Our Bodyguard|18+

Seven

Marlow, Luca and I are gathered inside the jeep with the microphones in our ears. It's five in the evening. Time has never been swift as it is today. Every second counts, and no matter what it takes this operation needs to end tonight.

He's managed to get in touch with the so-called 'the Janitors' and my patience is running thin as we haven't heard anything from them. I'm not sure if we'll get a hold of those bastards at last, but I know I'll go nuts if I fail to crack that woman out of jail.

"Silence," Marlow snaps and we all abide as the call we've been waiting for finally rings.

He cues Luca at the back to start tracing, and quickly the Aussi's fingers hit the buttons of his laptop speedily.

"Yes I'm the one who needs your services," Marlow states rigorously into the phone.

I fix my earpiece and the voice clears.

"Who is this?" The voice is thick but cultivated.

"The job needs to be done before dawn." Marlow ignores his question. My eyes narrow, full focused. "Whatever your price is, I'll pay triple, just as I stated. I only need a clean job. No blowback."

We all stare at each other, waiting patiently for the pimp to respond. I know they're cautious of any new deals. One slip and they're rammed. Can't lower their guards.

"How did you get to know us?" he finally asks.

Through TikTok, jackass! Does he really expect us to answer?

A small smirk creases a corner of Marlow's mouth. "News flies by in this world. I don't need to know who you are, and you ain't gonna know who I am. It's as simple as that. We do our parts and everyone goes home happy. No exchanging business cards, no champagne toasting."

Silence. Time to weigh his guts. If it was a battlefield, then this would be that calm when every soldier is positioned for an attack, autopilot to stay numb yet to feel every little moving thing until you fire.

"What do you want?" A voice interrupts my thoughts.

Got you! Marlow winks.

"Room service! Why else would I come to you?" He booms into his horrid laughter. I crinkle my nose, and Luca rolls his eyes. "I heard you can make the dirt disappear. Any type. Such a talent you have. Hopefully it wasn't some underground propaganda 'cause I'm a very begrudging person when someone fucks up." Humor in his voice vanishes.

No response but silence from the other end. Is this going well? Damn it, I think it's gonna drive me out of my mind soon. I glance at Marlow and he beckons me to chill, as if he's got it under control.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," he says. "A kid of mine got himself into some bloody shit this morning. Silenced my business partner during some little argument—you know what happens when big bills are involved in some transactions made by amateurs." He sighs dramatically. "I already have my people working on the footage, but I need a scapegoat as soon as possible. He's my only son and I'm just a father—you got kids? If you did you'd understand me."

As he goes into details, our strategy begins to look feasible enough. The plan is to have someone pose dead in a hotel room, plant cameras all over, and wait until those cleaners make a move on the body.

If no CCTV footage can prove that Mia didn't meet Anne, then I'll have to prove that she was framed by someone. And whoever it is will pay brutally.

"Got anything?" Marlow asks Luca after the call.

"Northwest industrial area, somewhere near St. John Cathedral park. It's not a residential neighborhood, but it's listed with a number of warehouses. Maybe they operate around here," Luca replies.