I sat at my desk, the smooth surface a stark contrast to the fury brewing within me. Olivia’s voice on the phone was a temporary balm, but it couldn’t completely quell my rage. I smiled despite myself, thinking how proud I was of her for successfully getting the information needed from her work’s office. My eyes flicked down to the name I had scribbled on a piece of paper – Rick Logan. Our best lead to who has been trying to ruin me had fizzled out, but there might still be some use for the information about the informant.
“Olivia, I’m going to ask Celia to look into this Rick Logan, to see if her sources can find anything useful out,” I said.
“Okay, Marcus. Just be careful,” she replied, her voice a mix of concern and determination.
Before I could respond, the door to my office slammed open, and Benjamin, my head of security, burst in, his face red and twisted with anger. “Marcus, we’ve got a problem.”
“What?”
“Gregory, that Scandinavian snake, put a hit out on you. The order is everywhere. Over a million dollars.”
Gregory, someone I had considered an ally, had turned on me. The fury that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted, and I completely lost control.
The phone slipped from my hand, forgotten, as I stood, flipping the desk over with one swift motion. Papers flew in every direction. My laptop and monitor crashed to the ground, metal and plastic shattering. Blind fury took over, and I hurled everything within reach, destroying anything I touched. “Son of a bitch!” I screamed, my voice raw. I grabbed the nearest object, a bronze statue, and hurled it across the room. It smashed into the wall, leaving a sizable dent.
“Marcus! Fucking hell, Marcus, calm down!” Benjamin shouted, grabbing me by the shoulders. I shrugged him off, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
“Every fucking time, Benjamin! Every time I think we’re getting somewhere, someone stabs me in the back,” I snarled, my fists clenched at my sides.
“Look,” Benjamin said, his voice measured and level, “I know you’re pissed, but you have to keep your head on straight. At least we know it’s coming this time.”
My breathing gradually slowed, and I nodded, knowing he was right. I couldn’t afford to let my anger get the best of me now. I needed to be sharp and ready. “Fuck,” I muttered, running a hand through my disheveled hair.
I took a deep breath and bent down, picking up my phone from the floor. Olivia’s panicked voice reached my ears, and I quickly reassured her. “I’m okay, baby. No one’s hurt, except my wallet when I get the cleaning and repairs bill. Let me talk to Tommy, okay?”
“Y-yeah, he’s right here,” she stammered.
“Put him on speaker,” I ordered. Once I heard the telltale beep, I continued. “Tommy, I need you to take Olivia straight to the warehouse. No stops, keep your eyes peeled for any trouble. Getting her there safely is your top priority right now.”
“You got it, brother,” Tommy replied, his voice as steady as ever. “We’ll be there in ten.”
“Marcus, please, what’s going on?” Olivia pleaded. It killed me to hear the fear in her voice, but I couldn’t bring myself to burden her with the truth just yet.
“Everything will be fine, Olivia,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “I’ll explain everything when I see you. Just stay close to Tommy and trust him.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
I hung up the phone and looked at Benjamin.
“This shit has gone too far,” I told him, my voice still seething with rage. I strode into the closet in my office, my movements deliberate and calculated.
Inside, I unlocked the gun safe. My hands shook with barely suppressed fury as I pulled out a small handgun. The cold metal felt like a lifeline in my grip, and I loaded it with bullets, each one a promise of retribution.
“Tell everyone to meet at the warehouse,” I instructed Benjamin as I exited the closet, the gun held firmly at my side. “We need to regroup.”
“On it, boss,” he replied, not questioning my decision.
I could feel the anger still bubbling beneath the surface, but I needed to remain focused, to stay in control. My enemies were closing in, and I couldn’t afford any more mistakes. As I walked out of my office, the weight of the gun in my hand reminded me of what was at stake: my life, Olivia’s safety, and the future of everything I had built up from nothing.
“Let them come,” I thought to myself, a cold smile creeping onto my face. “They won’t know what hit them.”
*
My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel, driving towards the warehouse where my inner circle would be waiting. The rage still simmered beneath the surface, but I knew I had to keep it together.
Upon entering the warehouse, I found everyone gathered, as I’d requested. They were all waiting with bated breath, uncertain of the storm that was brewing.
“Listen up,” I began, my voice low and steady. “There’s a bounty on my head. A million fucking dollars.” The words felt like bile in my throat as I spoke them aloud.
The reactions were immediate. Olivia’s eyes widened in terror, and she stumbled forward, throwing herself into my arms. I held her tight, trying to offer some solace, but my gaze remained locked on the others.
Benjamin stood stoic, his face betraying no emotion. Tommy clenched his fists, anger radiating from him. Brynn appeared concerned yet calm, her calculating mind probably already working on possible solutions. Azalea and Ash exchanged worried glances, anxiety etched on their faces.
