Episode3
1621 Words
Ryder stepped out of his room, having just been engaged with a client. He looked a little disheveled, yet still hot and sexy, the faint scent of cologne mixing with the musty, stale air of the club. He noticed the shift in the atmosphere, the usual hum of quiet conversations replaced by an almost electric tension.
He leaned in and nudged Derrick. “What’s up? Why the awkwardness?” he asked, raising a brow.
“She’s here!” Derrick blurted out, his voice shaky with agitation, his hands trembling slightly.
“Who?” Ryder asked, frowning in confusion.
“The lady from that night,” Derrick explained, his eyes darting nervously.
Ryder’s frown deepened. “Your mystery lady?” he asked again, the words laced with intrigue.
Derrick nodded, pointing discreetly. “Yeah. That one.”
Ryder’s face lit up the moment it clicked. “Is she? Where is she?” he asked eagerly, his tone laced with excitement, his heartbeat quickening.
“With the boss,” Derrick replied quickly, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Ryder muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his muscles tensing as the weight of the situation settled in.
“She came with three of her men. She’s so scary, it feels like something’s crawling up my skin,” Derrick admitted, shivering, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
Ryder elbowed him playfully. “It’s all for show. She’s definitely not one to do anything nasty,” he chuckled, turning to order a drink, though his voice had lost some of its usual confidence.
Before he could, a scary-looking man in a suit walked in, his piercing gaze scanning the room like a predator. The air around him felt colder, as if the temperature had dropped by a few degrees.
“Who is Ryder here?” the man demanded, his voice cold and authoritative, slicing through the buzz of conversation.
Derrick immediately pointed to Ryder without hesitation. “He is!”
Ryder shot him a sharp glare. “Damn you, Derrick!” he hissed, irritation flashing in his eyes.
Derrick put on a pleading expression. “I don’t want to die, dude,” he whispered urgently.
Ryder sighed and turned to the man. “What do you want? A hot, crazy night?” he quipped with mockery, though the words tasted bitter on his tongue.
The man’s face remained stoic, making Ryder’s joke fall flat. “Come with me,” Lucas ordered sternly.
Ryder folded his arms. “And why should I? I don’t know you, and you can’t just walk in here ordering me around.” His voice carried a defiant edge, the adrenaline starting to build.
Before he could continue, two more intimidating men, Malcolm and Jack, entered the room. Ryder glanced at them, and his throat tightened.
“Fine,” he said reluctantly, his heartbeat quickening as he assessed his options. “Where to?”
Lucas said nothing and gestured for him to follow.
When Ryder entered the private section, the thick, stuffy air hit him immediately. The soft scent of leather and cigars mixed with the faint echo of quiet footsteps on plush carpet. The first person he saw was Alexandra. She sat poised, exuding elegance in her jeans and jacket, her presence commanding the room even in the shadows.
“You!” Ryder exclaimed, striding forward, unable to hide his excitement. His pulse raced, the heat of her gaze making his skin prickle.
“I thought you wouldn’t come back,” he began, but Alexandra cut him off with a sharp tone.
“Hand it over,” she demanded, her voice cold and commanding, sending a chill down Ryder’s spine.
“Excuse me?” Ryder asked, blinking in confusion.
“The necklace. Hand it over,” she repeated firmly, her eyes narrowing.
Realization dawned on Ryder. His eyes lit up, and he let out a small chuckle. “So, it’s you,” he said, running a hand over his mouth as he took a seat.
“I wonder why I’m not surprised,” he added, a grin tugging at his lips, his voice thick with amusement.
“I’m not here for jokes,” Alexandra warned, her tone edged with irritation, her patience wearing thin.
“You should be smart enough to know the necklace serves as payment for saving you,” Ryder pointed out, leaning back casually, feeling the plush seat sink beneath him.
“And the other?” she pressed, narrowing her eyes.
“What other?” Ryder asked, feigning ignorance.
“The watch,” Alexandra clarified, her patience thinning further.
Ryder scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “About that…” he trailed off, then flashed her a cheeky smile. “It’s payment for the night spent with me.”
