Just Like Work

Chapter 3. The Night Bridge - II

Continued from Chapter 2 .

[Flashback continues] ...

Maria’s horror was nowhere near over , first , it was a murder right in front of her , then the bullet fire and then , when she thought there was a way to get out of this , Peach was pulled into a headlock with a gun aimed at her head at point blank .

“She is just a waitress . Let her go !” Maria stuttered , her throat was dry , aching as if about to give up .

“The girls from the meeting … you were both serving .” The man holding Peach recalled .

“yes .” Maria noticed there were other people in the room as well . Anthony was standing , facing the wall with monitors that played real-time camera footage and another one was leaning with his elbows on the big work desk in the middle of the room , like pressing on something .

“Look at her , ass*ole . Have they always been working here ?” the man holding Peach turned to face the other man leaning on the table . They were talking to Jugul , the club’s owner , who was being crushed on the table under the elbows of the man .

Maria saw a chance and took it , she jammed the ice pick in the man’s back , pulled Peach from his hold , and ran out of the room after locking the door from the outside .

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Present day :-

Hot water cascaded over Anthony’s taut shoulders , steaming rivulets snaking down his sculpted torso . Steam swirled around him in a dimly lit bathroom , creating an intimate veil of privacy . He stood beneath the showerhead , the rhythmic pulse of the water mimicking the turbulent thoughts swirling in his mind .

His fingers were against the sleek tiles , and he leaned into the cascade , closing his eyes . The image of Maria and their last encounter played before him like a reel of film , each frame etched with detail . He could still feel the weight of her gaze , her piercing eyes like shards of obsidian , a stark contrast to her seemingly ordinary exterior .

He couldn’t pinpoint what it was that drew him to her , this unassuming woman who had managed to remain an enigma in his world of shadows . Her words , sometimes soft , sometimes bold but always measured , had a curious effect on him , unraveling the layers of his carefully constructed facade . He wondered if her laughter would be like a melody or a charm . He had yet to know that since he hadn’t even witnessed her smile .

Now he wanted to know that too . This woman and her defiance – a challenge he was inexplicably drawn to embrace . But how , when she kept avoiding him as if he were a diseased man , he had to literally corner her through an encounter that had been orchestrated with the finesse of a grand chess master .

When she had stood before him with a hint of vulnerability in her eyes , yet she had an undeniable strength in her stance , for him her presence had been a curious mix of fear and allure . He wanted more , it was a collision of worlds , a convergence of two vastly different lives .

As the water trailed down his tall , chiseled form , he replayed their conversations over their meetings , a mere three times , and each word resonated in his mind like a haunting refrain . He had been accustomed to commanding attention , bending others to his will with just a glance . But with her , it was different – his dominance met its match in her unyielding spirit . The spark and hostility in her eyes and mannerisms were new to him .

Anthony’s thoughts circled back to the present , his heart and mind entwined in a silent battle . He had everything he could ever desire at his fingertips , yet this ordinary girl had become the subject of his interest .

Was it her courage ? her defiance , or the allure of the unknown that beckoned him to pursue her , to unravel the enigma that she was ?

The steam began to dissipate , and the warmth of the water was gradually replaced by a chill . Anthony turned off the shower, his mind still awash with thoughts of her . As he stepped out onto the cool tiles , he knew that he would continue to seek her , to delve deeper into the riddle she presented . In a world where he was the embodiment of power and control , she was the uncharted territory that called for him , a challenge he couldn’t resist .

Draping a gray towel around his lean waist , Anthony strode out of the bathroom , his mind set on a path that would lead him to her once again .

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One month ago, The Night Bridge :-

Flashback continued-[The night of the shootout]

“Boss , the Bitches locked the door . The man groaned with an ice pick jammed by Maria still on his back .

“David !” Anthony said , and the muscular man who was holding Jugul down on the table , pulled out the ice pick .

“Who told you to turn ? Jackass !” David mocked . “I will call the boys to unlock the door .”

“Where are they going ?” Anthony asked Jugul , who was terrified and still on the table even when David wasn’t holding him down . He was referring to the screen that showed Maria and Peach before they disappeared from the screen .

“The kitchen …” the manager croaked . He was squirming under Anthony’s cold stare when he added , “… it leads to the cellar . The exit there leads to a narrow passage that was used to lure college and school junkies in and out of the bars . BUT ... it was shut down years ago . Locked and hasn’t been opened since !”

“You still go after minors , behind our backs ,” David spoke with repugnance . “How much did you make ?”

“It wasn’t profitable … we shut it down decades ago . Just pennies …”

“The bastard is lying .” The injured man said . “There are more students than dogs in this city . If that didn’t earn him profit …. Nothing will .”

