Lucas got into the front seat of the car.
Two men stood outside, guards… but he didn't pay them any attention.
Casimiro didn't look at him.
He just stared out the window, silently watching the street, as if Lucas didn't exist.
Then he suddenly spoke:
"There are rumors… that one of the Big Three is here in Miami."
Lucas froze for a second.
He turned to him quickly.
"Is this… free information?"
He didn't answer directly.
He took out an e-cigarette, inhaled deeply… then exhaled slowly, followed by a slight cough.
Lucas didn't wait any longer:
"How did you know my real name?"
He ignored him.
"I want your help… in some way."
He paused, then continued:
"Antonio has started trusting you. And… that's a good thing."
He offered him the e-cigarette,
but Lucas refused without hesitation.
"What do you want? Just tell me."
Casimiro raised the music volume slightly…
then spoke in a quietly sinister tone:
"I want you to use your skills as a spy…
and spy on Antonio… for me."
Lucas placed his hand on his forehead,
pressed it hard as if trying to suppress something inside.
Then lowered it slowly…
and looked at him with sharp, needle-like eyes.
"And if I refuse?"
Suddenly—
Casimiro exploded in his face:
"Do you want me to be honest?
I'll tell them you're a spy!"
But—
Lucas' expression… didn't change.
Not even a twitch.
He slowly gestured toward the restaurant behind them:
"Don't you care… about your girlfriend?"
Lucas tilted his head slightly…
refusing to believe what he was hearing.
"If you tell them I'm a spy…
your secret will be exposed too."
Casimiro laughed—
then hit the window with his hand.
"There are a thousand ways…
to expose your secret… without anyone knowing it was me."
Silence.
His expression changed.
He no longer shouted… he became more dangerous.
"I can kill you… whenever I want."
He paused, then added:
"You… and your girlfriend."
Lucas' gaze intensified.
"If you tell Jimmy… he won't like it."
Casimiro shouted:
"I don't care!
He's not the boss!"
Then he leaned closer, his voice lower… yet more poisonous:
"As I know your name…
I can find out about your family."
At that moment…
Lucas' chest tightened.
One word…
"Your family"…
was enough to stop everything inside him.
Casimiro moved, opening the car door slightly…
as if giving him a choice… an illusion.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"Fine…
what exactly do you want me to do?"
Casimiro relaxed in his seat,
as if he had solved a complex equation.
"In the past weeks…
there's a group—I don't know if it's a gang or something else—
that's entering my territory…
stealing my money and my drugs."
Lucas didn't respond.
He just stared at his feet.
"Because of this… my income has started to drop."
He took a breath from his cigarette.
"And those above me… don't care about excuses."
He exhaled slowly.
"They want the money as it is.
As it was."
Silence… then he added with a light, cold smile:
"And if that doesn't happen… I'll be fired."
He raised two fingers to his neck…
gesturing.
"And when I say fired…
I mean… death."
Silence filled the car.
Then he continued:
"That's why… I went to Antonio.
His territory is near mine."
Lucas closed his eyes for a second.
(…He doesn't trust him.)
(He wants someone inside, to watch.)
"Antonio…"
Casimiro said slowly:
"Dangerous.
Smart… and opportunistic."
Lucas understood.
Clearly.
"All you have to do…"
Casimiro leaned slightly closer:
"Is tell me everything that happens in his base."
He paused.
"Everything."
"Even the things you see… that seem unimportant."
Casimiro smiled lightly, saying:
"And if the problem is solved…
and you do your job as required…
I'll give you valuable information."
Lucas wasn't surprised.
He expected this.
Casimiro knows the truth…
and will exploit it.
This is how things go in the organization—
either you become a monster…
or get devoured.
"And now…"
He extended his hand slightly.
"Give me your phone number."
Tap… tap…
A knock on the window.
Casimiro turned slowly…
but Lucas was faster.
Frozen.
(…Carl?)
She was standing there.
Her eyes blazing with anger.
Casimiro rolled down the glass, surprised:
"I think we—"
She cut him off sharply:
"Stay away from him.
Or I'll tell Antonio."
In a moment—
Lucas opened the door quickly,
jumped out of the car.
One of the guards moved toward him—
but Lucas pushed him aside without even looking.
He grabbed Carl by her arm firmly:
"Carl… stop."
Casimiro stepped out of the car,
looking genuinely shocked this time.
"Unfortunately…"
He smiled coldly,
"Our meeting… must remain a secret."
Carl took a step forward,
stood directly in front of him:
"Understand this—
I won't let you—"
Lucas interrupted sharply, his voice low but cutting:
"I understand.
