After walking for a little bit on the second floor, I received the call that I was waiting since a while ago.

"Z, I found one. Would you rather come here to see it or I'll do it?" I tsked upon hearing Onyx's question.

"Why would I go there? Just diffuse it as soon as possible!" I snapped at him in controlled anger. He chuckled.

"Relax. You're really ill-tempered."

"Because you're beginning to get on my nerves again. Not now, Nyx. We have a mission and we need to be serious."

He laughed. "Fine. Whatever you say. I'll do it then." He didn't end the call and remained on the other line while doing what he needed to do. That was my cue. I changed course and marched my way towards the nearest elevator.

Luckily, no one was inside. I pressed the underground parking button and when I got there, I waited for that man who was following me. I hid behind one of the cars which was nearest to the stairs while holding my gun with a suppressor. Thankfully, It was still early so there weren't that much car at the underground parking.

Then, after about a minute or so, I heard faint steps coming from the stairs as if that person was making sure that he wouldn't make any sound. I was right. That guy didn't use the elevator.

"Z, everything's okay now." Onyx informed me. I didn't answer because the guy might hear me. The place was so quiet and just a slight move or little sound may give my location away.

I saw him holding a gun as he looked around for me but he wasn't careful enough because without him knowing, he was getting nearer my location. I waited for a couple of seconds before getting out of my hiding spot when I saw an opportunity to catch him off guard.

"Don't make any funny move if you don't want to die." I warned as I pointed my gun at him. He has his back on me so I had the advantage.

To my surprise, he laughed. "If I were you, I wouldn't waste my time here. You still have a couple of minutes before all the bombs that we planted in this area explode."

I gritted my teeth in anger. "Where are the bombs?"

"Why would I tell you? I'm merely a bait to lure you here." All the emotions on my face faded away upon hearing that.

"If you're not of any use to me then goodbye." Looked like that got into him.

"Wait, I-" Before he could finish what he was about to say, I shot him mercilessly. He fell on the floor. My jaw clenched as I threw him a glance. I then contacted one of my men.

"I need people to clean a mess here in the underground parking."

"Copy, boss."

After that, I contacted Joaquin and Onyx and told them about the other bombs. Well, we already expected this to happen so I was still confident that everything would go according to our plan.

"I already managed to diffuse two bombs. Damn. I wonder how they managed to bring these inside the mall?" It was Joaquin.

"Looks like they really made an effort just to spite the Red Fox and to threaten you. They couldn't get what they wanted so they're doing this. Back to threatening and blackmailing Red Fox again." It was Onyx. I smirked as I brought out a small device.

"This is nothing. We came prepared so their efforts will go down the drain for sure." I pressed the button and I saw another one emitting a radar on the screen. We ordered this device from Hatzis Group of Companies and we were right to trust them.

They make reliable devices like this.

"Looks like we have another one here. What about in your location?"

"Everything's been diffused here." They answered consecutively.

"Good. I'll diffuse this one and then we'll proceed on our next part of our plan." When I ended the call, my men finally came and took that man away. After that, I found the last bomb and was busy diffusing it when I heard a cock of a gun.

"You finally came out of your hiding spot like a frightened little mouse." Instead of getting scared, I smirked as I cut the final wire that I needed to cut in not so obvious way.

"Really? I didn't know that I gave you that impression or maybe, you were referring to yourself?" I answered sarcastically without any hint of fear in me. I was right. He would be here. Of course, the big fishes wouldn't appear here.

"Still smug as ever even if you're about to die, huh?"

I scoffed. "Shoot me if you want to shoot me." I dared him.

"Don't rush. If it was for me, I would've killed you right away. They want to witness you suffer in front of them so I-"

"-Are you done yapping yet? Why don't you just pull the trigger? You're really nothing but a coward and trash who kisses their ass*s like an obedient little puppy."

"Fùck you! Die!" He screamed in anger as we heard a gunshot.

"Argh!" I smirked upon hearing him groan in pain. I faced him. His shoulder was already bleeding.

"Thanks, bud." Onyx smirked while still pointing his gun at his prey.

"Don't thank me. Thank yourself because you predicted that this would happen. You're really good at this when you're taking everything seriously." The corner of my lips twitched as I switched my attention to the person who became a tool to destroy my reputation to everyone.

"What did you say just now? You're going to kill me? You're wrong. I'll be the one to end your petty life." I uttered full of rage and was about to shoot him for good when he threw something in front of me and that thing emitted a large amount of smoke, quickly covering everything. It was a smoke bomb.

"Mierda!" I cursed out loud as I got out of there as soon as possible because it wasn't just a normal smoke bomb. It was a teargas. I was coughing so hard when I finally managed to get out of there followed by Onyx who was on the same state.

We shot aimlessly at that smoke, trying to get him but looked like he managed to escape.

"Fùck that guy! I didn't expect him to have an escape plan."

