca pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed, crossing one leg over the other.
"Silas ’Chainsaw’ Vance."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You still remember me?"
"I... I remember..." Chainsaw answered hoarsely, instinctively shrinking farther into the pillows. "I remember."
"Good."
Luca’s smile widened ever so slightly.
"Since we already know each other, this conversation should be much easier."
He leaned back comfortably.
"I need you to play a small part in a little performance I’ve prepared."
His smile disappeared.
"And if my actor refuses to cooperate..."
"I’m afraid I’ll have to make you understand the consequences physically."
The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
Cold sweat streamed down Chainsaw’s back. Even breathing caused sharp pain to shoot through his broken ribs.
Luca turned toward Rico.
"Connect the feed."
"Yes, Boss."
The large monitor mounted on the wall flickered to life.
Seconds later, a secure video connection was established.
The image revealed an elderly man sitting alone inside a dim room.
The instant Chainsaw saw him, panic flashed across his face.
Though he lowered his head almost immediately, the bulging veins in his neck and his clenched jaw betrayed everything.
It was his father.
Silas Sr.
The old man’s cloudy eyes widened in disbelief the moment he saw his battered son lying in a hospital bed.
Age had long robbed him of any fear for his own life.
But his son...
His son was another matter entirely.
Luca looked calmly toward the monitor.
"Silas Sr., correct?"
His tone was relaxed.
"I’ll ask the questions. You’ll answer them."
A brief pause.
"And a friendly warning."
"Don’t lie to me."
"The consequences will be immediate."
He folded his hands together.
"First question."
"What exactly is your relationship with the man lying in that hospital bed?"
Silas Sr. studied him carefully through the screen.
He still found it difficult to believe that the man controlling Crescent Security was someone not even thirty years old.
He had expected an aging rival of Gordon Luiz.
Knowing his son’s life hung in the balance, he also understood there was no point denying their relationship. A DNA test would expose the truth within hours.
"He..."
The old man sighed.
"He’s my son."
"Silas."
"Excellent."
Luca nodded approvingly.
"I appreciate honest people."
His expression turned serious again.
"Next question."
"What role did you play during Gordon Luiz’s early criminal operations?"
"And more importantly..."
"What evidence do you possess against him?"
Silas Sr.’s face suddenly filled with confusion.
"I... I don’t even know anyone named Gordon Luiz. I—"
CRACK!
Before he could finish, Luca grabbed Chainsaw’s left index finger and bent it backward with terrifying precision.
The bone snapped instantly.
The finger folded at an impossible angle.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Chainsaw’s scream echoed through the room.
His entire body convulsed violently.
His face turned ghostly white as sweat poured from every pore.
On the monitor, Silas Sr.’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets.
He’d expected threats.
He hadn’t expected Luca to begin torturing his son without the slightest hesitation.
Luca slowly released the broken finger.
Then he sighed.
"I warned you."
"You chose to ignore me."
He looked directly into the camera.
"The only person responsible for your son’s suffering..."
"is you."
Silas Sr. trembled violently.
The calm young man before him frightened him far more than any gangster he’d ever met.
After a long silence, he finally let out a defeated sigh.
"...You’ve won."
His shoulders slumped.
"I know Gordon Luiz."
"I kept the ledgers."
"And recordings from those nightclub operations."
"I’ll give you the vault’s exact location..."
"...if you promise my son lives."
To his surprise, Luca simply shook his head.
"You aren’t in any position to negotiate."
Silas Sr. stared at him.
"But without that evidence, how do you intend to bring Gordon down?"
Luca smiled faintly.
"Whether you cooperate or not..."
"Gordon Luiz is already finished."
"He became a dead man the moment he crossed me."
"The only thing your evidence changes..."
"...is how quickly everything ends."
He rose from his chair and straightened his suit sleeves.
"If you continue refusing to cooperate..."
"My patience will disappear."
"And I assure you..."
He glanced down at Chainsaw.
"A broken finger will be the least of your son’s problems."
Silas Sr. felt the blood drain from his face.
’Gordon...’
’What kind of monster did you provoke...?’
His final resistance collapsed.
"...Fine."
His voice cracked.
"I’ll tell you everything."
"Everything."
"Just..."
His eyes turned red.
"...please don’t hurt my son anymore."
"Wise decision."
Luca gave a satisfied nod.
"One last thing."
"Your son will remain in my custody until the Luiz family has been completely erased."
His voice became dangerously calm.
"So don’t attempt anything foolish."
"Otherwise..."
He smiled.
"...you’ll receive him back one piece at a time."