Chapter 4 The Threat

Baron's office, a dimly lit room with a hint of cigar smoke. Carlos stands nervously, clutching a suitcase, while Baron sits behind his desk, a cold gaze fixed on Carlos.

Baron leaned back in his chair, his voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "So, Carlos, I hear you're here to make a delivery."

Carlos swallowed hard, trying to hide his fear, but his voice trembled anyway. "Y-yes, sir. I have the package right here." He held up the suitcase, his hands shaking slightly.

Baron's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through the dim light of the room. "Ah, good. I trust everything is in order?" His tone was laced with skepticism, as if daring Carlos to lie.

Carlos nervously nodded, his eyes darting around the room. "Y-yes, sir. Exactly as agreed." He gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Baron's voice turned glacial, his words dripping with malice. "And you understand the terms of our little arrangement, Carlos? The consequences of failure?"

Carlos's voice barely escaped his lips, a mere whisper. "Y-yes, sir. You want me to deliver this... package to the designated location, and in return, I receive the payment we just discussed." He paused, his eyes fixed on Baron's face, searching for any sign of mercy.

Baron leaned forward, voice dropping to a whisper And if you fail, Carlos... if you betray me in any way...

Carlos's terrified voice echoed” N-no, sir! I wouldn't dream of it! I'll do exactly as you say!”

Baron smirked, his eyes glinting with menace. "I'm glad we understand each other, Carlos. Don't disappoint me."

Carlos nodded frantically, his voice trembling. "I won't, Baron. I swear it. I'll do exactly as you say."

Baron's smile grew wider, his voice dripping with malice. "See that you do, Carlos. See that you do."

With that, Baron's gaze dismissed Carlos, and he turned back to his desk, leaving Carlos to beat a hasty retreat from the office, the weight of Baron's threat hanging heavy in the air.

When Carlos left the office, Baron's aura transformed into an even more menacing and oppressive presence. His eyes blazed with icy fury, his face twisted into a snarl, and the air around him crackled with dark energy.

The atmosphere became thick and heavy, pulsing with an unspoken warning: "Do not cross me, lest you suffer the consequences." Baron's aura became a palpable force, a manifestation of his unyielding power and ruthless determination.

****************

Carlos trudged wearily, the heavy bag slung over his shoulder, containing millions of dollars in cash. He had already delivered the package to its destination, and now, he was returning with the payment.

The weight of the bag was nothing compared to the burden of anxiety that pressed upon him.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he hesitated before pulling it out. A notification from an unknown number flashed on the screen, and his heart sank.

A video began to play, showing Aurelia, his daughter, expertly balancing a tray of drinks as she navigated the bustling restaurant. Her bright smile and laughter filled the screen, and Carlos's chest swelled with pride.

But the video ended abruptly, replaced by a chilling message: "Your daughter is so beautiful... I wouldn't mind keeping her company." A cold dread crept up Carlos's spine as he read the words, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

The clock is ticking, Carlos. Come and settle your debt in the next 3 hours... or your daughter...

The message hung like a guillotine's blade, threatening to drop at any moment. Carlos's pulse raced as he floored it, the car surging forward with a surge of adrenaline.

Carlos veered off course, his mind made up. Instead of delivering the money to Baron, he headed straight to the infamous Golden Dragon Casino, a den of vice and corruption.

The bag of cash seemed to burn a hole in the passenger seat as he pulled into the crowded parking lot.

"Time to gamble with fate," Carlos muttered to himself, his voice laced with determination.

He stormed into the casino, the bright lights and cacophony of sounds enveloping him like a vortex.

The air reeked of smoke and desperation. Carlos navigated through the crowds, his eyes scanning the room for the familiar face of his contact, Victor.

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, spinning him around. Victor's grinning face loomed before him, his gold tooth glinting in the light.

"Carlos, my friend! I see you've come to play the high-stakes game," Victor said, his voice dripping with excitement.

"I need to speak with the Pit Boss," Carlos demanded, his voice firm.

Victor's grin faltered for a moment before he nodded. "Follow me."

As they weaved through the tables, the sound of clinking chips and murmured bets filled the air.

Carlos's heart raced with anticipation. He was about to take a risk that could either save his daughter or seal her fate forever.

Carlos's heart raced as he sat down at the high-stakes table, the bag of money slung over his shoulder like a ticking time bomb.

