Chapter 2
After a few seconds of silence, Ares spoke, his voice a little rough.
"Alyssa, do you know Evelyn?"
Alyssa's eyes went wide, clearly shocked.
"You..."
"Evelyn McKay. Do you know how she died?"
Without waiting for Alyssa to answer, Ares continued, his voice low and steady.
"I'm Ares McKay. Evelyn's older brother."
Alyssa broke down instantly, burying her face in her hands and sobbing.
Ares stepped forward and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice soft but firm.
"I just need you to tell me one thing. Did you have anything to do with Evelyn's death?"
"No, no!"
Alyssa suddenly pulled away, crying and backing up step by step.
"Ares, I can't tell you. Please, stop asking!"
Ares moved toward her slowly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Give me one reason why you can't. Can you do that?"
"Because I don't want you to get yourself killed!"
"Why?" Ares pressed.
Alyssa broke into heavy sobs, nearly falling apart. "Stop asking! I'm the one who got Evelyn killed. Just kill me!"
Ares slowly shook his head, his voice low but filled with unwavering trust.
"I don't believe that. Someone as kind as you would never hurt an innocent person."
"Alyssa, even if you don't tell me, I'll find out the truth on my own."
Hearing that, Alyssa knew she couldn't hide it anymore. With tears streaming down her face, she began to talk.
"Evelyn was beautiful, full of life, and so kind. She worked at the Heaven's Gate Bar. I used to go there a lot. We got close over time and became good friends."
"About half a month ago, there was a party. I invited Evelyn, and Paul was there too. Evelyn got drunk that night and said she really missed Ares. Paul heard her."
"Afterward, he asked me about Evelyn. I didn't think much of it, so I told him everything I knew."
"A few days later, Evelyn told me someone was following her. And then..."
At that point, Alyssa covered her face again, her shoulders shaking violently.
"Five days ago, Paul asked me to get Evelyn to come out. He said he wanted to offer her a better job. I agreed. I had no idea that monster would actually kill her."
Alyssa could barely get the words out through her tears.
Ares held back the rage and murderous fury rising in his chest and kept his voice as calm as he could to comfort her.
"Alyssa, this isn't your fault."
He paused, then asked, "Do you know why Paul killed Evelyn?"
"I'm not sure. But when he was interrogating Evelyn, he said something like. five years ago, your brother took something important off the drug dealer he killed..."
Ares was pulled into a brief flash of memory. He remembered that day clearly. After accidentally killing the dealer, he had fled the scene immediately. He never searched the body or took anything.
Alyssa kept crying as she went on. "Paul used that to threaten me into marrying him. I had no choice, Ares. I never meant for any of this to happen. I'm so sorry."
Ares frowned. "From what I know, you're close to the Chaykos family, the most powerful family in Illinois. Why didn't you go to them for help?"
Alyssa's tear-streaked face twisted into a bitter, self-mocking smile.
"To people like them, I'm just a pretty face. Besides, the Antonelli family and the Chaykos family are cut from the same cloth. There's no way they'd help me."
Hearing that, some of the tension in Ares finally eased.
As long as Alyssa wasn't the one who got Evelyn killed, everything else could be dealt with.
"Alyssa, you don't need to blame yourself."
Ares pulled her into his arms and gently rubbed her back, his voice tender but carrying an unshakable resolve.
"Evelyn's death is not on you. The one truly responsible is Paul Antonelli."
He looked down at her and asked quietly but seriously.
"I only have one question for you right now. Are you willing to marry Paul Antonelli?"
Alyssa lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying, and stared straight at Ares.
"How could I ever marry a monster who kills without a second thought?"
Ares took a slow, deep breath, a cold killing intent rising in his eyes.
"Then today, I'll be the one to bring judgment down on that monster."
Ares led Alyssa out through the hotel's back entrance and had her wait in the car.
The moment the car door shut, his expression turned ice cold. The killing intent in his eyes was almost something you could physically feel.
He looked at the five Viper Corps members standing before him and gave his orders in a hard, flat voice.
"Hankins, get fifty C4 charges ready right now. Place them at every critical point in the Hilton."
"Monica, contact Simon. I need him to hack into the federal system within ten minutes and build us all new identities. Then have him send Andre photos of every Antonelli family member."
He then got directly on the line with Andre.
"Simon will be sending you photos of the Antonelli family shortly. If you see any of them trying to slip out of the hotel, don't let a single one go. Take them all out."
After cutting the call, he turned to the three beside him.
"Holt, you three are with me. Monica, stay in the car and keep Alyssa safe."
"Yes, boss!"
The Hilton Hotel, one of the Antonelli family's properties, was buzzing with energy in the main hall.
Henry Antonelli, head of the Antonelli family, had just announced another piece of good news — a newly formed subsidiary was set to go public the following day.
The room full of high-society guests broke into enthusiastic applause, their faces full of flattery and admiration.
Paul looked especially proud. Tonight wasn't just a celebration of the family's success — he was also about to marry Alyssa Wilson, Chicago's most sought-after socialite.
As the star of the evening, he was soaking in every admiring and envious look thrown his way.
Then a tall man in a sharp black suit and sunglasses came walking down the red carpet.
He carried an overwhelming presence that seemed to fill the room. People stepped aside without even thinking about it as he passed.
In an instant, the noisy hall went completely silent. Every eye locked onto the man in black, as if he were the one who truly owned the night.
Paul's expression tightened slightly, but he kept up his polished act and gave a stiff nod.
The man in black stopped one foot in front of Paul.
"I hear you've been looking for me."
Paul blinked. "And you are...?"
The man slowly took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of eyes filled with cold, deadly intent.
"I'm Ares McKay."
Paul froze for a moment, then a cruel smile spread across his face.
"Well, I'll be. You're actually still alive. You have no idea how hard I've been looking for you."
"Since you walked right through my door tonight, why don't you stay here forever?"
"Guards! Take him down!"
