CHAPTER FIVE

“So this is the debtor"

Lance glanced up and his eyes widened at the person standing in front of him.

“R—ragnar," he muttered.

Ragnar raised a brow, his cold eyes scanning Lance's.

“Who knew Ylva's so-called boyfriend would be the person owing me money, I knew you were good for nothing." he paused as looked down at Lance with a scoff “It's disgusting".

Lance was quiet as he took in what was happening, what were the chances that Ragnar would be the boss of the loan sharks.

It was almost funny how messed up his life was.

“Please I just need you to let go of my sister" Lance said, his voice trembling.

Ragnar raised a brow, “So your sister was taken as collateral?, It is your fault for being a pathetic brother and not being able to pay what you owe."

"I said I'd pay it, I was paying it every month, it's not fair that you'd take her” Lance's frustration was boiling up at this point.

Ragnar crouched down to be on eye level with Lance. “And yet I heard you haven't even paid half of it back, is that right?”.

“I'm trying and I promise I will, please just give Tam back to me” Lance pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation.

“I can't just rely on your words” Ragnar placed a figure under Lance's chin lifting it a bit "People lie Lance, they lie a lot, so I don't trust you".

"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything”.

"Hey boss, he's pretty strong. I say we get him to work,” a man said.

Ragnar raised a brow at that, his eyes scanning Lance's body.

“I mean remember when Benny went to the hospital, he was the one who beat him up and Benny was our biggest guy" the man continued with a laugh as he remembered the scene.

Lance grimaced, shooting the guy a “shut up” look.

“Or when our crate got broken? Yeah he was the one too" the man laughed again at the memory.

Ragnar looked at Lance with an eyebrow raised. “Add that to your debt".

“Shit" Lance muttered.

There was a stretched out silence before Ragnar spoke up again, “you could be helpful in some aspects, especially since you did get Benny hospitalized”.

Lance furrowed his brows," but they are criminals, I can't help them” he thought.

" I won't do it,” Lance said firmly.

Ragnar just stood up "then good luck paying back a million before the day ends”. He was just about to leave..

Lance heart raced, what else could he do at this point?He didn't want to work with potential killers but he had no choice.

“ Fine, okay, I'll work for you,” Lance reluctantly muttered.

“Good for you, and maybe you'll finally be a little worthy to be Ylva's boyfriend “ with that Ragnar left

“Well welcome to the team boy, I'm Porto" the shorter man with tattoos who always collected area loans patted Lance on the back.

Lance just looked down like his whole world was ending “I'm a criminal now".

“Heh you'll get used to it" Porto grinned, showing off a gold tooth.

As soon as Ragnar disappeared down the hallway, Porto grabbed Lance by the arm and yanked him to his feet.

“Don’t get it twisted,” Porto said, his voice low

“Agreeing to work for us doesn’t mean you’re in.”

Lance frowned. “What do you mean?”

Porto glanced at him with a smirk. “You still have to prove yourself”

Before Lance could ask anything else he was dragged outside.

A black car waited outside. The door opened, and two men shoved him inside without warning.

The ride was silent.

Lance’s thoughts spiraling out of control. His hands rested on his knees, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles ached.

Eventually, the car slowed.

When it stopped, Lance looked up.

They were in the middle of nowhere.

An abandoned building loomed in front of them.

“Out,” Porto said, opening the door.

Lance stepped out, his stomach twisting.

Inside, the air was damp and cold. The smell hit him immediately, dust, rust, and something sour underneath it all. They kept walking and turned the corner into a room.

Then he saw them

Several people were on the floor.

Men and women, their hands tied behind their backs, mouths gagged, eyes wide with terror.

Lance stopped short.

“What the hell is this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Porto turned to him, completely unbothered. “This is your test.”

Lance’s heart began to race. “Test for what?”

Porto gestured lazily toward the people on the floor. “Pick one.”

Lance stared at him. “Pick one… for what?”

Porto smiled.

Before Lance could react, Porto reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun. He placed it firmly in Lance’s hand.

“Kill one”.

The word hit Lance like a punch to the chest.

His breath caught. He looked down at the gun, then back at Porto, shaking his head violently. “No. No, I’m not doing that.”

Porto’s smile didn’t fade. “You don’t get to say no.”

“I won’t,” Lance said, panic rising in his voice. “I agreed to work, not to murder people.”

Porto sighed dramatically, like Lance was being difficult over something small.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Porto said. “This isn’t about the job. This is about loyalty.”

Lance’s hands trembled as he lowered the gun. “I can’t do this.”

Porto’s expression hardened just slightly. He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“Then let me explain it real slow,” he said. “It’s either them…”

He leaned in, his breath brushing Lance’s ear.

“…or your sister.”

Lance froze.

His heart felt like it stopped beating altogether.

Porto straightened and took a few steps back, folding his arms as if he were watching a show. The people on the floor whimpered harder now, sensing what was happening.

“Clock’s ticking,” Porto said calmly. “Make your choice.”

Lance’s chest burned. His vision blurred. He looked at the terrified faces in front of him, then down at the gun in his shaking hands.

His sister’s face flashed through his mind.

“T-Tam…” he whispered.

The room felt like it was closing in on him.

And then—