A Break Apart

CHAPTER 28. Unforeseen Past

William's POV

I entered the club, now filled with people and booming with loud music, and made my way to the bar counter.

"Great stunt. You really made a fool out of me, William." John frowned at me as he cleaned a bottle of champagne with a white cloth.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Something came up." I rushed the apology to get to the point, but the angry stare he continued holding at me, as he kept to his duty, prevented me from getting any word in.

"Okay." I took out my wallet from the back pocket of my denim and removed a couple notes. "Here." I slid the money on the counter. I was impatient. Every second was gold. And I couldn't afford to waste any on some irrelevant bromance.

He dropped the bottle and cloth aside and took the money. "Now that's what I'm talking about." He shoved the money in his trouser pocket with a wide grin. "So," he picked up the items he had dropped and continued cleaning, "why did you come back? Should I get your order? And where's your girlfriend?"

"I just need an information from you. It's very important," I said, racing with time.

He paused and leaned closer. "Sure, man. What is it?"

"You know Don, right?"

His face melted to a timid pulp at the name, and I knew I was done for, as his reaction told me there were more skeletons to be escavated. Then with a slow sigh of ease, he said. "Everyone know who that guy is. He's pretty popular around here."

"Great. So do you by any chance know the kind of things he's into?"

He sighed again, a heavy one this time. "William, I like you very much, you're one of my favorite customers, almost like a brother. But, sorry, man. I can't give you that kind of info. I don't want to get into any trouble."

"John, please! It's a matter of life and death." His unwillingness to cooperate was tugging at my last straw. "Okay, here." I removed more notes from my wallet and put them before him, and was ready to throw in my wristwatch and sneakers if I ran out of cash.

"Fine." His eyes flickered around the club as he put down again, the bottle and cloth, and slowly took the money, hiding it away in the same pocket. Then he focused on me. "He's a," he started with a quiet voice, "wanted criminal who has people backing him up. He works for bad guys, like drug dealers. And last I heard... he's into human trafficking... I don't know, but people, especially girls, have been reported missing around here..."

Ice gradually trailed down my spine as he spoke, and then his last words froze me whole. I then looked away in thoughts, my eyes and mouth still in the state of shock. The question of how I let myself agree to something so stupid began to ring loudly in my head nonstop, freaking the shit out of me.

"Hey, you alright?"

I jolted, my eyes darting in the direction of the voice that belonged to John. "Uh, yeah."

He sighed. "Please don't tell anyone I told you."

"I won't. I promise. Thanks, man." I tapped him on the shoulder and dashed out of the club.

"Hey! Where are you going!?"

××××

I held a tight grip on the steering wheel, ignoring the strain it left in my muscles and relishing on the image of Don's neck in my grasp. I was furious to the core, and more at myself for thinking he could have had any good intention. Little did I know that the gravity of the decision I had made that night would turn around and bite me in the ass. I was literally gambling with someone's life, and not just anyone, but the innocent girl I happened to fall in love with!