Chapter 29: The seventeen moon
Victor sat forward in his armchair, elbows resting on his knees, fingers lightly steepled. His gaze was firm yet concerned, the posture of a man who had seen too much and was trying to piece together a puzzle that spanned decades.
"So... what exactly happened at the Paradise Club last night?" Victor asked slowly. "Celina told me bits of it—how you saved her and the others. For that, Miles, I’m truly grateful. But I get the feeling... there’s more to it."
Miles leaned back, arms resting on the sides of the seat, his eyes darkening with the weight of truth. "There is, Uncle."
He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before speaking again.
"Paradise Club isn’t just some night venue with neon lights and bad music. They targeted my family. They sent men after me. One of them was connected to the incident that nearly took Daniel’s life. My stepfather’s health condition—whatever triggered it—was no accident."
Victor’s expression hardened, his knuckles going white.
Miles continued, "I went there last night for answers. And when I found out how deep the corruption ran, I made a decision. That place is poison for this city. Drugs, trafficking, exploitation. I burned it down... not just for revenge, but to protect the next Celina, the next Becky, the next Rose who might’ve walked through those doors and never come out the same."
Victor let out a heavy sigh, sitting back with the weight of understanding. "I always suspected something off about that place. I warned Celina about clubs like that, but you know how stubborn she is. She’s a little spoiled sometimes."
A voice cut in from the hallway.
"That’s not fair, Dad," Celina huffed as she stepped into the room, arms folded. Her brows were arched, clearly having overheard enough.
Victor raised a brow. "You were listening?"