“Listen up,” I commanded, my voice firm. “This new threat changes nothing. We just need to move smarter and faster than before to find out who’s trying to ruin me.”
“Maybe we need to dig deeper into Gregory’s connections, find his weak spots,” Brynn suggested.
“Or we hit him first before he even has a chance to come after Marcus,” Tommy growled, clenching his fists.
“Guys, let’s not forget about surveillance,” Ash chimed in. “We need eyes everywhere.”
As they spoke over each other, chaos erupting around me, I found myself barely invested in their conversations. Instead, my attention remained focused on the scared woman in my arms. I knew Olivia didn’t belong in this world, but she was here now, and I had to protect her at all costs. Silently, I tried to console her through gentle touches and holding her close, feeling her heartbeat against my chest.
“Enough!” I shouted, silencing the room. “We don’t have time for this. Right now, we need to focus on finding out who’s after us and why. And we need to do it without getting ourselves killed. We can’t go after Gregory. It wouldn’t stop the hit and the other mob guys will just get even more pissed off.”
“Marcus is right,” Benjamin agreed, his tone authoritative. “We need to be careful and strategic. As we speak, anyone looking to make some money and a reputation is out there plotting and planning a way to take Marcus out. All our previous allies are useless now. The only people Marcus can depend on are in this room.”
I nodded in agreement and tightened my grip on Olivia. “He’s right. Anyone connected to me is in danger now, too. Anywhere I’m seen, and anyone I’m seen with could be targeted.”
“Marcus, please…” Olivia’s soft plea cut through the tense silence, her dark eyes pleading with me. She took a deep breath before speaking again. “We should leave town for a few days. Lie low until we figure things out.”
Benjamin gave her a nod of approval. “That’s a smart idea. It’ll keep you safe while we continue working to find out who’s trying to ruin you.”
“Fuck no.” The words burst from me like a gunshot, shocking even myself. But the thought of running away like a coward infuriated me. “I’m not going to run and hide.”
“Marcus, think about it,” Olivia implored, her hands gripping the front of my shirt as if she could force me to see reason. “You wouldn’t be running. You’d be protecting us – the people around you.”
My jaw clenched at her words, but I knew she had a point. This wasn’t just about me anymore; it was about everyone who stood by my side. My gaze flicked across their faces, taking in the concern etched into each one. They were my family, and they were counting on me to make the right decision.
Azalea and Ash murmured their agreement, their anxiety still palpable but tempered by the hope that this plan could work.
Brynn alone remained unconvinced. Her icy blue eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, her lips pursed. “But what happens after those few days?” she challenged. “Do you just keep running for the rest of your life? This is only delaying the inevitable, and it’s no way to do business.”
“Look, Brynn,” Benjamin said, his tone a mix of irritation and authority. “Your expertise is numbers, not assassins. Ultimately, it’s up to Marcus to choose.” He turned to address me. “Marcus, we need you alive to win this fight. Let us do our jobs while you stay out of sight.”
“Fine,” I finally conceded, my voice a low growl. “But only for a few days. Just long enough to figure out our next move. And hopefully convince Gregory that I’m worth more alive than dead.”
Olivia’s eyes shone with relief, her grip on my shirt loosening. “Thank you.”
“Let’s get to work,” Benjamin said, clapping his hands together. “Azalea, Ash – prepare an encrypted phone for Marcus. No one will know where they’re going, but we need to be able to get in touch if the situation changes. The rest of you, gather any intel you can on this situation.”
With that, everyone sprang into action, each person focused on their task. As they moved around us, I pulled Olivia close, determined to keep her safe in this dangerous world she’d become entangled in. She was mine, and I would do whatever it took to protect what was mine.
Silence hung heavy in the room as I considered my options. The weight of responsibility bore down on me – these people were counting on me to make the right decision, to keep them safe. It pained me to admit it, but retreating might be the only option.
“Fine,” I muttered through gritted teeth. “Benjamin, you’re in charge of all operational decisions while I’m gone,” I continued, my gaze falling on the man who’d been by my side for years. “I don’t want to go to war with Gregory. We need to find a solution before there’s more violence and destruction.”
“Of course,” Benjamin nodded, his eyes filled with determination. “You can count on us.”
As we prepared to leave, I tried to settle down my frustration and concentrate on the task ahead, and the few bright spots in this shitty, shitty situation. I was angry that I couldn’t fix my problems on my own, but at least Olivia would be by my side – the one person in this world who could soothe the storm raging inside me. And as much as they got on my nerves, I knew I could trust my people to handle things while we were gone.
“Let’s go,” I said to Olivia, gripping her hand tightly. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we get to come back with all this bullshit cleared up.”