005
1091 Words
Isagi’s POV
With a hand pushed into my pockets, I stood by the window in my office, watching the early morning light bleed through the thick veil of fog that clung to the city.
The silence was still, almost reverent, as though the building itself was holding its breath.
My fingertips rested against the cold glass, my eyes tracing the blurry outlines of rooftops and distant headlights. The night had been long and restless.
Valencia hadn’t just tried to escape last night, she had nearly succeeded. I had found her with mud on her knees. She was in the pouring rain like a wounded animal running from the inevitable.
She hadn’t said a word when I dragged her back, but she was kicking and scratching, hoping to fight her way to freedom as I took her to her room.
She had looked at me like I was the devil which I didn’t mind as I had been called worse.
Suddenly, the door creaked open behind but I didn’t turn as I already knew who it was on the other end. Only one person entered my space without knocking.
Taking my hand off my pocket, I turned just in time to catch a glimpse of his face. It was grim and tired just like mine.
“Boss,” Az murmured. “The autopsy report came in.”
I held out my hand without a word and Az proceeded to place the file on my palm.
“How bad is it?” I asked, moving towards the couch.
Az scratched the back of his neck. “Carbon monoxide poisoning, but it wasn’t from the environment, it was administered deliberately, in a controlled dose. It becomes lethal within minutes.”
"The stabbing, uhm… it was nothing but a show and least I forget, he died two minutes after you entered the building, just like we guessed.”
I nodded, satisfied with his report, “And what about the surveillance?”
“Wiped by someone who's a professional. They knew what they were doing.”
I glanced back at the fog, the gears in my mind already turning, “She’ll try to run again.”
Az’s brow furrowed. “You still think she’s innocent?”
“I think she is acting like a fool. And fools get killed faster than the guilty ones. I’ll deal with her,” I said, waving him off.
Az titled his head and left without another word.
A few minutes later, I was making my way down the hallway, each step echoing off the marbled floor.
When I pushed open the door to her room, I found her curled up in bed. She was asleep but her limbs were tense.
Watching her like this stirred something inside of me that I couldn’t name.
She looked so fragile that I couldn't help but pity her. The same life her father had tried to protect her from, his death had tossed her into it.
Clearing my throat to inform her of my presence, I took a step inside, clicking the door shut behind me.
At the sound, her eyelashes fluttered and the moment her eyes locked into mine, everything changed.
With a fury I hadn’t expected, she lunged at me.
Her hands found my neck, they were weak but desperate. Her fingers were trembling as they tried to choke the life out of me.
Apart from the low growl which tore from her throat making her look more like a wounded animal than woman, there was no sign that she was trying to strangle me as I didn't feel anything.
“You bastard!” she screamed. “You killed him!”
Her rage was raw and wild but it didn’t matter. I barely moved. I let her struggle for a few seconds, let her pour out her grief and fury, before I grabbed her wrists and peeled them away like I was unwrapping paper.
She was nothing, strength wise but the fire in her eyes, that was something else.
“You’re angry,” I said quietly, tossing the autopsy report on the bed. “That means you still want answers.”
“I don’t want anything from you!” she spat, trying to slap the folder away but it only slid across the sheets.
“Then you might want to know your father died two minutes after I walked into the building. The poison was already in his system. I swear, I didn’t kill him, Valencia.”
Shaking her head violently, she yelled, “I don’t believe you! You could stand there and cry, tear your damn hair out in front of me, and I still wouldn’t believe you!”
“That’s comforting. But whether you believe me or not, it won’t stop your father’s real killer from coming after you next.”
She froze at my words and the fire in her eyes got replaced with fear.
With a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I’m not stupid.”
“Of course you’re not,” I said. “Just reckless. You think storming out of here will bring him back? Will running through the streets solve anything? You almost got yourself killed last night.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
Grabbing her hand which was already finding its way to my face, I held it down.
“I’m not offering you protection,” I said. “The second you step out of this building, you are on your own. And trust me, Valencia there’s a reason your father was silenced.”
I allowed the words to sink in before I continued, "Whoever did it, they’re not going to stop at him, you are a loose end.”
“I don’t care,” she said, voice trembling.
Slowly, I let go of her hand and with my back turned on her, I began to make my way towards the door.
My mind was bare, I was too tired to start thinking of anything for now.
“Isagi…” Her voice made me halt behind the door.
I paused, but didn’t look back.
“If I stay,” she said shakily, “will you help me find who did this?”
“If you stay, we’ll burn them down together,” I replied.
When she didn't say another word, I yanked the door open and then stepped into the hallway.
“Keep your eyes on her, if she goes missing, so will your heads,” I said to the guards who were flanked on both sides of the door.
- Writer
