Forbidden Love: A Gangster's Secret

06 | manipulator

Jerry's perspective

I hate thugs. They neither have honor nor loyalty. They just take what they want and leave destruction in their wake. And for what? A little taste of power and fear, despite constantly hurting others again and again. Looking back I realize I only wanted one thing, a family.

I was blinded by what I had and was driven by crime. And now I've lost everything and everyone I've ever cared for. I now know the Blood Lotus are just a bunch of pussies, they never cared for me.

Right after my brother died in my arms, I found a USB Drive in his pocket. I later learned he located the Blood Brothers' main HQ, he planted the location in the USB. I knew Kai and the Black Lotus couldn't be trusted. So I stole classified information from them, including every base location.

Those pitiful Blood Brothers took me in without a heartbeat. After losing their leader they needed someone, and I had valuable information. We bombed every Black Lotus base except their main base. I didn't tell them where that was because I was going to be the person to kill Kai and his stupid ass girlfriend Hana.

Except I'm not only going to kill the Black Lotus gang, I'm killing every single member of the Blood Brothers too. Everybody will die.

Kai's perspective

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock. The annoying clock echoes around the silent room I'm in. I see Tony sitting in front of me, his face full of dread. Hana though tightly holds my hand under the desk.

"What are we going to do boss? We're all going to die!" Tony cries out.

"Shit! Stop complaining this isn't going to help us at all!"  I respond.

As of right now, I can't think of anything. 200 members are not enough to take on the Blood Brothers, this is impossible. What could Jerry possibly gain from this? Joining the Blood Brothers as their leader makes no sense, they killed his brother, not us.

"There is only one thing we can do Tony. And that is to fight." I announce.

Tony looks at me with a bewildered face and Hana stands up.

"Are you fucking crazy? This is a suicide you're going to get us all killed!" Hana yells.

I respond, "What other choice do we have? We're hopeless, our gang itself is already dead. Without power who are we?"

"Hana shakes her head her face getting redder with every second. Her eyes start to fill with tears and she storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Tony worriedly glances at me before saying, "I know this mission is impossible and we could all very much die. But I owe you my life Kai so I'm willing to fight."

I nod as I watch him exit my office leaving me with just my thoughts. You see Tony was always sort of a deadbeat. After his wife divorced him and took the kids he fell into depression. He would go to the bar every day to get drunk and start fistfights.

About 2 months ago I found Tony passed out on the sidewalk outside a bar, vomit all over his body. He had two black eyes and bruises all over his body, it looked so bad that I think he was jumped. I carried him to my car before bringing him to my base providing him with bandages and new clothes. Ever since then, Tony has been a Black Lotus.

I lean back in my chair and sigh. What could convince the other men to fight the Blood Brothers? Almost everyone is in an array of panic outside my door frantically shouting at each other. I slowly open the door and walk out. Everybody goes silent.

"Hey look it's the boss!" Cash yells out.

Everyone turns their head towards me. I stand in front of them, I see faces filled with anxiety and fear.

I speak into the crowd and say, "As you can see, this is what is left of us. Jerry has gone rogue. He is now the Blood Brothers' leader, he not only betrayed us but killed 99% of the Black Lotus." 

A parade of gasps and curse words parade the room. I hold up my hand to silence them.

I then respond, "At this very moment, I know Jerry is planning to kill all of us. He's a man who has nothing left to lose, meaning he's the most dangerous man there is."

I see Hana scowling at me in the corner of my base. Her face is still red and her eyes are puffy. Our eyes meet and we both quickly look away.

"My fellow gang members. Yes, we are greatly outnumbered by the blood brothers. Hell, I won't lie and say a lot of us are going to die. If you want you can leave right now. But we must not let fear hold us back! We were and still are the strongest gang in this city." I announce.

"We will march into battle with our heads held high, our honor and pride on the line! And we will show these bastards what it means to be a Black Lotus!" I shout.

A roar of applause and shouts erupt in the room. Eventually, the noise goes down and they all start exhaustingly walking to their room. I see Hana gesture towards me asking me to follow her. I start walking towards her and she walks into my room.

As soon as I enter the room I notice Hana bawling her eyes out. I shut the door behind me and sit beside her on my bed.

"Why, just why? Do you have a death wish or something, because this is the stupidest shit I've heard from you!" Hana argues.

I shake my head and respond, "Look, this has to be done. We are almost flat-out broke and my men are dying out left and right. You wouldn't understand."

"Listen to me Kai, you don't have to do this! We can leave all this gang violence behind us... Just the two of us like how we were before." Hana says, tears drastically falling out of her eyes.

"I can't leave just leave them Hana! They need me more than ever right now, I created the Black Lotus for a reason. This is much more than gang violence, this is, how do I call it? This is war." I say.

"But Kai, you're going to die doing this. You're going to die with your stupid gang, somebody is going to kill you! I never in a million years imagined you could do something so ignorant!"Hana shouts.

"Then what is the point if those with the means and power do not fight? The truth is we can only know by moving forward." I respond.

The room goes silent for a few seconds, I can almost feel the tension in the air. Suddenly Tony burst through the door.

"I think I have a lead boss," Tony quickly announces.

I face him and say, "We're in the middle of something. Could you like leave?"

I can feel Hana's glare burning the back of my neck. I assume that she's also giving Tony a death stare based on the look on his face.

Tony responds, "Nope, you're definitely going to want to hear this. I think I have a way we can beat the Blood Brothers."

"I'm listening," I say.

He shows me a sheet of files with a large Danger sign resting on the top.

"Don't even show me this shit! It's too dangerous, I don't want to kill Jerry!" I shout.

"What other choice do we boss? We don't even have the appropriate weapons for this battle!" Tony claims.

One of the most classified weapons the Black Lotus possesses are high-grade bombs. In this case, Tony believes using over a thousand bombs is a smart idea to go against them.

I can feel my arms start to shake as my anger increases. I can't believe Tony thinks we should kill Jerry. He's been here since day one. How could I give up on him?

"Kai, if you're really thinking of fighting them, I think I agree with Tony," Hana announces.

"What's wrong with you two? We can't kill Jerry, we have to bring him back!" I say.

Both Hana and Tony look at me confused. Tony tightens his fist.

"You're making zero sense right now boss. How can I call you our leader if you're not even willing to struggle? We can't save him, Kai." Tony argues.

I begin to protest but feel Hana tug on my shirt. If I'm being honest Tony is right. I don't think Jerry wants to be saved. If we're ending the Blood Brothers I have to let him go. I look up at the ceiling and sigh. What will we do?