"THE CALLED OFF THE SEARCH, BOSS"

It was already 1:00 am. The entire house was hollow with silence; one could hear the tiniest sound in the world.

I lay on the couch with my head up and my elbow resting on my forehead. I had been pacing everywhere with my phone, waiting for another call from the police, or perhaps from Evans, or even for the spark of an idea of whom to call.

Exhausted, I had slumped into this position in the sitting room. Before the wall clock could tick again, I had fallen into a deep sleep.

I convinced myself that I wasn’t worried about Evans being missing. I was only worried that she, my property, might have slipped away from me, which was a blow to my pride and my status.

Morning caught up with me almost immediately, as if it never wanted me to enjoy the night. Well, what was I expecting? I had only fallen asleep around 1:00 am. The rays of sunlight poked at my eyes. I blinked twice before noticing a tall figure standing in front of me.

My house is a massive penthouse in a high-security estate that I own. An enemy walking in might as well be walking to his death. But that didn't stop me from being caught off guard. I sprang from the couch the moment I saw the figure and pulled my gun from the side of the cushions where I traditionally kept one.

I pointed it at the man, only to realize it was Williams. I could swear he would have laughed at my reaction if he were my friend. It was embarrassing.

“Good morning, boss. Sorry to startle you.”

“Why are you here so early? The sun just came out.” I rubbed my eyes with one hand while the gun dangled in the other.

“I was going to call—”

“Yes, that’s exactly what you were supposed to do, Williams. Have they found the body yet?” I sat back down, abruptly cutting him off. I laid the gun on the center table and gazed at him, hoping for better news.

“The authorities called off the search. They claim it was futile. According to the investigation, they believe the scene was staged and that nobody was actually in the car during the accident.” He paused. “And boss, this isn’t ‘early morning.’ It’s past noon.”

The previous night had been a blur of smoke and liquor before the news about Evans reached me. I never planned to go home, which was normal for a Friday night. That explained my heavy sleep.

“You’re in charge now, Williams. I’m going to have to find a way to track my girl. You handle all business with Joe until I’m fully active.”

“You really think Evans is still alive, boss? I mean, her car literally burst through the bridge and went straight into the deep water.”

I rose slowly from the chair, nonchalantly dragging the gun with me until I pressed it against Williams’s head. I grabbed his collar with my other hand tightly and looked him straight in the eye. I heard him swallow hard.

“The only thing stopping me from blowing your brains out this minute is that you’re still useful to me. The next time you question my thoughts or decisions will be the last day you ever draw breath. Got it?”

“Y-yes, boss.”

I shoved him away vigorously and watched him stagger. I saw his lips tremble and his eyes twitch in fear, even though his massive image tried not to show it. Despite how huge Williams was, I was the only man he would ever truly fear. He knew me. I could take him out in a second, just like I did his father.

“Now get your ass to work!” I thundered. He hurried out the door without looking back.

I collapsed onto the couch again, took a pre-rolled pack of smokes from the drawer of the center table, and lit one. The gun rested in my palm for a moment before I tucked it back into its hiding place. Smoke drifted toward the ceiling while my mind spun, searching for a lead.

I grabbed my phone and dialed my driver. “Hello, Gabriel. Get the car ready. We’re paying Evans’s dad a visit.”

Even if nobody knew her whereabouts, Perry had to know something. And I didn’t mind doing what I should have done three years ago if I didn't get the answer I wanted. He’d lived long enough, anyway.

My father taught me never to forgive three types of people: an enemy, a traitor, and a thief. Perry was a thief to me, but I had spared him because of a girl. I began to think I had made a huge mistake and failed my father—my role model. I felt pathetic; usually, nothing moved me to change my mind once I decided to take someone out.

I ran a quick shower with these thoughts heavy in my head. As I dressed, the doorbell rang. I assumed it was Gabriel. I grabbed my phone and gun, ready to go.

But when I opened the door, it was Evans’s father standing there.

“If taking my life is the only way my daughter can finally be free, please take it,” he said. “Let my child be, in death or in life.”

Before my brain could even process the irony of him showing up, Perry had already declared his own death sentence.

“It would be my pleasure, Perry. But I wish you had done this earlier. Your death is useless now, because I’m going to take your life and your daughter's too, if she isn’t dead already.”

I responded to him very nonchalantly and truly, I gave no f*ck about his empathetic tone.

I raised the gun and pulled the trigger the moment the last word left my lips.