Chapter 8:Loyalty and Devotion
961 Words
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Ethan’s POV:
"Just what I wanted," I hissed through gritted teeth, my voice thick with frustration, each breath coming out sharp and uneven.
"Hello! It's me. I don’t know who you are, but please—let go of my daughter!" His voice was desperate, unraveling with each word.
I laughed darkly, the sound chilling. "Funny how you think I'll do what you say."
"Who the hell are you? And what the hell do you want?" His voice trembled, a mix of panic and rage.
I leaned into the phone, savoring every moment. "Can’t recognize me, Uncle?" I taunted, enjoying the dread I could feel radiating from him.
There was a long silence, the tension crackling through the air. His breath hitched, and I could almost picture the shock and fear on his face. "Let her go, Ethan. She’s done nothing to you," he begged, his voice cracking with emotion.
I smirked, my tone icy, unmoving. "Let her go? You think I’ll just let her go, just like that?"
"Please, I beg you," he whimpered, desperation dripping from every word. "I’ll do anything—just don’t hurt her."
"I don’t need your begging, Uncle," I cut him off, my voice void of any emotion. "What I need is something else."
"Please, Ethan," he cried, his voice laced with fear, "I’ll do whatever you want... just don’t hurt her."
My patience was wearing thin, and my words were sharp as blades. "Save her—by giving me the file you stole years ago."
His voice faltered. "W-what file?" His attempt to play ignorant only fueled my anger.
"Don’t play dumb with me," I spat, my anger thickening, tightening in my chest. "You know exactly what file I’m talking about. If you don’t hand it over, your daughter will pay the price."
"Ethan, please," he pleaded again, panic clawing at his throat. "I don’t have it anymore—it’s not with me."
"YOU LYING BASTARD!" My rage exploded. "What the hell did you do with it?"
His voice quivered, fear dripping from every syllable. "It’s with Anderson’s group... they have the file."
The fury inside me surged, hotter and darker, as I clenched my fists. My mind raced with thoughts of what I wanted to do to him, but I knew I had to control it. The papers came first. "Get me those papers. No excuses. Or your daughter gets the bullet, and then I’ll cut her into pieces. You won’t find her after that."
Before he could respond, I ended the call. My heart was pounding in my chest, my body coiled with rage. I paced back and forth, each step a reflection of the storm inside me. How could he? How could he sell out his own blood for a pile of money? It didn’t matter anymore. He’d done it. And now, I was going to make him pay.
"This is going to take longer than I thought," I muttered through clenched teeth, throwing my phone onto the bed in frustration.
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Steve’s Voice:
"What!? That piece of s**t sold the documents?" Steve’s voice exploded with fury, matching the boiling rage inside me.
"Yeah," I spat, my fists tight at my sides. "Sold them to Anderson’s group."
Steve stormed toward the door, his movements quick and determined. "Let’s go get them. Right now."
I held up a hand, stopping him cold. "We’re not going there. He’ll get the papers back for us."
Steve’s eyes burned with anger. "Why the hell not? Those papers belong to our parents, not that bastard or his f*****g group!"
I understood the fire in his eyes. He was pissed, as pissed as I was, but I wasn’t about to risk it all. Not yet. "The documents are ours, but we can’t just barge in there. We’ll make things worse."
His fists clenched. "Why not? Why wait? We need those papers, Ethan!"
My patience was wearing thin. "You think I don’t want to get those papers? You think I’ve enjoyed sitting around all these years, waiting?"
Steve’s face turned red with frustration. "Then why are we just sitting here?! Let’s take action!"
I felt my anger snap, and before I could stop myself, I hurled the nearest glass onto the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces. "IF WE GO THERE NOW, WE’RE JUST MAKING ANOTHER ENEMY! AND I DON’T NEED MORE ASSHOLES f*****g WITH ME RIGHT NOW!"
Steve flinched at the sound, his anger turning to confusion. "Since when do you give a s**t about this? You don’t even care about your own life!"
I laughed bitterly, the sound devoid of humor. "You’re right. I don’t care about my life. But you? You’re the only thing left I care about."
Steve’s eyes softened, a mix of exhaustion and something else creeping into his expression. "Then why are we waiting? Let’s just go!"
I glared at him, my jaw tight. "Because I’m not risking your life. You’re my weakness, Steve, and I won’t put you in danger for anything."
He took a step closer, desperation in his voice. "Please, Ethan. We need those files. Don’t care about my life. Let’s go."
I shut my eyes, fighting the whirlwind of thoughts. I couldn’t lose him. Not like this. "You’re the only person I care about, Steve. I won’t risk your life for anything."
Steve’s voice dropped low, almost pleading. "You’re the only one left for me, Ethan."
I turned away, my steps heavy. "Then you’ll listen. I do what I have to, to keep you safe."
I turned back briefly, my words cutting. "You live because I want you to. You die when I say so. Don’t forget that."
With that, I left him standing there, the weight of my words sinking in.
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To be continued...
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- Writer
