Chapter 5, fire for two, force for one

“Sir, about 5 mall-scale clients and investors withdrew their contract with us this week” Frank read out from a tablet in his palm.

Ray sat on his usual chair.

“Well, it's Friday, let's call it a wrap and head home” Ray replied.

Frank nodded.

In five days the revenue has gone downhill, though they had released a post announcing their non-involvement with Rick.

He glanced at the wall clock directly on the opposite wall…11:30pm.

He had to leave the office and collided with someone at the door of his secretary's office.

His phone fell out of his hand. The intern he had just bumped into bent almost immediately to pick it up, “I'm so sorry sir”

Ray's eyes narrowed, “You again? What the hell are you doing here at this odd hour” his voice pitched slightly from shock.

“Mr Frank asked me to get a document he had to work on tonight”

Rays stared still, the intern trembled under his gaze.

“I was coming this way so he asked me to help him out”. He stammered.

“He's my neighbor,” he continued, hoping Ray could stop staring.

Ray let his gaze fall to the intern's hand,” let's head out, whatever it is he'll get it tomorrow…himself” his voice dragged on the last word.

The intern nodded

And rushed to the elevator to avoid Ray's Cold gaze.

A motorcycle sped past, almost hitting Ray in the driveway, the driver was masked with a helmet and the motorcycle had no plate number.

He blinked hard, unable to understand what had happened

But decided not to overthink it.

He hadn't driven for long when he glanced into his side mirror for the third time and saw an open truck following him.

His stomach twisted.

He looked again, closely this time.

His hands reach for the handgun in the car and the pepper spray lying next to it.

Ray texted a number, before pulling up to a nearby abandoned construction site, the red truck pulled up, and its driver marched out to Ray's car by the side.

The metallic smell of rusty bullets filled the air, as Ray corked the gun…pointed behind the driver's head.

“You don't want to do that,” the driver said.

His voice struck a chord… a hard chord in Ray's head.

The driver turned, “It's me Enzo” .

“Why are you following me?” Ray pulled the gun closer to Enzo's head.

Enzo didn't flinch.

“Rick's Mafia brotherhood has placed a bounty on you for what you did to their leader.

Ray staggered back “Every gangster group on Valley Field is looking for you, including mine…. That's Mafia world code, the enemy of one is the enemy of all” Enzo continued.

Ray sank butt flat to the ground.

“Because you were once married to my cousin, I'm going to help you but on conditions” Enzo continued.

Ray looked up, tears formed around the corner of his eyes but he blinked them away almost immediately.

“What's the condition?” He asked.

“You broke Jake's heart, I don't care who's at fault but for the next 1 months, you must fix it, whether you guys are back together or not” his tone was firm.

“That's not possible,” Ray protested.

“Make it so, second condition” Enzo pointed two of his fingers up.

“My gang just entered some trouble with the state police and I want you to pull some strings”

Ray's eyes narrowed, searching deep into Enzo's. After what felt like forever, a small chuckle escaped from his lips

“Fuck you, I can protect myself.” Without waiting for a response he pushed himself off the floor and headed straight for his car.

“Hey George, I need 25 hours of protection from now on” he spoke into his phone as soon as he entered his car.

“What the hell?” Ray cursed out as soon as he walked into his home, the sitting room had been turned upside down.

The guards were already outside when he arrived, yet somehow, someone snuck in and did this.

“Shocked?” A strange mocking voice asked.

He turned almost immediately, now standing face to face with a masked, black overalls-dressed lady.

He could only tell she was a lady from her voice.

“I could kill you now,” she took a step closer.

“But you won't though” Ray took a step forward, ignoring his pounding heart.

“There won't be any fun in that my darling” a small smirk played on her face.

“I will let the other hunt you too before I kill you” he tried to swallow the lump in his throat…his eyes grew darker.

“Ok,” he replied flatly.

She scoffed… and made her way to the door.

Ray stood at the center of his littered apartment hoping to hear gunshots or some commotion but nothing came.

“George, I need trained men, my house was infiltrated and your men had no clue” Ray texted.

“I would change them by morning sir, I apologize, hope nothing is missing” he replied.

“No, this was probably just a warning”

That night had to be the longest ever…. Ray stayed up by his bar, with a neat handgun next to his glass of wine.

At exactly 6am the next morning, his phone beeped.

“Sir I'm outside, you need to see this”.

Ray strode in long strides to the door.

The heavy metallic smell of blood hit his nose first, before his eyes found the lifeless men, lying in the pool of red black clustered blood.

His jaw dropped.

“The men I came with this morning are all gone now,” George said.

He swallowed hard before continuing.

“I don't think I can get more men after this”

Ray's eyes stayed on the stack of dead Men on the floor.

“You have to” his voice rang with firmness.

George's hand swept through his hair as he bit his lips.

“Sir, we still need a plan B”