I'll do what he wants."
She froze.
"Lucas… don't give in to him!"
But—
Casimiro didn't listen.
He looked at her with an empty gaze…
without any interest.
Then—
he raised his hand.
A slap.
Her voice was sharp.
She stepped back,
blood starting to flow from her nose.
But she—
didn't stop.
She lifted her head…
and faced him again.
At that moment—
BAM!
A punch.
Lucas' hand collided with Casimiro's face,
pushing him forcefully against the side of the car.
His eyes…
were filled with one thing—
wild, uncontrollable rage.
—
But the moment didn't last.
The two guards immediately ran,
grabbing Lucas firmly.
Holding him tight.
Casimiro placed his hand on his face,
then… smiled.
A sick smile.
"I was waiting for that."
He slowly lowered his hand.
"You'll pay for that punch."
—
Suddenly—
he grabbed Carl by her hair violently.
She screamed… but didn't give in.
Lucas tried to free himself—
but the guards held him tighter.
Then—
Casimiro raised his gun…
and placed it against her head.
—
Silence.
Carl…
didn't move anymore.
As if… she accepted the end.
—
Lucas' voice broke:
"Please… stop."
He tried harder to break free—
"Please… stop!
I'll do whatever you want!"
—
Silence.
Then… Casimiro moved the gun slightly away.
Lucas breathed…
as if reborn.
"Let her go."
He said it tiredly:
"And I'll keep the deal."
—
That feeling…
returned.
Helplessness.
Weakness.
Something he hated more than anything.
—
The voice:
"What's wrong, Arthur…?
There's a way to fix everything…
Just… die.
Come back from death."
Lucas screamed:
"Shut up!"
His breathing quickened.
His eyes searched around.
Casimiro turned, confused:
"Is there someone else here?"
—
Then he looked back at him.
"Do you know what the problem is, Lucas?"
He said slowly:
"I want you to understand…
that I'm serious."
Lucas tilted his head… silently.
—
Casimiro looked at Carl.
"Strange…
Why didn't you beg?
Why didn't you ask me not to kill you?"
—
She took a deep breath.
Closed her eyes…
then opened them calmly.
She was scared…
but she said:
"Damn you.
I don't want your mercy."
—
He shrugged.
"As you wish."
—
He raised the gun.
—
Lucas' eyes widened.
"Nooo—!"
BAM!
—
The sound echoed.
—
At the same moment—
the guards released him.
But—
his legs betrayed him.
He couldn't stand.
He fell to his knees.
His hand on the ground…
his body trembling entirely.
—
He raised his gaze…
toward her.
—
His expression…
was indescribable.
Blood…
was slowly dripping from her head.
Her hair fell over her face,
covering everything…
except her eyes.
Her eyes—
were staring at Lucas…
with emptiness.
—
At that moment—
Everything inside Lucas…
was gone.
—
BOOM!
His head hit the ground.
Casimiro laughed:
"Stop this… there are plenty like her."
—
BOOM!
Again.
The scene was becoming terrifying.
Blood streamed from his forehead.
"Haai! Stop!"
—
BOOM!
—
His eyes filled with blood…
like autumn leaves covering the ground.
(All this… because of me.)
He bit his lip hard.
(I just wanted… to go out with her…)
(To kiss her…)
(To get to know her…)
—
Blood started coming from his lips.
(Why is this happening…?)
"Grab him! What are you waiting for?!"
—
He lifted his head slowly.
Looked… at Casimiro.
—
Frozen.
Casimiro… froze in place.
That gaze—
was enough.
As if Lucas…
could devour him alive.
(All this… because of him.)
(He wants to use me…)
(He threatens my family…)
—
Then—
he stood.
Calmly.
"Does anyone… have a tissue?"
—
At that moment—
people began to gather.
The sound of the shot…
drew attention.
Many eyes…
were watching.
Tension.
"We have to move… the police might come."
—
Lucas smiled.
And pulled out his gun.
—
Casimiro's eyes widened.
(…He has a weapon?)
(And he's rank C?)
—
Lucas raised the gun…
and put it in his mouth.
"Stop!"
Casimiro screamed:
"You'll kill yourself for a girl… you don't even know!"
—
The voice in his head…
was delighted.
"How romantic you are, Arthur…
dying… for your girlfriend."
He laughed.
"If I had eyes… I'd cry."
—
BAAAH!
—
Without hesitation.
Lucas' body fell…
in front of Casimiro.
Close…
to Carl's body.
—
Blood…
mixed together.
—
...…
—
"Lucas…?"