Victor nodded to the Pit Boss, a cold, calculating gaze scrutinizing Carlos from across the table.

Carlos's hands trembled as he pushed the stacks of cash forward, the sound of clinking chips echoing through the silent room.

The players around the table exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the desperation emanating from Carlos like a palpable force.

The Pit Boss's gaze narrowed as he scrutinized the stacks of cash, his eyes searching for any sign of its origin.

"Where did you get this money, Carlos?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

Carlos hesitated, knowing he couldn't reveal the truth. "I...I earned it. From a job."

The Pit Boss raised an eyebrow. "A job that pays this well? I think you're hiding something, Carlos. And I always find out the truth."

The cards were dealt, and Carlos's fate was sealed. He watched in horror as his luck crumbled, the millions disappearing into the Pit Boss's coffers like sand in an hourglass.

"No...no...this can't be happening!" Carlos's voice cracked as he slumped forward, his head in his hands.

The Pit Boss's laughter was like a cold wind. "You should have thought of that before you gambled with the devil, Carlos."

As the casino's goons closed in, Carlos realized he had lost everything: the ruthless Baron’s money, his daughter's safety, and his own self-respect.

The sound of his own despairing cry echoed through the Golden Dragon Casino, a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of his reckless gamble.

*******

The Baron's face twisted in rage. "You stole my money to gamble? You're even more foolish than I thought! You've not only betrayed me, but you've also insulted my intelligence."

Carlos cowered under the Baron's wrath, knowing he had made a grave mistake. "Please, Baron, have mercy! I'll do anything to pay you back, anything at all!"

The Baron's expression turned glacial. "Mercy? You want mercy? You should have thought of that before you gambled away my money. Now, you'll have to face the consequences."

With a nod, the Baron's goons dragged Carlos away, deeper into the shadows, where the sound of his pleas for mercy were drowned out by the cold, dark silence.

*** ****

Aurelia and Ann scoured the streets, their search for their father becoming more desperate by the minute. They had been everywhere, asked everyone, but there was no trace of Carlos.

Just as they were about to report to the police, Aurelia's phone shrilled to life, its piercing ring cutting through the night air like a siren.

The unknown number flashed on the screen, sending a shiver down Aurelia's spine. She answered with a trembling voice, her heart racing with anticipation.

The voice on the other end was cold, detached, and menacing. "Come to the Bianchi estate...come late, and you'll come for your father's corpse."

Aurelia's world went dark, her thoughts consumed by the sinister implications. She knew the Bianchi estate was the lair of the ruthless Baron, a place where few dared to venture. But she had to act, for her father's sake…

“Ann I have to go alone,” She said with a trembling voice

"Aurelia, no! I'm not leaving you!" Ann protested, her voice laced with desperation.

Aurelia's gaze was firm, her eyes pleading with her sister to understand. "Ann, please, for your own safety, go home and wait for me. I can't risk anything happening to you too, the place is dangerouse."

Ann's face contorted in anguish. "But what if something happens to you? What if you don't come back?"

Aurelia's voice was steady, despite the turmoil inside. "I'll be fine, Ann. I have to do this. For Dad's sake, and ours. But I need to know you're safe. Please, Ann, go home."

Ann's eyes welled up with tears, but she nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Aurelia. But promise me you'll be careful. Please, don't take any risks, if I don’t hear from you in the next four hours, I’ll report to the police."

Aurelia's expression softened, and she pulled Ann into a tight hug. " I'll do everything I can to come back to you safely. Now go, and don't worry, I'll be fine."

As Ann turned and disappeared into the night, Aurelia steeled herself for what lay ahead. She knew the Bianchi estate was a place of darkness and terror, but she had to face it, for her father's sake, and her own...

Aurelia's thoughts raced with the terrifying possibilities, her mind consumed by the sinister implications.

What did the ruthless Baron have in store for her father, and for her? The unknown horrors sent her heart racing, her breath catching in her throat.

As she stood there, frozen in fear, the darkness seemed to close in around her, the shadows cast by the flickering street lights like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch her. The wind whispered an ominous warning, its gentle caress a stark contrast to the terror that gripped her soul.

And then, just as she was about to take a step forward, a black SUV emerged from the night, its tinted windows reflecting the dim light like cold, dead eyes. The vehicle slowed to a stop beside her, its door sliding open, revealing a dark, abyss-like interior that seemed to yawn open like a hungry mouth, waiting to devour her...

(To be continued...)