Matt heard something crack. Was that his bone or the concrete walk breaking?
Whatever it was, he felt an unbearable pain shoot up to his brain, numbing his senses.
The Don's grip around Matt's neck felt like a boa constrictor death hug, almost snuffing the life out of him. But his suffocating grip was nothing compared to the darkness in those narrowed grimly brimming orbs.
The aura the Don currently emitted reminded Matt of Blaze Anderson whenever the latter was possessed by one of those demons that controlled him.
The two were simply perfect for each other, which was the main reason why Matt decided to sign a deal with the Don.
But at the moment, Matt could sense that he was about to become the victim of a bloodthirsty lunatic.
"Don..." Matt croaked, his heart failing him as Don brought out a silver gun and forced the nozzle into his mouth.
"Shut up." The Don roared between clenched jaws, almost blowing his brains out.
"Because of you nincompoop, I was forced to hide like a mouse for days in Pelicum city. Because of you, more than a hundred of my men have been slaughtered like pigs in a fruitless bloody war. Because of these messed up business deals, I have made fresh enemies with some of my business partners, who are now decamping to my enemy's territory."
"I'm dead." Matt echoed his heart, wetting his pants as Don's finger caressed the trigger.
"Every time I make a fail-proof plan, it goes to ruin because of that f*cking bastard who seems to get invincible by the day. His people are always one or two steps ahead of us every single time. So, give me one good reason why I shouldn't call this business to quit and blow your brains away."
"A... Amelia..." Matt struggled to mumble the words out, the smell of gunpowder and his cut-out air supply making him go numb by the second.
"You worthless swine. How about you bring that niece of yours to me as payment for all the money I have wasted on your sorry ass?"
The Don watched with pleasure as Matt slowly began to pass out. He knew Matt was right about his reply. The key to winning this war against Blaze Anderson was permanently taking care of his wife.
Amelia was Blaze's kryptonite. Killing her would be as good as giving Blaze a loaded gun to blow his brains out. This was their only hope to win this war, and they needed to get to her fast before Blaze proved his innocence and came out of prison to hunt them down.
The Don removed his gun from Matt's mouth and released his grip slightly around Matt's neck, allowing air to travel into his oxygen-deprived brain. He watched Matt's drooping eyes slowly come back to life while he spoke.
"Because I do not go back on my words. I will give this deal one last chance. But if we fail again, I will send you and your entire family twelve feet below with no hope of resurrection."
The Don released his hold on Matt and watched him fall to the ground like a bag of potatoes, gasping for air while holding his hurting neck.
"Take a few weeks to clean yourself up and get in shape. We will go under for the next four weeks to regroup and re-strategize on the best way to take down our opponents. During that duration, I will advise you not to do anything stupid. My people will go after Amelia. Just make sure you tidy your end and don't let anyone interfere. The mission must not fail for your sake."
Matt could only nod his head, too weak to speak.
My girls will treat you to a nice bath and massage. Afterwards, I want you out of my property."
The Don returned to his seat, pressing a red button on his table.
Instantly, the door opened, and some bodyguards came in.
"Take this fool to the suite prepared for him and have the girls do their work."
"Yes, boss." Matt was lifted off the ground, still massaging his stiff neck, and carried out of the office to one of the private suites, where three naked girls were already waiting to attend to his needs.
The sun was already disappearing behind the horizon, and darkness was slowly blanketing the sky. But still, there was no sign of Desmond.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was gloomy. The family of four were seated inside the living room looking downcast and waiting patiently for the return of their father.
The once steaming and beautifully arranged meal on the candlelight table was already losing its heat. Even the flickering candlelight will already burn out.
However, amid the disappointment, Harriet remained hopeful that her husband would return any moment. She completely ignored her children's complaints as she stared through the part window curtain for signs of an approaching car.
"Mom, please, let's just eat. I can't wait for Dad any longer. I'm hungry," David grumbled, massaging his growling stomach while staring at the food on the dining table, devouring it through infrared.
"Just wait a little longer, dear. We can't eat without your father. He will soon be back." Harriet said without peeling her reddened tears-filled eyes from the window.
"How long do we have to wait, mother?" Elsie joined in the protest, her round, cute face contoured in rage. "It has been more than three hours since Dad left this house. He doesn't even have a phone to reach him and find out whether or not he's coming. Do you want us to starve to death waiting for him?"
"He will be back soon ." Harriet stifled a sob that almost escaped her eyes. She was trying to hold herself together while she waited for her husband's return. But with her children's constant whining, she was beginning to lose it.
"My stomach hurts, mummy. Can I just have a bowl of cereal?" Claudia, the youngest cried, squeezing her tummy.
"No honey, It will ruin your appetite," Harriet replied absentmindedly, the words of Uncle Moses echoing in her head.