"Lucas!"
—
Her voice.
—
Carl.
She was looking at him with fear.
His features—
were terrifying.
His eyes, predatory.
Biting his lip…
veins bulging on his neck.
As if… he were someone else.
—
He breathed slowly.
Looked around.
The restaurant.
The people.
The table.
(…Am I back?)
—
He grabbed a glass of water.
Drank it…
completely calm.
"Everything alright?"
He set the glass down.
Smiled.
"Yes… I'm fine."
She looked at him worriedly:
"Please… don't look at me like that again."
—
The voice laughed:
"Now do you understand… the greatness of your power?"
—
Lucas looked out the window.
—
There.
Casimiro's car.
—
The voice whispered:
"I'm giving you another chance… to fix everything."
—
But this time—
one thought only…
was in his head:
(If I die again…)
(An innocent person will die.)
—
He lifted his gaze to her:
"Continue."
—
She smiled.
"As I told you… a year after I graduated… my father disappeared."
—
He was listening… outwardly.
But inside—
he was diving deeper.
(How… do I destroy Casimiro?)
—
Moments later—
Carl stood, as before.
She grabbed a tissue.
"Sorry…"
And headed toward the bathroom.
—
"Arthur."
—
He froze.
(Again…?)
—
He turned slowly:
"What?"
—
An elderly woman.
Looked at him… hesitantly.
"Ah… sorry."
She smiled shyly.
"I thought you were someone else… who looks like you."
—
But Lucas…
didn't smile.
He just—
looked at her.
(How… does she know my name?)
"Don't worry… no need to apologize."
Lucas said quietly.
And before she left, he asked:
"Does he look a lot like me?"
The woman stopped.
Turned to him, looked for a few seconds…
then tilted her head slightly:
"Yes… same hair color."
Paused, as if trying to remember:
"As for his eyes… I don't remember.
It happened two years ago."
—
(Two years…?)
(Impossible to forget… if he really looks like me.)
—
Before he could think more—
Casimiro sat in front of him.
Cutting the conversation.
The woman left.
—
Casimiro was watching him.
He didn't understand…
why Lucas showed no shock.
He was too calm… unnaturally so.
And that—
bothered him.
—
Lucas…
didn't care about him.
He took a piece of Carl's food and put it in his mouth.
Casimiro said with a provocative smile:
"Your girlfriend… knows how to choose—"
Lucas interrupted, finishing the sentence in the same tone:
"—knows how to choose."
His gaze…
irritated Casimiro.
He leaned slightly toward the table:
"What's with those looks?"
—
No reply.
—
Casimiro raised his hand…
BOOM!
He slammed the table hard.
The sound echoed.
But—
Lucas… didn't move.
Not even a blink.
—
Casimiro's anger flared.
He clenched his hand tightly:
"Are you challenging me?!"
—
Silence.
—
A slap.
He hit him hard.
Blood came out of Lucas' mouth.
—
All eyes…
gathered.
Whispers began spreading in the restaurant.
—
But—
Lucas…
smiled.
Blood between his teeth.
"Are you done?"
Then he gestured calmly with his hand:
"Go to your car… and wait for me."
—
Casimiro approached him.
"You… don't know me well."
—
Lucas grabbed a tissue.
Started wiping the blood from his mouth slowly…
carefully.
He didn't want Carl to see anything.
—
He raised his gaze to him.
"You want something from me?"
His voice became heavier.
"Then… go to your damn car."
—
Casimiro…
kept staring into his eyes.
—
Something…
had changed.
—
He was no longer the same man…
who had driven him to the base.
—
Then—
he turned.
And left the restaurant.
—
Moments later—
Lucas went to the waitress.
Spoke to her quietly.
—
At the same time—
Carl came out of the bathroom.
Looked around.
—
Frozen.
Lucas… wasn't there.
—
"Carl."
A voice behind her.
She turned quickly.
It was the waitress.
"Lucas told me to tell you…"
She hesitated:
"That he's sorry. And will make it up to you again."
—
Carl pulled out her phone.
Then stopped.
(…I don't even have his number.)
—
Her eyebrows lowered.
A slight sadness… passed in her eyes.
(Did I upset him with my story?)
(Did he… leave?)
—
A woman whispered to her friend nearby:
"Isn't that the girl… who was with that man?
The one who fought a while ago?"
—
Carl turned quickly.
Pretended not to hear.
But—
she heard everything.
—
She left the restaurant.
Looked around.
—
The car…
was gone.
—
She placed her hand on her chest.
Slowly.
"Lucas…"
—
The place…
was empty.