Codename Black: Rise of the Fallen Commander

It's Over

The atmosphere outside the villa grew heavier as Victoria watched the luxury cars come to a halt. Her heartbeat quickened when the door of the lead car opened, and out stepped Dorian Blackwood. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, his dark eyes instantly locked onto hers.

Victoria’s breath stuck in her throat. She instinctively took a step back, gripping Griffin’s leash tighter. Her dog let out a low growl, sensing her distress, but she quickly shushed him.

"Victoria…" Dorian’s voice cut through the air like a blade. He slowly strode toward her. "I thought I’d find you hiding out here." He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Her body stiffened. "Dorian, what are you doing here?"

Dorian’s smile faded as he stepped closer, his men standing guard just behind him. "What do you think, darling? You’ve been avoiding my calls, ignoring our arrangement. I thought it was time for a little... check-in."

She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "I told you I needed time."

His expression darkened, and without warning, he shoved past her, storming up the porch stairs and into the villa. "Time?" he barked over his shoulder. "That’s not how this works, Victoria."

"Dorian, stop!" She ran after him. "You can’t just barge in like this!"

But he was already inside, his eyes scanning the open living area, searching for something. No, someone.

And then he found him.

Alex stood in the hallway, his posture relaxed, one hand in his pocket, the other casually holding a cold glass of water. His rugged face was calm, but his steely eyes cautiously followed Dorian.

Dorian’s gaze locked onto Alex as he narrowed his eyes. "And who the hell is this?" he demanded, turning to Victoria.

Victoria hurried to catch up, placing herself between Dorian and Alex. Her heart throbbed against her chest. She knew this would be bad.

"He is..." she hesitated, trying to find the right words. "This is Alex. He… he’s a car mechanic. He lost his memory, and I’ve been helping him recover."

Dorian’s lips curled into a mocking grin. "A mechanic?" He glanced over his shoulder at his men, who exchanged amused looks. "You, Victoria Hale, are spending your time with some nobody? An amnesiac car mechanic?" His laugh was cruel. "How far you’ve fallen."

Victoria’s jaw tightened, but she refused to let him see her flinch. "It’s none of your business who I spend my time with, Dorian. I’m not married to you. I can do whatever the hell I want."

His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh, really?" he mocked, taking a step closer. "Do you think your family will be as indifferent when I tell them about your... choice in company? You’re really setting the bar low, aren’t you?"

Victoria felt her cheeks flush with anger. "Alex has done nothing wrong. And even if he had, it’s still none of your concern. You don’t own me, Dorian. I can be with whoever I want. Even if I sleep with him, it’s still none of your damn business."

Dorian’s eyes flared with fury. He took another step toward her, his face inches from hers. "Watch your mouth, Victoria," he hissed. "I have no problem dragging your name through the mud. I could ruin your precious reputation. Destroy your family’s standing in the city. All it takes is a few words!"

Her pulse quickened, but she didn’t back down. She met his gaze. "Go ahead. Ruin me if you want. Do your worst. But don’t you dare drag my family into this. This is between you and me."

Dorian’s nostrils flared, clearly not expecting her to stand her ground so firmly. He stepped back. "Is that so? You think I’ll stop there?" His voice lowered. "You forget who holds all the cards, Victoria. I could end your family’s business, your father’s legacy, and your uncle’s influence with a snap of my fingers. You’d all be cast out, forgotten, while I watch your empire crumble into irreparable pieces of shit."

Victoria’s chest tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm. She knew he wasn’t bluffing. Dorian Blackwood had the power to do exactly that. But the last thing she’d allow was to let him see her fear.

"You don’t need to go after them," she said. "If you want revenge, take it out on me. But leave my family alone!"

Dorian stood seething near the door, his fists clenched at his sides. The look in his eyes darkened, and in a sudden flash of rage, he swung his hand toward Victoria.

"You ungrateful—"

But before his hand could connect, Alex moved faster than Victoria could register. He intercepted Dorian’s strike with one arm, catching his wrist effortlessly. The impact was silent, but the message was deafening.

"Touch her again…” Alex’s grip tightened. “And it will be the last thing you do."

Dorian's eyes widened. He yanked his arm away from Alex's grasp, glaring at him. "You dare threaten me?" he spat. "Do you have any idea who I am? I could have you—"

Before Dorian could finish, he swung his fist at Alex, aiming to strike him across the jaw. But Alex saw it coming from a mile away. He sidestepped easily, grabbing Dorian by the collar of his expensive suit. And with a swift motion, he sent Dorian crashing backward through the open door.

The loud thud echoed in the villa as Dorian tumbled down the porch steps. He landed in a heap on the gravel driveway.

Victoria gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she watched Dorian fall. Griffin barked once, as if sensing the tension.

Dorian groaned, staggering to his feet. "You... bastard!" He swiped a smear of blood from his lip. "You think you can get away with this?"

Without missing a beat, Dorian waved his hand toward his men, who stood poised by the cars. Six of the largest bodyguards stepped forward, their muscular frames casting long shadows over the villa’s entryway.

