A N G E L

I took a sip of my whisky, the alcohol burned my throat but it wasn't in the slightest painful. 

I took another sip before resting the glass on the mahogany desk.

My fingers brushed over my gun, the metal object ready and waiting.

I looked at the man before me, his knees digging into the tiled floor. His face was battered, and tears were streaming down his cheeks. I could feel the fear rolling off him, it wasn't hard to miss.

This man, Omar Johnson, was a traitor.

After striking numerous deals with rival gangs behind my back, he decided to play innocent. He should've known better. No one, and I mean no one, betrays me and gets away with it.

It was not possible.

Afterall, I was the leader of the most notorious gang in the city- The Tainted Trigger. We were known for our clean work and precise shots. No one ever dared to mess with us, unless they had a death wish.

My father, before he passed, always told me that the best way to lead people, is to let them fear you. I loved when people fear me. It was like a drug, one that was no doubt addicting. They would think twice about overstepping their boundaries, and that was good enough for me.

"P-Please, I did not mean to betray you."

I took another sip of my whisky before asking him my only question. "Do you love your family?"

His face fell and his lips flatlined. He knew what I meant. The man had a beautiful wife and two children. He chose to work for me a year ago, hiding his second life from his family. I promised him that they would never find out, and I had kept my promise.

I even funded his wedding, and what did I get in return? A fucking knife in my back!

"Don't hurt them. They are innocent," he said next, his eyes filled with hope.

I tapped my gun against the desk. "I asked you a question."

He averted his eyes to the floor. "I do. I really do."

I smirked. "Too bad, because you won't be seeing them again."

I clicked the safety off and with no hesitation, I pulled the trigger.

His body fell backwards, hitting the ground with a loud thud. I sipped my whiskey as my men cleaned up. He could've avoided all of this, but he chose his own fate.

A knock sounded on my door before it opened. My right-hand man, Tyrel, stepped in carrying a small duffle bag. He dropped it on my desk before unzipping it.

"Boss, this is all I got,"he said showing me the stacks of cash.

I slammed the glass on the desk. "This isn't even half of what we agreed on!"

"That's true. What's our next move? "Tyrel asked, his face turning serious.

I ran a hand through my hair. Last week, I struck a deal with an organization that traffics drugs across borders. I invested in their next run, high risk, high return, they said. The risk came through. The return didn't.

The man running the operation, Denver, should've known that deals like those aren't to be toyed with. They're contracts sealed in blood, and breaking them always comes with a price.

Denver should be someone who understood the cost of breaking a word. But now it seemed he was gambling with more than just money.

"We should pay him a visit, don't you think?" I said. Tyrel smiled, slow and satisfied.

"Thought you'd never ask," he responded. I stood up and made my way out of the office.

My shoes echoed on the floor as I made my way downstairs. I lived in a three storey mansion with a few of my men, only the best ones. The rest had their own homes all over the city.

"Boss, what about the shipment coming in from Leon? Should we reschedule?"

I stopped in my tracks. I had totally forgotten about that. I turned to Tyrel, his eyes fixed on me.

"No, take Smith and go. We don't miss appointments,"I replied but he looked uncertain.

"What if something goes down at the warehouse?," he asked.

I raised an eye at him. "I can take care of myself. Besides, I won't be going alone. And if anything does happen, you know my trigger finger is very agile."

He smirked knowingly. It was indeed true. I'm more swift with a gun than a cheetah chasing its prey. My fingers barely brushes the trigger before the target drops.

And I don't pull the trigger with regrets.

***

Denver's operation was tucked away in an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was an illusion to what really happens underground. I didn't know the full picture, but I had an idea. Didn't matter. His business wasn't mine. We made a deal, and that was the end of it.

I was seated in the back of my black Range Rover, two men in the front and two beside me. I didn't know what to expect when we arrive, but I was more than ready. I'm not planning on using violence, but I will if I must. I don't play with blood contracts or my money.

We drove for about thirty minutes before the warehouse came into view. I tucked my gun in my waistband of my pants and adjusted my jacket. 

My eyes caught a figure spying on us through the window. I ignored it and made my way to the large, metal door. My men were right behind, fully alert and anticipating. I knocked before taking a step back.

I didn't have to wait long. A loud buzz came from the door, and moments later, it opened. Inside, a few men stood around the room. They didn't move or speak. Their faces were hard and serious, like they were expecting trouble. All of them were watching us closely, saying nothing.

"Where is your boss?" I asked, not hiding the annoyance in my voice. I came here for business, not to play the silent game.

"Do you have an appointment?" A guy with a buzz cut chipped in. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"The fuck I do! "I spat. He raised an eye at me before nodding slowly.

"You two stay here,"I told two of my men before following behind buzz cut.

The place was like a maze. We went down multiple corridors and hallways. The smell of drugs hung in the air, thick and sharp. After walking for what felt like hours, we finally stopped at a black door.

"Wait here," buzz cut said before disappearing through the door. I grit my teeth. I didn't have time to waste.

"This place is definitely more than just an underground drug chain,"one of my men, Greg said as he looked around.

"I agree. Did you see the cages on our way here?" the other, Chris replied before adjusting his shades.

Greg nodded.

They were right. Something more sinister is happening here, but it wasn't my business. My only business right now is getting the rest of my money.

I was about to knock again when the door opened. Buzz cut peeked his head out, his eyes boring into mine.

"You can come in."

I pushed past him and into the office. The place reeked of alcohol and cocoaine. It was relatively small, only furnished with a few couches and tables. There behind a small brown desk was Denver; The bald man was downing an entire bottle of Jack Daniels.

He finished off the bottle before throwing it on the floor.

"Angel, I wasn't expecting you," was his first words as he looked at me.

I scoffed. "Cut the shit Denver. Where's the rest of my money?"

He ran a hand over his face, the lines making themselves known. "Shit didn't happen as planned. I only got fifty percent of what was promised to me."

I planted both of my hands on the desk. "Lying won't get you anywhere Denver. You forgot that I have spies all over? You received every fucking thing!"

I watched as his face twisted in anger."They told you wrong! Why the hell would I go back on my word?"

I was itching to put a bullet through his skull. He was such a horrible liar.

"I'm waiting on the cash, and trust me, I'm not a man of patience,"I told him, my hands dropping to my sides.

He pushed his chair back and got up. "I think you should leave. I already told you what went down, if you don't want to believe it's not my problem."

Was he stupid?

I was about to respond when a total of two gunshots sounded through the air. Denver reached for his gun but I was quicker. I shot him right in his chest, his body falling backwards to the ground.

I rushed outside to see both Greg and Chris on the floor, a bullet through each of their skulls.

"Fuck!"

I rushed off down the long hallway. I expected shit to go down but not this quick. I was lucky enough to first Denver or I'd be dead. I glimpsed two men coming my way and I hid behind a stack of boxes. When they rushed past, I shot them instantly.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Tyrel's number.

He picked up on the first ring. "Boss-

"-shit went down. The son of a bitch planned an attack."I cut him.

"On my way boss."

The line went dead and I shoved the phone back into my pocket. The hallway stretched on. I turned left, then took a sharp right.

"There he is!"

I turned, two men were charging straight at me. I pulled my gun and fired twice. One went down, the other kept coming. I checked my gun, only two bullets remained.

Shit!

I ran, my boots slamming into the floor. Shots cracked behind me, a few hitting the wall beside me. I cut a corner, then fired back. The guy went down, and I sighed in relief.

I saw a flight of stairs, but my feet stopped cooperating with me. I groaned when I felt a sting in my side. I opened my jacket, and the reality sank in.

I'd been hit.

Fuck!

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