Chapter 2: Kidnap
1219 Words
Luka.
I walked past people glammed up in red and black, their faces hidden under masks.
Apparently, the celebration was thrown by a Don to celebrate alignment with the Vantra clan.
The entire hall was dimly lit with an ambience that screamed red. Everything seemed like it was dipped in diluted blood.
But I had to focus.
For the past hour, my eyes had been on a particular masked man wearing the outfit and mask Clark had sent earlier.
I sipped from the tequila glass I swiped off a server, my narrowed eyes on his broad figure.
“You in?” Clark asked through the wired earpiece latched in my ear.
“Mmn,” I replied.
“Nice,” he said, pleased. “Get as close as possible. Remember only a pill is enough.”
I pushed through a group of networkers and got close enough. A few meters away from him.
It wouldn't be bad to kill him off and see if this blackened heart of mine would be put to rest.
But Aaron needed him and I needed his father.
“Honey!” a lady chirped, placing her palm on the wrist wrapped in a bandage.
She smiled, her half-covered face lighting up.
“Hello,” I replied.
I looked away from her to see that Gavril had left the people he was talking to and was going towards another group.
This was going to be a long evening.
“Are you from around here?” The lady asked.
The last time I was bothered, things didn't go well for Greasy Pants, a boy in college who got his name from me shoving him into a barrel of used engine oil, tightening the lid.
He was convinced I was easy to mess with and pushed me hard against the iron lockers.
I was expelled after that though.
Too bad he survived.
Anyway, this lady was becoming a distraction and I hated distractions more than soggy fries, blunt knives, and being shoved.
“No,” I said flatly, hoping she'd pick up on the hint of distaste in my voice and scurry along.
“It’s a great party isn't it?”
I should ignore her and instead focus on Gavril.
I surreptitiously scanned for cameras and as expected, they were everywhere. I had to be extra cautious.
“Enjoy your evening,” I wished to the woman, taking her hand and planting a kiss behind it. She may just want to make small talk, but I wasn't.
My bad.
I plucked a piece of fabric from my breast pocket and cleaned my lips.
I walked a few feet away from Gavril, so as not to arouse any suspicions.
By the time the lights dimmed a little more, sixty percent of people were muttering gibberish and laughing at nothing.
Including the i***t, Gavril.
I strutted towards him, walking past while bumping against him a bit.
A second.
That was all it took to slip the tiny tablet into his drink unnoticed and disappear into the small crowd.
I backed into the shadows, grateful for the poor lighting before shrugging off my reversible coat, flipping it out, and slipping it on, from velvet black to the rich red hidden beneath.
The pill wouldn't kill him; instead, it would deter him.
I stayed in the corner, eyeing him from my side of the hall, waiting for the rim of his glass to touch his lips.
A few minutes passed before he brought the glass to his lips.
Minutes passed before his demeanor began to change.
Finally!
The party was the exact definition of draining and boring.
As though he noticed my piercing gaze, his eyes shifted towards my corner.
We locked eyes for a second…
Two…three…
I don't know, because his gaze had an effect on them that made me feel weird.
I shook it off.
Like the philanthropic Don everyone believed him to be, he offered an exaggerated smile to the people he was conversing with before turning around to leave.
I immediately followed behind him, careful not to show the camera my eyes. Although I was wearing contact lenses, better safe than sorry, they say.
I tailed him, staying a few meters away. He got out of the hall into the parking lot.
Surprisingly, there was no one out there. I feared he would be followed because he was the star of the night. But he wasn't.
Brave.
“How long does the drug take?” I asked Clark. It took a second before he replied.
“At most five minutes. He'll be as good as a vegetable.”
I closed in on him, looking both ways to be sure no one was looking, before snatching his arm and landing a punch squarely on his jaw.
He staggered backwards and I pulled him from his tie to my car, slamming his chest on the car door and cuffing both hands.
“Be a good boy now,” I muttered, surprised by how easy it was to abduct a Don.
Clark was right. The drug did render him powerless.
Easy and boring.
I pushed him into the car and reversed quickly, neglecting his coughs.
I pulled the mask off my face and drove away from the venue. The steward at the gate didn't hesitate to let me pass.
At that point, I narrowed my eyes.
I had been in the game for years and merely pushing drugs through channels was a hassle, kidnapping a Don should be a death sentence.
Why did everything seem easy?
Be optimistic Luka.
I drove into the night. The bright moon hung overhead as I devoured the empty road.
The man behind me was quiet. Probably an attempt to preserve his composure.
Yet, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
Then it hit me. The dull scent of sandalwood and sage.
I didn't immediately notice it because I was too fixated on getting the job done.
I slapped a palm to my nose and mouth.
“Shit.” I cussed.
It was already late.
The car slowed as I quickly drove off the road and parked.
What was going on?
I stumbled out, my vision growing blurry and my movements dull.
This was a trap.
I tottered ahead, away from the man in the car who had proven he was ahead of the Morecant's plan.
“Clark!” I screamed, hoping the motherfucker was still connected to the wiring.
No answer.
I pushed my legs forward, my body threatening to shut down on me.
There were several kilometers left before I could reach the fortress, but for some unknown reason, I wanted to believe I had a hope.
Footsteps.
Closer with every passing second.
That was what made my steps quicken despite myself.
Then a kick that sent me tumbling onto the cold asphalt.
A sense of Deja vu flashed in my head.
Karma really is a b***h.
I gave up the run and lay on my back, struggling to breathe as sweat trickled down my skin, warmth spreading across my body.
I adjusted my tie and tried to steady my breathing.
“So you’re the one they sent this time.” I heard him mutter even as my hearing gradually faded.
A smile creased my lips.
How funny.
Predator to prey.
- Writer