I didn't answer and contacted Joaquin. "Bud, I think he's on his way there. You know what to do." I instructed.

"Copy." Then, the line died. I looked at Onyx.

"Let's go! We can't afford to waste any more time here!"

"Okay." We ran out of there. Everything was still going according to our plan and I knew that we could finally capture one of them. Maybe he could lead me to what I've been looking for.

I was so confused and scared of what was happening. I've seen Maximus get mad a few times already but I've never felt any fear because I knew that deep inside the tough, callous and rough man; there was gentleness and kindness.

But now, I couldn't feel any of that of this man. I could tell that he wasn't my dolce metà because Maximus would never hurt me in any way. He would never do this to me.

Feeling his body against mine felt so different and disgusting. It gave me cold chills down my spine but I tried my best not to let fear rule over me.

"Who are you?!" I asked through gritted teeth as I tried to wiggle out of his arm but his arms tightened around my neck. I winced as I began to struggle breathing.

"You should've asked that to yourself before you stupidly ran here and stopped this fùcker from killing me. You made a big mistake Princess and I will use this mistake of yours to my advantage." He answered and then laughed.

My fists tightened. "Let go of the princess or else-"

"-Or else what? Do you think you could threaten me now? One wrong move and I'll kill her!" He threatened as he placed the tip of the knife on my neck. The man before us grunted as his jaw clenched.

I could tell that he wanted to kill this fake Maximus already but was having second thoughts because of me.

"So, you're the one who was responsible of all the bombings." I then uttered full of hatred. Now, I finally understood what Maximus meant when they used his face to destroy his reputation. But how? How come he looked like Maximus?

The man laughed out loud. Even though his shoulder was bleeding, that didn't stop him from doing what he was doing now. He still had a lot of strength left and I knew that he would never surrender whatever happens.

I have to do something. I said that to myself but how? One wrong move and he would surely stab me.

"What do you think, Princess? You should commend the one who gave me this face. Because of this, I got to do everything that I wanted. Isn't it brilliant? The double will be the one to remain in this world because the original will be erased from the face of the earth soon?" He sounded so amused and confident as if they already won.

My fists tightened even more. I couldn't explain the rage that I was feeling for this man. He was one of the people who made Maximus suffer and I would never forgive them.

I scoffed. "Laugh all you want because you will never succeed. No fake product could win against the original. Remember that." I said sarcastically and looked like that didn't sit well with him.

"Shut up, you b*tch!" He was about to stab me with the knife when I saw that as an opportunity to bite his hand. He screamed in pain.

The man in front of us took the opportunity that the fake Maximus was in pain and pulled the trigger. My breathing almost stopped. I thought, it was I who got shot but I was wrong.

"Damn you!" The man who was holding me hostage wailed as his arm around my neck finally loosened. That was when I realized that he was shot on his shoulder. That same spot where he was injured a while ago.

That was my chance. I took that as I opportunity to fight back. I elbowed his side with all my might before grabbing his arm and twisted it before kicking him until he fell on the ground.

"Argh! You'll pay for this this!" He tried his best to get up, wanting to stab me, when we heard gunshots. Then, he fell on the ground with his eyes open, already lifeless.

"I told you that I will get all of you. This is just the start." I lifted my gaze to the one who spoke. It was Maximus. He was staring at his dead double without any emotion on his face, holding a gun in his hand. Behind him was Onyx.

"Maximus..." I called for me in an almost inaudible voice.

"Are you okay, mi hermosa? I'm glad I'm not late this time." His face softened upon looking at me. He looked relieved too. For some reason, seeing him unharmed made my heart water. I felt so relieved.

He opened his arms, silently coaxing me to come closer to him. That's when I lost it. I ran into his arms and the moment his strong arms wrapped around me; my tears fell.

"I was so scared. I thought, he would succeed on harming you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry because I didn't expect that he would see you. I thought, you were safer here but I was wrong." He whispered full of guilt and then kissed my forehead.

I shook my head. "No. It wasn't your fault. I made a mistake that's why he saw me. I'm sorry for being a burden. I just got so scared when I saw him got shot. I really thought, he was you. I thought, you were in a pinch. All I was thinking a while ago was to do anything to save you and if I needed to catch the bullet for you, I would do it in a heartbeat."

"No. You don't need to do that for me because I'll be the one to protect you."

"But I don't want to be protected only. I want to protect you too. I love you so much and I wouldn't take it if something bad happened to you."

"Shhh. Nothing bad will happen to me. We're on the good side and they're the bad guys. The truth will prevail someday and when that time comes, we will finally live in peace. C'mon, let's get out of here. The police are surely on their way." I slowly nodded my head.

"What are we going to do about this guy, Z?" It was the man who first shot the impostor of Maximus.

"He's not of any use to us now because he's dead. Let's just get out of here."

"Okay. Whatever you say." After that, we got in the car and left the place. But after about 15 minutes of driving, we stopped and got into another car so that no one could ever trace us.