KNIVES AND HEARTSTRINGS

ursed through me. Towering above the surrounding mountains, the warehouse was the perfect fort

e've loca

em long

and thick with the metallic tang of blood I noticed my men had been busy in my absence,

testament to his struggles-mingling with streaks of blood that dripped rhythmically onto the stained concrete floor. Stripped of his dignity a

r-perhaps a recent confrontation or t

my polished shoes echo ominously through the cavernous space. My favo

that you started the fun without me," I rem

, but the tension remained thick-a suff

't just about money, though the idiot had cost me millions with his botched

indle me?" I asked, voice calm but laced with menace as I sc

ch strained inhale a painful reminder of his dire situ

closing the distance between us. Without warning, Tu

hoes red. His wild, panicked eyes darted around, in a desperate search for any glimmer of hope or escape. But the oppressive

." he st

gibberish boy. Spit it ou

trast to his sobs. Annoyed by the noise, I

ng to offer you two options." I gestured to two of my men, who promptly released the chains bindin

or dramatic effect- "say ten minutes, I'll spare your life. If not, my

sponse, as I felt my infamous man

wel

watch. "Tim

as almost sad. He made it six paces before co

het

ck to me like a rag doll. He was too wea

, removing my suit jacket with deliberate slowness.

shirt, I turn to my men, thrilled

dered, my voice tinged with dark

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

ious, but there was something satisfying about scrubbing blood f

utting through my concentration as I scrubbed the blood from my bear

looking up, now focused on cleaning

e fixed ahead. "Just that she nee

mn

" I grabbed the phon

iar voice demanded. Her tone was as sharp as the knife I'd just us

severe demeanor, ice-blue eyes I had inherited, and platinum blonde hair, she radiated an in

d smoothly, knowing full

e I see you, I'll twist that overgrown ear of yours u

muted the call and sighed. My mother had the stami

ast of the blood from my beard and set up a meet

w record. She usuall

are yo

lied again. "I'll do my best to h

roni

I cut her off an

ond-in-command. "Iason, ready

y, I was going to have more than