MasukRalph had worked with Doo for years and knew the man wasn't to be trusted completely. He would admit that Doo was easier to get along with than most, but one needed to tread with caution. He did not doubt that assassins could be sent to his room before he was awake, given how unsettled Doo had seemed when Ralph asked for a partnership.The old man agreed, seeing that what Ralph had presented to him was tangible – it was a game changer. He wasn't going to let that slip through his fingers.Ralph wasn't stupid. If he had learned anything from the Black Triad, it was never to trust anyone and to always have a contingency plan. That lesson came in handy now, and he was going to use the Black Triad as his contingency tool.Ralph had engaged in shady operations while working for the Black Triad. He knew every in and out of their entire system and setup. He wasn't certain if he could still access their firewall, but he gave it a try anyway. As expected, there was an obstacle – he had anticip
One month had passed swiftly for Ralph at the Kora Bora base. He had restructured the entire digital infrastructure of Kora Bora. He built firewalls that kept out rival gangs and government surveillance alike, created encrypted channels for communication that couldn't be traced, and set up a system for tracking payments and debts that made Doo's operations run more smoothly than they ever had before."You're not like the others," Doo said one evening, studying Ralph over the rim of his glass as Ralph punched endlessly at the keyboard, writing codes. "They're scared of me. You're scared too, but you don't let it stop you from thinking."Ralph didn't know how to respond to that, so he didn't try.Six months into his time at Kora Bora, Ralph had changed in ways he hadn't expected. His body was leaner, harder – the softness he had carried from years of sitting behind a desk was gone. He could take a punch now, and he could throw one too. The men who had once looked at him with contempt n
"You said I could go when I wanted to, as long as I didn't do something stupid," Ralph steered the topic back to himself.He was looking forward to going back to his cabin for the weekend, after having spent almost two weeks in Bokonbayevo, sleeping in the empty storeroom at Nurlan's shop."Yes," Doo agreed, not denying what Ralph had just said."I have a cabin somewhere in these mountains, though I'm not sure how to point to it from here. I don't even know where we are exactly," Ralph said, sounding worried.Doo looked at him as if he were compassionate, but he only saw Ralph for what he could get out of him."You don't need to go anywhere. If you need something brought to you, I can arrange that. You'll have a space much more comfortable and warmer than what your cabin can provide," Doo tried persuading him.Ralph didn't have anything special back in his cabin, as he hadn't left New York with anything. His cabin provided enough warmth. Aldwin had chosen this place as a punishment fo
"What?" Ralph said with wide eyes, his voice almost a whisper.He told himself he wasn't hearing right. He hadn't escaped the Black Triad just to join another crime organisation in an unknown place."I look forward to a good working experience. Seeing that you know your onions, I can see the future already. Kora Bora will soar," Doo said, bending his head backwards as he released another puff of smoke into the air."No, please. I can't do this. Please, just let me go," Ralph begged. He didn't believe it when he wiped his wet face with the back of his palm.Was he crying? Unbelievable.Doo chuckled. He was enjoying this display – a grown-ass man crying out of fear."I like you already, Cross, and I can guarantee you that you won't regret working for me – unless you try to do something stupid… You know." He said with a shrug, confident that Ralph knew what he meant."You are not my captive. You only work for me. Of course, you will go, but don't think of running away. I have people foll
"I wanted him to come with us in case the files were still inaccessible, like the first time," Belduu said, expecting appraisal from the old man. The men would do anything to get on his good side. But Belduu received a reprimand instead."How many times have I warned you not to take rash actions without my command?" The old man asked casually, as if it wasn't a problem. Then he took his gun from the table and cocked it."This is not the first time, and it won't be the last. You never listen. If you had done your job properly by checking the tablet when it was handed to you, you would have known it was still locked, moron." The old man's crackly voice rose to a roar before he aimed at Belduu's leg and shot him."Ahhh!" Belduu cried as he fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding leg."Each time you act so foolishly, you put us at risk. He could be a member of any of the forbidden gangs," the old man said, throwing his hands in the air. He sounded casual, as if he hadn't just shot someo
They arrived at a location unknown to Ralph. They all stepped out and walked into the place. It was still afternoon, but inside looked dark, with only a few streaks of red and blue light illuminating the space.Ralph wasn't sure what to call it. It had several tables and chairs, and the men all looked like gang members, having a drink and cracking jokes about things he didn't understand. Of course, he didn't know the language.The men's noise toned down the moment Ralph and the others walked in. All eyes turned to the newcomer – Ralph. His heart thundered at the thought of what he had gotten himself into, and he felt he might die at any moment.He felt relieved as they approached the door. Belduu stepped inside, and Ralph was getting away from the many eyes and countless questions the men had directed at him.Inside, an older man sat at a massive ebony table. He was smoking a cigar, and surprisingly, the smell didn't irritate Ralph – it reminded him of apples. It was the one time he d
My discomfort affected my sleep, too. My first night in this mansion was much easier falling asleep than tonight, after three years of making it my home. I had nightmares of myself drowning in a well while everyone watched. My mom. Lisa too. Aldwin didn’t even blink. No one gave a fuck or even att
It's been three years. Three years of this glided embarrassment. I was hoping it would be different this time, at least there was a good reason for not showing up in the past two years even though it was intentional.I put all my effort into planning the anniversary party, hoping it would be differ
“Now be obedient and do as I say.” He sat back on the chair. I hesitated, but the words found their way somehow. “Have you ever thought about how I feel? For once?” “How you feel? It doesn't matter. We do it my way. Your feelings don't matter here,” he said with a dark smirk. “Then I'm not up f
BENNY “Hey, Dad,” Benny said happily, walking over to him. He seemed too calm, unlike how he used to be whenever he saw the daughter he was so proud of. She knew something was up. “You asked to see me,” she added, after kissing him on the cheek. “Yes. How is it going with the Riley case?” he ask