“Mustafa has a point .” David smiled , aiming his gun over the Jugul’s head . He had been waiting to pull out his little metal friend .

“Please , don’t kill me . I know nothing about this attack … Anthony , Anthony … Please , I beg you .” Jugul buried his head in Anthony’s foot , crying . “I do not know how the word got out about the deal . I have nothing to do with this . Please , Anthony , trust me . I would never want you as my enemy .”

“Boss !”, a few heavily armed men had arrived and opened the door , announcing , “The attackers retreated . We can leave now .”

Anthony signalled David by tilting his head and disappeared in the direction of the kitchen . “You all leave . Take him with you .” David threw Jugul at Mustafa and ran after Anthony .

David was an average-height man , unlike the 6’3” frame of Anthony , whose long legs and fast-paced walking had always been a nuisance for David . David was 5’9” but appeared shorter than that due to his bulky body and short neck . On top of that , he had a big head , broad nose , and tiny eyes . Also , he made sure that his muscles were put on a show , hence he used to wear small tight shirts or t-shirts with sleeves rolled up revealing his bulging biceps . He followed Anthony like he had been doing since childhood , with blind faith and sincerity .

At the end of the kitchen alley , they found Peach and Maria trying to break the lock of a heavy metal door painted white . Both the girls were quick to sense danger . The next minute , both men were attacked with flying objects- wine bottles , dishes, utensils … anything and everything that Maria and Peach could get their hands on .

“What now ?” David hid behind a tall shelf , but Anthony walked through and held one of the attackers , first by hand and then by the neck .

“You want to fight that badly ?” Anthony said with veiled intimidation . He could feel the strong beating of the pulse in Maria’s neck . She was sweating and hot to the touch .

“What do you want ?” Maria spat , trying to get Anthony’s massive hand off her neck . She didn’t want to look desperate , but she was . His hand was big and heavy , she knew it would crush her windpipe easily and without hesitation . His eyes lacked emotion , they were dark and cruel .

Standing in the other corner , Peach observed both the men , then picked up a wine bottle and aimed at Anthony’s head with all her strength but ended up slamming it on his neck .

Meanwhile , Maria took this opportunity to free herself from an unbalanced Anthony but was blocked before she could flee the scene by David , who had a gun in his hand .

“Fu*k !” Maria mumbled as she noticed the gun , then David . While Peach silently stood behind Maria , when Anthony stared her down while taking off his suit that was wet .

“You both want to die ?” Anthony didn’t seem to be hurt at all , but he sounded mad . The smoothness in his voice was gone .

“We know nothing . We are just waitresses .” Maria shielded Peach behind her while she tried to look calm despite the tightness in her chest and rapid breathing . “Let us go .”

“You like Coke ?” David scratched his head , which sported a buzz-cut hairstyle .

The girls were puzzled . “No . I don’t like cold drinks ,” Maria answered .

David chuckled . “Who do you work for ?”

“Answer him”. Anthony stepped closer to Maria , his eyes gradually narrowing at her .

She squeezed away from him , but there was no space . Her agape mouth mumbled , “Jugul…” Her eyes were starting to lose focus , he was too close . She couldn’t hear her own voice over her throbbing heartbeat .

Then a series of loud sounds made her ears ring .

Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang !

Anthony had shot down the door and both of them were being pulled through the alleyway by each of the men . They were too stunned to speak or even react , they just knew they were together .

“Ruby… Maria !” Peach’s voice brought Maria back to her senses . All of them were out of the club and under a tall water tank , in the dump yard , and a few meters apart from Anthony and David . The strong , stomach-turning stench of garbage had pulled Maria’s focus back to the sh*tty situation she was in .

“Where do we go from here ?” David whispered to himself and pulled out his phone from the pocket of his loose-fitting trousers .

But Anthony stood like he owned that dump yard , whatever the reason , he definitely knew that place and his way out of it . “Tell them to come to the freeway close to the JN mall .” He said to David while looking around as if basking in the moonlight .

While David was busy on his phone and Anthony was reminiscing about the ... garbage , Peach and Maria were running away at a speed that neither of them knew they were capable of .

David noticed and was about to chase after the girls when Anthony stopped him saying , “Don’t . They know nothing .”

“Then why scare them ?” David halted and was displeased to have exerted himself over ‘nothing’ .

“Being scared keeps you alive …” Anthony stated and strolled through the stinking dumpster , his eyes zoned out at the dark blue sky with his broad shoulders hanging low .

“This stinks . Walk fast .” David complained , covering his nose as he walked behind .

However , Anthony paid no attention to his words and continued walking like he was enjoying the view in some flower garden …

“He is starting to lose it .” David sighed with a squinted nose as he uttered to himself .

[End of Flashback]

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