"Take him down," Dorian hissed, still clutching his jaw. "Break him!"

The bodyguards moved in unison, their eyes fixed on Alex. Each one was built like a tank. Their heavy footsteps thudded against the ground as they surrounded him.

Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest, fear creeping into her veins. "Alex," she whispered, taking a step back. "Don't..."

But Alex remained unbelievably calm. As the first bodyguard lunged toward him, Alex ducked under the man’s outstretched arm, twisting his body with fluid grace before delivering a sharp elbow to the side of the guard’s head. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the floor.

The second guard swung a punch, but Alex caught his fist mid-air, twisting the man’s arm behind his back. A pained grunt escaped the guard’s lips before Alex threw him effortlessly over his shoulder, sending him crashing into the nearby wall.

One by one, the remaining bodyguards charged at Alex, but each met a similar fate. A knee to the stomach, a jab to the ribs, a clean uppercut. Within moments, all six bodyguards lay sprawled across the driveway.

Victoria stood frozen, gasping at the scene unfolding before her.

Dorian hesitated at the base of the porch steps, cautiously taking a step back. "You... who the hell are you?" His voice trembled slightly.

Now standing at the top of the porch stairs, Alex stared blankly down at Dorian. He wiped his hands on his pants. "Someone you don’t want to cross…”

Before Victoria could process what had just happened, the sound of more cars approaching shattered the silence. Her heart sank as two sleek black sedans pulled up the driveway.

The doors opened, and out stepped Sir Thomas, her father, followed by her uncle, Lord Edward. Both men wore stern expressions, but it was her father’s face that sent a cold chill down her spine.

As they walked toward the porch, Dorian, who had lingered nearby, seized the opportunity to approach them.

“Ah, perfect timing,” Dorian sneered. “You might want to deal with this disgrace of a daughter you’ve raised, Sir Thomas.”

Sir Thomas frowned. “What are you talking about, Mr. Blackwood?”

“What am I talking about?” Dorian’s face twisted as he pointed accusingly at Victoria. “Your daughter, the woman you’ve promised to me, has been flirting with a stranger! She’s not only defied our engagement but brought shame upon your family. And you stand here clueless? She’s been sleeping with some nobody, a car mechanic!”

Victoria flinched, her lips parting to defend herself. But before she could, Dorian pressed on.

“Is this the respect you’ve instilled in her? Allowing her to disgrace herself—disgrace me—in public? If this continues, I’ll make sure the Blackwood name is no longer associated with yours…”

Sir Thomas’s face turned pale, his hand gripping his cigarette so tightly his knuckles whitened. “Mr. Blackwood, wait—there must be some misunderstanding,” he stammered.

Lord Edward, who had remained silent until now, glanced between Dorian and Victoria. “Is what Dorian says true?”

Victoria’s chest tightened. She wanted to explain, to tell them the truth. Before she could find her voice, Dorian took a step closer.

“Oh, it’s really true. I caught her with that,” he gestured dismissively toward Alex, “that worthless mechanic. And she had the audacity to hide and defend him in front of me! If you have any honor left, Sir Thomas, you’ll deal with this disgrace immediately.”

Victoria felt a knot form in her throat, her heart pounding as she saw the disbelief in her father’s eyes.

Sir Thomas looked as though the ground had been pulled out from under him. His face flushed as he asked, “Victoria, tell me…”

“No, Father, it’s not like that,” Victoria pleaded, stepping forward. “Alex isn’t—”

Her father raised his hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "Forget it." His gaze dropped to the floor as if he couldn’t even bear to look at her. “I never thought… after all we’ve done for you, after all the sacrifices…”

Victoria’s heart broke as she saw the tears welling up in her father’s eyes. She moved to reach for him, to comfort him, but Sir Thomas staggered backward.

“Father, please—”

But he pushed her away with surprising force. “No!” he shouted. “You’ve brought nothing but shame on this family. I can’t… I won’t stand by and let you drag us all down with your selfishness.”

“Thomas, wait…” Lord Edward began, but Sir Thomas shook his head, waving him off.

Dorian folded his arms smugly. “She’s made her choice, Thomas. A choice that will cost her—and you—everything.”

Sir Thomas’s face contorted, and for a moment, it looked as though he might collapse. Lord Edward moved to support him, but Sir Thomas shrugged him off. He looked at his beloved Victoria.

“You’re no longer my daughter,” he said flatly. “I disown you, Victoria. Whatever happens to you now is none of my concern anymore.”

Victoria recoiled as though she had been physically struck. She stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what had just been spoken.

“I tried,” her father continued bitterly, “I tried to save you from this life, from this madness. But you’ve chosen your path. And I can’t… I won’t be a part of it.”

Tears stung at Victoria’s eyes, but she swallowed them back. “Father, please…”

But Sir Thomas wouldn’t even look at her. “No more,” he murmured as he turned his back on her. “It’s over.”