Page 169 of The Hunter's Empire

"He knew exactly what he was doing."

Mikkel lets out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"He poured his time, his money, and his faith into you while I spent decades standing beside him, building the Krogen Empire."

His expression hardens. "I gave that man my loyalty. I helped build everything he left behind."

"And he still chose me." The words hang between us. I hold his gaze without flinching. "Maybe he knew exactly who could and couldn't be trusted."

Something dark flashes across Mikkel's face. The warmth disappears from his eyes, replaced by steel-cold seriousness.

For a long moment, neither of us speaks. The office feels unnaturally still despite the chaos continuing somewhere beyond its walls.

Then another voice quietly cuts through the silence. "Father."

Mikkel turns sharply toward Tobias, irritation flashing across his face. "What?"

Throughout the entire confrontation, Tobias hasn't spoken once. He’s remained leaning casually against the wall with his hands buried inside his pockets, watching the argument unfold with complete indifference, as though he were observing strangers instead of family.

Now as he slowly pushes himself away from the wall, one unhurried step, then another, he stops directly in front of Mikkel. Close enough that they're almost standing toe to toe.

Mikkel frowns, clearly irritated. "What are you doing?"

Tobias doesn't answer. He simply remains where he is, standing between his father and the rest of us as though he hasn't even heard the question.

"Tobias." The irritation in Mikkel's voice becomes more pronounced. "Step aside. This doesn't concern you."

Still nothing.

Tobias studies him with an expression so calm that it's almost unsettling. There is no anger in his eyes, no resentment, not even hesitation. He simply watches his father in complete silence, as though observing something that has finally become predictable.

Several uncomfortable seconds pass.

"I said..." Mikkel's jaw tightens. "...move."

Only then does Tobias react. He blinks once before speaking with the same detached indifference he'd shown ever since walking into the room.

"You are boring me."

A deep frown settles across Mikkel's face. "What?"

Without another word, Tobias slowly slips one hand from his pocket.

At first, the movement seems insignificant. Then I see the pistol.

The room seems to freeze around us.

For the first time since walking into the office, genuine confusion crosses Mikkel's face. His eyes flick from the weapon to his son's expression, searching for some explanation that never comes.

"Tobias..." He says quietly. "What are you…"

The gunshot cuts him off.

The blast erupts through the office, deafening in the enclosed space. Mikkel's body jerks violently as the bullet strikes him square in the head. He remains standing for the briefest of moments, staring at Tobias with stunned disbelief before his legs finally give way. His body hits the floor with a heavy thud, and the office falls into absolute silence.

No one moves. The silence that follows feels almost unreal. My ears continue ringing from the gunshot as I stare at Mikkel’s body, unable to process what I've just witnessed. Tobias remains standing where he is, his expression as unreadable as ever, while Mikkel lies motionless at his feet.

I can't breathe. I can't think. All I can do is watch the pool of blood slowly spread across my office floor.