“You must be crazy!” Alexandra roared, her voice laced with anger, the sound echoing in the room.
“Asshole,” she snapped. “You asked me for a night, not the other way around!”
Ryder shrugged nonchalantly. “It doesn’t matter who did. The fact is, there was a night, and I did please you.”
“You’re a dead man,” Alexandra hissed, her tone threatening, her eyes burning with fury.
Ryder smirked, leaning forward. “For you, yes, I am,” he teased before standing up to leave.
Before he could exit, Lucas, Malcolm, and Jack blocked his path, their towering figures casting long shadows across the floor.
“Oh no, you won’t do this,” Ryder muttered, stepping backward cautiously, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention.
“Dare me,” Alexandra taunted, her voice dripping with malice, sending a shiver down Ryder’s spine.
Ryder scanned the room, then, with careful precision, pushed Jack aside and bolted for the door, his pulse pounding in his ears, the taste of freedom just within reach.
---
Later that day:
Ryder hadn’t been home since the previous night, and when he finally arrived, the entire house was in shambles. The soft rays of sunlight filtered through the broken windows, casting stark shadows across the debris. The scent of dust and blood lingered in the air.
“Finn?” he called out, his voice echoing through the wrecked space, the emptiness of the house pressing in on him.
There was no response. Anxiety crept in as he scanned the mess. Finn would never leave the house in this state.
Realization struck him, the weight of dread sinking in. Without wasting a second, he ran out, heading straight to the only place Finn might be.
He arrived at an old, eerie-looking building and barged in, his heart pounding in his chest, the musty air around him heavy with a sense of foreboding.
Inside, Finn knelt on the floor, his face bruised, blood dripping from his mouth.
“Hey!” Ryder shouted, charging toward the man towering over his brother.
It was a trap. Another man grabbed Ryder from behind.
With a swift move, Ryder broke free and delivered a powerful punch. But more men came at him, and despite his efforts, he was overpowered.
Two men restrained him while another kicked him repeatedly in the stomach until he was too weak to fight back.
Collapsing to the floor, Ryder groaned, his eyes fixed on Finn.
Desperately, he tried crawling toward his brother but was met with a vicious kick to the face.
Simon, the gang leader, finally stood. “Ryder, Ryder… still as headstrong as ever,” he sneered, stepping on Ryder’s head, the weight of his boot a crushing force.
“You never learn how to pay your debts, do you?” Simon growled, his tone dripping with malice.
Ryder groaned in pain but stayed silent.
Simon released him and turned to Finn, pulling out a knife and pressing it to his throat.
“I should just kill you both right here and now,” Simon said, his voice devoid of sympathy.
“No!” Ryder cried out, his voice hoarse with desperation, his heart pounding in his chest. “Please, don’t. Please!”
Simon tilted his head. “And why should I listen to you?” he asked mockingly, making a small cut on Finn’s neck.
Ryder panicked. “Because I have something for you!” he blurted out, the words rushing out of him in a frantic plea.
Simon’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You do?”
“Yes,” Ryder stammered. “Please, don’t hurt my brother!”
Simon chuckled darkly. “So much love for your little brother. I’m jealous,” he said, turning to his men. “Aren’t you all jealous?”
The room filled with mocking laughter.
Simon turned back to Ryder. “Now, what do you have for me?”
Ryder shakily stood and pulled out the watch and necklace.
“This is all I have. Please, let us go,” he pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation.
Simon examined the jewelry. “Impressive,” he mused. “But this isn’t enough to settle your debts.”
“I know,” Ryder admitted, his voice trembling. “But please, give me more time. I’ll pay the rest.”
Simon pretended to consider it, then shrugged. “Because you brought me something nice today, I’ll let it slide.”
He waved his hand, and the men released Ryder and Finn.
Ryder immediately crawled to his brother, hugging him tightly.
He helped Finn to his feet, and together, they limped out of the building, battered
and broken.
“Don’t forget my money!” Simon called after them. “Next time, I won’t be this generous.”
Ryder said nothing, focusing on getting Finn home safely.
- Writer
