Chapt. 21 - Escape Plan

“You ask if I would be happy if God called you? The answer is no. It would be as if He had taken half of my soul. Would you be happy to become a soulless zombie?” –Jiji–

***

[Hi, Ji... busy?]

A message popped up, distracting Angie, who daydreamed about the man who had just left her apartment after saying goodbye. The name on the screen made her heart race faster, accompanied by a sweet smile on her flushed face.

Was Jordan so missing her that he reached out and asked about her busy schedule in the middle of the night? Didn’t he think she might be asleep and drifting off to dreamland?

[Sorry, I just checked the time. You must already be asleep.]

Another message came in, and Angie quickly typed some words. She sent one message and hoped for another reply, so their conversation kept flowing until she didn’t notice the time had reached one in the morning.

Angie stopped her activity, looking at the wall clock where the second hand kept moving while she hadn’t received any news from Mike. Had he finished his work?

Angie couldn’t just ignore Mike, even though she didn’t have feelings for him. Still, she needed to know what was happening to him right now, given the risky nature of the shady business they were involved in. Especially since the task her father-in-law assigned her husband wasn’t ordinary. Just imagining what the job entailed made her heart race.

It must be terrifying and dangerous.

Angie dared not think of anything bad happening to Mike, even if it meant she would gain freedom. However, becoming a widow at a young age would be a misfortune for her family.

Immediately, she clasped her hands and pressed them to her chest, sending a prayer for her husband to return soon, safe and sound.

The notification sounds kept interrupting Angie’s thoughts, but she ignored them until a message came in that made her smile again and ended the conversation with a reply:

[See you tomorrow, Jordan.]

***

The sound of gunfire echoed through the night, casting a tense atmosphere over every group member as they carried out their assigned tasks.

The orders they had received were clear: the job must be completed before sunrise. Unfortunately, before they could finish the remaining tasks, several men in black attire, fully armed, ambushed them.

How did those thugs know about their plan to move the goods from the dock? Hadn’t the leader guaranteed strict security, ensuring no one would come as long as they finished before dawn? But why—?

“Sir, retreat and find a hiding place now! I’ll mobilize the others to handle this. You must leave immediately!” a young man said through the communication device attached to Mike's ear.

Mike, who received the order from his subordinate, felt his pride wounded. Even in such a critical situation, he couldn’t relinquish the ego he held so highly.

He was a prospective leader who should be able to protect his members—standing at the forefront of any battle, not running away and seeking safety for himself. No! He would never do that for the sake of his pride as high as a mountain, even if his life was at stake.

If that happened, at least he would die honorably as a leader.

“Greg, don’t order me around! Take the others to finish the job and complete what you can, then send the goods to Westmont Bay as ordered. Do you hear me!?” Mike issued an order that should not be questioned.

Unfortunately, this subordinate was a trusted bodyguard, like a brother to him, so he refused his protection. He was the one who should be the shield for all the members, not the other way around.

While they were communicating, the gunfight between the group Mike led and the mysterious group of men continued. Mike tried to find a safe place and ignored Greg’s urging for him to run. He occasionally fired shots, hitting the enemy troops, while the others’ whereabouts were unknown.

It seemed that this unit was already familiar with the port area, enabling them to identify safe locations and locate Mike's group's hideout, thereby facilitating their ability to attack and defend.

Mike's concentration was immediately disrupted when he saw the orange glow on the eastern horizon. He repeatedly cursed and reloaded his ammunition to use. Stupidly, he had only brought a small supply, and now only five bullets were left. However, he was undeterred. His high-caliber weapon could deliver a devastating blow if he could aim accurately at his target.

Mike never missed. His shots would always hit the mark—that's what he believed now.

However, misfortune never followed a schedule. When one of the mysterious masked soldiers moved, he fired several shots, but unfortunately, they missed. He was caught off guard, and one shot hit him, causing him to collapse instantly.

Mike wasn’t a weak man, but his eyes forced themselves shut this time. His ears could still hear Greg’s voice and the echoing gunfire, but slowly everything grew faint, then faded away.

***

Two lovers sat at a table, facing each other and smiling at one another. They were enjoying the bright morning with a cup of coffee and some pastries on the table.

The man, though busy stirring his unsweetened coffee, couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful face with milk-white skin of the girl across from him.

They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear, which the man across from her adjusted back into place.

“I don’t have an answer for that question. I’m just happy we’re sitting here together enjoying this cool morning,” he replied with a light laugh, revealing a row of white, clean teeth. “How have you been lately? The office feels empty without you. Can’t you come back?”

The girl shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not allowed to. I don’t have any authority now. I belong to someone, and they have full control over me,” Angie replied, lowering her head, recalling the contents of the contract she had signed. Those words caused the man in front of her to furrow his brow.

“So the rumors I heard about the Genosie family and you are true?”

“Which rumor? Too many things have happened to me lately, and they’re all connected to the Genosie family.”

“No, Ji. I mean just one—the main point of everything you’ve experienced.”

Oh, Angie now knew what Jordan meant. But she hesitated to answer. Should she? It didn’t seem necessary to be too open with Jordan, even though she liked him so much that she’d be willing to sleep with him—if possible. Unfortunately, given the current situation, she wouldn’t do that.

She wasn’t a slut. There were standards she had to uphold.

“Do you know why I asked you to meet today?” Angie shook her head in response to Jordan’s question. She thought it was probably like yesterday, just a whim to spend time together. “I want to say this. No matter what happens, you need to know. I love you.”

Instantly, Angie’s heart felt like it had dropped to the ground. Even after she had lost the strength to feel her heart racing, mischievous insects seemed to be flying around in her stomach. Nausea mixed with other emotions now filled her chest.

“What do you mean? I’m married, Jordan. Don’t you know what’s happening to me now? You just mentioned the Genosie family; I think you already know everything, but why are you—“

“As I said, I don’t care who they are. I can free you from them. Come with me, Jiji. You’ll be safe with me and free from a criminal family like them.”

Hearing Jordan’s words, Angie was stunned, unsure, and remained motionless without uttering a word in response to the man’s invitation.

This was her dream—to live with Jordan and be free from Mike. This was her chance. Should she think it over a thousand times before accepting this man’s offer and getting the best life she had always desired?