Syndicate [Thriller]

Chapter 6: Tell Tales

The sun was dipping low as I pulled up to the pub, the familiar building standing still against the fading light. I stepped out of the car, the faint scent of smoke still clinging to my jacket from the drive back. My mind was already spinning, but nothing could've prepared me for what waited inside.

As I pushed open the door, the room felt different—quieter, heavier. Inside, I saw them. My younger brother, Rangan, sat at the far end of the room, his face bruised, a bloody cut across his cheek. His jaw was clenched, eyes burning with something between anger and hurt. Aunt Rollie hovered nearby, her hands wringing nervously, and Vijay, my eldest brother, stood off to the side, watching but silent.

I walked toward them, but before I could ask, Rangan's voice cut through the air, sharp and accusing.

"You knew about this," he spat, his voice low but filled with rage. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I stopped a few feet from him, the weight of the question settling between us. His eyes met mine, filled with the kind of betrayal that cut deep. He didn't need to explain what had happened. I could already see it written across his battered face.

"This was a task I had to think about," I said calmly, my voice measured.

Rangan slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing through the empty pub. "Think about? There's a whole family here who can think about things, Ajay! You don't get to carry this alone."

I took a breath, steadying myself before speaking. "We can't solve anything if we don't have a clear head. Charging in blind just gets people killed. You know that."

He glared at me, anger still coursing through him, but there was something else—something deeper. "How the fuck does Uday know you?" His voice wavered, cracking as he continued. "He picked me up, Ajay. Took me. Remember, I wasn't here for hours? He had me. And yet... you're the one walking around untouched."

I felt a tightening in my chest, but I didn't show it. I knew Uday was moving, but I hadn't expected him to target my family so directly. Not yet.

"Why aren't you the one whose face is smashed in?" Rangan asked, his voice low but bitter, his eyes never leaving mine.

I lit a cigarette, taking a slow drag before answering. "I guess he's trying to play a game, brother. There's a bigger game going on. And it's not just about you and me." I met his gaze steadily, but there was no way to take the edge off what I was saying. Uday wasn't just testing me—he was tightening his grip, playing his own version of chess. But now, he'd made it personal.

I didn't wait for Rangan to reply. There was nothing else to say. The conversation was over, for now. I turned and walked out of the pub, the door swinging shut behind me.

Outside, the air was cool, and I could feel the tension coiling in my chest. I lit another cigarette, the flicker of the flame catching in the dim light, and took a long drag, exhaling slowly.

He can play with me all he wants, I thought, my mind racing. But not my family. Never them.

Uday had crossed a line. Taking Rangan, roughing him up, sending a message—that was something I couldn't let go. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was about control, about Uday trying to corner me, seeing how far I'd bend before I snapped.

I tossed the cigarette to the ground, crushing it under my boot as I headed for the car. The police station wasn't far, and if Uday thought he could get away with dragging my brother into this mess, he had another thing coming. He was pushing too hard, too fast.

As I drove toward the station, the streets blurred by, my thoughts dark and focused. This was going too far. Uday was trying to play both sides, squeezing us while pretending to clean up the city. But he'd underestimated one thing—I don't break easy.