Nathaniel

The sky was enshrouded with dark heavy clouds, leaving no room for the sun to peep in. The wind blew with a whooshing sound against the trees, the sea was unspeakably silent. The overbearing water balloons up on the sky casted a never-ending shadow over the living on the land.

The sound of dratted morning birds didn't fill my ears, it appeared as one gloomy day.

It painted an exact picture of my mood. How cliche.

I ran a hand through my ruffled hair.

Everything around me emphasized the change in my life. How impertinent.

I pushed a handgun into my belt holster and a few more into my ankle holsters. I fixed the one in the front of my waist and pulled a jacket over my crisp white button-up.

The frame of the weapons thrutched against my chest. 

Ready for the showdown.

Her chocolatey eyes flashed in front of mine as I picked my phone from the bedside table. 

"I am coming," I whispered into the cold air hoping she'd hear it somehow. Only if their services are intact during storms.

"Signore."

I heard the familiar voice of Vincenzo.
He was the Italian druglord. Soon, all our allies were going to report in London. A few moments ago, I had summoned them for taking Austin down for good.

For months, I have been collecting consents from corporations all over the globe so I could present it at the board meeting and get an approval to take down Austin for good.

Today, the board was going to pass it. Finally.

Mostly, the founding members of the white treaty petition were the board members.

Austin has the file that contains the original papers of the white treaty, that makes him the head of all other corporations but he isn't till now as for being the head, the CWT who is the present head, need to be involved in any violation of the laws. And that, we aren't.

Many of the companies had withdrawn because of fear and a few out of greed. 

The white treaty was a peace treaty signed between the corporations and the underworld. After a massive war waged between the two sides, many lost their lives; just because people backstabbed each other.

So, to keep an eye on them, have a peaceful transaction and for maintaining a no-double cross policy---The White Treaty was signed, and an honest organization was kept as the gate-keeper of it. They were called the Custodian of the White Treaty. CWT.

"Andrew, you're going to hack into their security system and guide me through the doors, understood?" I said my voice grave as I stood from leaning against my swivel chair. 

Andrew was sitting behind a table tapping furiously on the laptop, several worry lines covering his pale forehead skin. He really liked her. As a friend, of course.

My gaze flickered to Vincenzo who was talking on the phone with the others, barking at them for something. 

I peeped outside the window and saw piles of vehicles mainly SUVs standing in a queue. 

The whole courtyard was filled with men in black tuxes with intensive weapons laced around their bodies. 

They all saluted me and I nodded in return.

I never expected that they'd respond so positively in such short notice but they did.

We were going to take the non-stop flight to London which will take approximately 23 hours.

Our private jets were already ready for us in Sydney. 

*** Flashback starts. ****

My mind was conflicted, history repeated itself again. But this time, it took a different turn. I was blamed for something I didn't do but there was someone who knew that I wasn't wrong.

She took a stand for me when that boy accused me of not behaving right with her sister.

We were in the cab, my eyes drifted into a long boulevard of agonizing memories that flashed in front of my eyes. I was leaning forward in my seat, my arms stretched in front of me, resting on my thighs, head buried in between my palms.

I felt something warm, something soft against the ruffled strands of my hair, untangling the knots. I relaxed under the feathery touch. 

After a long never-ending winter, right now, I felt I was at the home.

My eyes watered, tears picking a fight against my will. I blinked a few times, taking in a few deep breaths.

I focused my attention on my breathing. It cannot happen now. I inhaled a column of air, held it for a moment and exhaled slowly. I repeated that action until I got my breathing under control.

I rose my head to see her looking at me, concern clouding her eyes. Her eyebrows were furrowed, a few worry lines etched across her forehead and her lower lip was hostage under the cruelty of her teeth. I smiled weakly as my face muscles hurt.

Out of the blue, she held my hand; her fingers grazed the inside of my palm, drawing circles that seemed to calm my nerves.

I took in the state of my hand. My knuckles were bloodied, the insides of my palm scratched. While her hand was soft, her fingers long and slender. The softness of her skin against mine felt like silk. I stifled a moan at the caresses my hand received. 

We didn't exchange any word; our fingers stayed intertwined. That was the moment when I shared my vulnerability with her.

It felt good----the silence, the touch. It seemed as if every word felt unnecessary, the silence enshrouded us---bonded us.

**** Flashback ends. *****

I rubbed my palms over my face and tried to wipe those memories away and focus on how to not kill Austin the moment I saw him. 

They were hordes of people, boards reflecting numbers and alphabets, and the ever-young voice of the lady filling up the silence, indicated that I surely reached the airport. 

I didn't realize I was standing in front of our jet.

The sky was clearer now but the sun seemed to shy away today. I was afraid that the weather may delay our flight.

It did not.

In a few torturous hours, I would be there in flesh and bone. 

"Sir, your jet is ready to board," said my co-pilot stretching out his hand for a handshake.