Chapter 2
1176 Words
Landon's POV
As she walked away, I found myself sighing. No female in this very same campus ever spoke to me like that before frankly dared to speak to me like that. What just happened brought a small smirk to face. I watched her figure getting smaller by each passing second as she walked away.
I don't know why, but her presence brought a feeling of familiarity. Maybe I'm only overthinking.
The smirk faded as quickly as it came. Whoever she was, she clearly didn’t know who I was—and strangely, I didn’t mind that. Still, there was no time to dwell on fleeting encounters. I had things to take care of.
I adjusted my jacket, straightened my posture, and headed toward the Administrative Building. My strides were even, purposeful—habit drilled into me by years of order and routine.
The Dean’s door was slightly ajar. I knocked once out of courtesy before stepping in.
Uncle Marcus barely looked up. “You’re early.”
“I manage my time well,” I replied, standing instead of sitting.
He nodded without smiling, gesturing to a file on his desk. “Your father called. He wants you at the warehouse by seven.”
Of course he did.
"I'll be there before then."
My voice was level, clipped—mask perfectly in place.
At the mention of the warehouse, my jaw tensed. The mention of it always tasted bitter. But of course, I never asked questions. That was the rule. Pretend it's just business, legal or not.
I took the file, flipping it open, keeping my expression neutral. No small talk. No warmth. Just business—as always.
"Your performance this semester is immaculate, as usual." The Dean added, finally looking up from his papers and to my eyes. "Your father's proud,"
Third person's POV
Landon said nothing. Pride from a man like that came at a price.
He cleared his throat and stood from his chair, "I... have to get to class." His uncle only nodded his head. The Dean, once again, buried himself in his work. That man honestly got his priorities wrong. He put his work above his own wife and kids. However, that was not Landon’s business, and he had no intention of burying his nose where it's not needed—frankly he did not care. Landon had his own problems to attend to.
The day went on smoothly with his thoughts drifting to the girl that had bumped into him earlier on. He should find her rudeness an insult, but he rather found it amusing.
******
The metal door groaned as it slid open. Landon stepped inside, boots echoing against the cold concrete floor. The air was thick—oil, rust, blood, and fear. A single lightbulb swung overhead, casting a flickering glow on the man tied to the chair. The man on the chair was nothing but bloody and bruised. Is clothes went with his own blood and a bit torn.
Landon’s father stood near a dusty workbench, polishing a knife with calm precision. “He sold us out, son,” he said, not looking up. “To the damn Feds.”
His father's right hand man, Nico, cracked his knuckles and sneered. “He cried like a baby when we found him.”
Landon’s eyes locked on the trembling man. “Name,” he said coldly.
“Marcus,” his father replied. “Worked for me since you were a kid.”
“Loyalty doesn’t expire,” Landon muttered, walking closer. “You broke the code, Marcus.”
“I-I didn’t mean to—” Marcus whimpered.
“But you did,” Landon cut in, voice cold. “And in this family, betrayal is fatal.”
Without waiting for a signal, Nico stuffed a cloth into Marcus’s mouth to muffle his screams.
His father handed Landon the pistol, grip first.
“Your call.”
Landon stared at it for a moment, jaw clenched. Then he took it.
One shot.
Silence.
Only the hum of the bulb remained.
His father pulled Marcus' head up by his hair, " Ohh Marcus. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should've known I don't take betrayal lightly." Aggressively he threw it back.
"Landon, Nico, handle it."
And like that he left. Leaving them alone to do his bidding. Of course this was not something new to the two men.
They put the body in an acid bath that was already prepared Nico a few hours before.
******
He walked to his dad's study to inform him of how everything went down. As per usual he had to knock before walking into his father's office. He knew better than to barge into his father's study. He knocked once and went in.
"Everything is all taken care of, sir. We dissolved his body in that acid bath Nico prepared."
"Once again you don't disappoint your father. I'm proud son," He said as he looked up from his papers. "One day you'll be taking over our family empire, ruling over everyone."
Landon only nodded his head and said, "Goodnight sir," and left the study room. All he wanted to do was go to his room. Finally he got to his roomwith only one problem, though. His brother was on his bed, in his room.
"Eric, leave!" As usual he only looked at his older brother with a sly face. "Why? I mean I miss my older brother."
"You're not one for casual visits. Now what do you want?"
"I need your car." That was all for Landon to hear to know that his little brother was only going to spew more nonsense. "Mine got towed and I need a car tomo—"
"No!" Cause his little brother was persistent he left the house for a late night drive. His thoughts going wild. He hated his life. Landon knew this was no way to live. The dark things he'd done were eating at him but he only had to keep quiet cause he was doing all this for his dad. One day he'd break free and never have to deal with this life ever again. Sometimes he felt like his life was suffocating him. The many lives he's hurt. He stopped his car abruptly as he saw a familiar figure by the side of the road. A feminine figure.
It was the girl from earlier on.
He felt compelled to take her home. "Get in," He said driving closer and slower with his windows down. "No... I will not. For all I know you could be a serial killer."
"You don't have to trust me. What you can trust is clouds causing it to rain on you." She looked up, then to him. "Fine, but you're only driving me home. That's it."
"Deja." She said as she walked into his car. "What?"
"That's my name, Deja." the name sounded so beautiful to him. "Landon." He introduced himself like she didn't know already. "I know, princess." Landon only found it humorous that he was being called a princess by a 'princess'
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