A Ruin Of Roses (Used to be: My Mysterious Husband)

TWENTY-FIVE

𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟺:𝟺𝟼 𝙰.𝙼 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟹𝟷𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝙹𝙰𝚇𝙾𝙽]

Waking up in an unfamiliar place, I can't help but wish that I could turn back time, finding myself once again in Cork with Rose and Jayden. My heart aches as I glance around the room, half-expecting to see Rose beside me, her head resting on my chest, her legs entwined with mine, looking incredibly beautiful even in a loose T-shirt and old shorts. Her hair, the way it used to fall gently across her face, made her resemble an angel in slumber.

With a sigh, I realize that this is a reality I can't escape. She's not here, and it's not just the absence of her physical presence but the feeling of completeness that I'm missing. I make my way out of bed, and even the bathroom seems different. It's strange how you can become accustomed to the little things. I used to see hair ties hanging from the sink, and there were often small toys on the edge of the tub. I even find myself missing those really nasty hairballs Rose would leave on the shower walls.

The mundane, everyday details of life now hold a significant weight in my heart, and it's those simple, ordinary moments that I yearn for the most. I realize how much I miss them, and how much I miss her. My steps are heavy as I navigate through this strange place, an emptiness gnawing at me as I long for the familiar comforts that once defined our life together.

𝙳𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟸:𝟹𝟻 𝙿.𝙼 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝟹𝟷𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝙹𝙰𝚇𝙾𝙽]

Work drags by at a snail's pace, the office noticeably quieter since Rose's departure. The unusual calm has me on edge, and I can't help but wonder what the remaining members of the gang are plotting in the shadows. The absence of the usual chaos and tension raises questions about their next move.

Jayce's entrance into the room breaks through my thoughts, and he motions for me to join him. My heart races with anticipation as I follow him, the potential for new information hanging in the air like a lifeline.

"We've got something out of the little gang leader," Jayce says, his voice carrying a note of urgency. I rush out of the room, my footsteps echoing with the intensity of my anticipation. He follows close behind me, aware that this could be a crucial breakthrough. If this gang leader provides me with the right information, it might earn him a reprieve, but only if it's something substantial enough to pique my interest.

As we reach the interrogation room, I find the gang leader, a formidable yet wary figure, sitting in a dimly lit space. I sit down across from him, my eyes locked onto his, searching for any sign of deception.

"Spit it out," I say in a low, commanding tone.

The gang leader hesitates, knowing that his life may depend on what he reveals. His voice trembles as he finally begins, "There's a flash drive... encrypted data... it's the key to getting to the boss."

I lean forward, my interest piqued. "Tell me more. Where is it? How do we access it?"

He provides the necessary details, sharing the location of the flash drive in New York City and the encryption key "6@y3Vw#pLz!Q5rJ2xU9*T7kS$4fG8HtWvXn1MqP&IeDbYlZoKc@A." The possibility of reaching the elusive Mafia boss through this encrypted data ignites a fire within me. It's a potential breakthrough, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see it through.

With the information in hand, I can't help but wonder what secrets and revelations this encrypted data might contain, and how it could potentially reshape the dynamics of the dangerous world I've chosen to be a part of.