Z A Y N
“Dead lay in pools of maroon below”
"They are freaking out," Ace said, his tone as calm as ever, even as he drove us through the dimly lit streets toward the location Roman had shared. The car’s engine hummed steadily beneath us, the only sound breaking the tense silence that had settled between us.
"Who?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. My gut twisted in anticipation.
"Nyx and Levi," Ace replied, his eyes never leaving the road. His voice was calm, but the undercurrent of concern was there, barely perceptible, but there nonetheless.
I sighed, sighed deeply, the tension building in my chest. I massaged my temples, trying to ease the headache that had been growing ever since Nyx had pleaded with me to take extra precautions.
Ace nodded, his expression serious. "Nyx’s intuitions have been off before, but Levi… He’s not the type to get worked up without good reason."
That hit me differently. Nyx was often anxious, her fear of losing the people she cared about making her jump to conclusions. But Levi? My younger brother rarely voiced his worries, and when he did, it was enough to make me second-guess everything. Levi had a sharp mind, and if he was troubled by something, it wasn’t something to take lightly.
We approached the location Roman had provided—a run-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was the kind of place that screamed trouble, the kind of place where the line between life and death blurred into a thin, fragile thread. The kind of place where people came to either disappear or make others disappear. The air around us was thick with the scent of salt and rust, the nearby docks adding a layer of griminess to the already grim setting.
As we pulled up, my eyes scanned the area. Roman wasn’t a fool. He knew I wouldn’t come without backup, just as I knew he wouldn’t be foolish enough to come alone. My men were strategically placed around the perimeter, hidden but ready to strike at a moment’s notice. But as we exited the car, it became clear that Roman had done the same. His men were stationed around the area, their presence almost imperceptible but just noticeable enough to signal that they were there. It was a calculated move, one that told me Roman was taking no chances—not just for his safety, but for mine as well.
We walked toward the warehouse, our steps echoing in the desolate space. The building loomed above us, its windows shattered and walls covered in years of grime and neglect. As we entered, the sound of our footsteps echoed ominously, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
Roman was seated in the center of the room, his posture rigid, his eyes darting around nervously. He was clearly uncomfortable, his usual confidence replaced by something far more unsettling—fear. The man I had once considered unshakable now looked like he was on the verge of breaking. His suit, once immaculate, was now rumpled, and his hands trembled slightly as he wrung them together.
Ace and I exchanged a glance before stepping forward. My instincts were on high alert, the tension between us palpable. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, the knowledge that whatever Roman had to say would change everything.
"Roman," I greeted him, keeping my voice steady, masking the unease gnawing at the back of my mind.
"Zayn," he responded, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, trying to compose himself, but it was clear that whatever had brought him here had shaken him to his core. "Thanks for coming."
"I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?" I replied coolly, taking a seat across from him. Ace remained standing, his presence a quiet but unmistakable threat. His hand rested near the gun holstered at his side, and I knew he was ready to pull it at the slightest sign of danger.
YOU ARE READING
BLOOD AND HEART
Misteri / Thriller"He had many people's blood on his hands and one woman in his heart." She woke up with a pounding headache, a strange tattoo, and memories of her family being brutally attacked. All because of the documents she stole. Now, protected by one of the wo...
