This time, Mr. Jonathan had revealed himself as a wily, cunning fox, cornering Andrew and Bryan into a dead end.
Such a man was thoroughly untrustworthy.
Mr. Jonathan exuded an air of undeniable danger on a visage marred by interlocking wrinkles, with mismatched eyes that were enigmatic in size and unreadable in expression. Once he set his mind on a task, there was an irrevocable sense that his course was set for life.
Bryan knew all too well how arduous the situation if he against Mr. Jonathan had plotted for him would be, but he couldn’t stand idly by and let Mary suffer.
Meanwhile, Andrew put on an outward facade of calm and icy detachment, but internally, he was fraught with worry. He knew that if Mr. Jonathan’s objectives were not met, he wouldn’t hesitate to harm the hostages. Yet, could the old fox be trusted to keep his word once they fulfilled his conditions? And if not, what would happen to Mary?
Mr. Jonathan had orchestrated everything to the last detail in a cunning tapestry of calculated maneuvers. He chose the transaction place as the abandoned factory that Andrew was using as a base for his gang. If the plan succeeded, the one to reap a share of the best benefits would be himself. But should it fail, Andrew would bear the full brunt of the fallout, with Mr. Jonathan remaining utterly unscathed. Indeed, it is a flawless gambit in every sense.
To defeat an enemy, one must first understand his heart and discern his thoughts; otherwise, one is doomed to a lifetime of failures.
But Mr. Jonathan’s natural craftiness lay in the location of the illegal exchange and where he was keeping Mary; they were far apart. This means that after Completing the transaction, Andrew would need to travel to another location to retrieve Mary-a drive of about thirty minutes. It gave Mr. Jonathan a window to renege on his promises, leaving Andrew no alternative.
With only two days left, Andrew needed to develop a counter-plan or risk losing everything quickly. Lost in thought for a long while, he eventually had one of his subordinates call Bryan over, as he urgently needed his cooperation.
Bryan, caught off guard by the situation, realized that he had no other choice but to work with Andrew.
In a familiar room where the two had often met to discuss life-and-death matters like brothers in arms, Bryan walked in, slightly anxious, uncertain why Andrew had reached out to him.
Hearing footsteps, Andrew turned around, his face hard as ice, and inquired, “What do you think of Mr. Jonathan’s conditions?”
Bryan understood the question’s implications and calmly responded, “This time, he wants to eradicate us. Keeping Mary is just a pretext; we are his real target. If he removes us, he’ll consolidate power and monopolize this area, developing rampant. I don’t understand why he chose her?”
“No, I’m asking, do you think he’ll keep his word?”
Bryan replied, “Absolutely not. Many wouldn’t have died from his schemes if he were a man of his word.”
Suddenly recalling a close call with Mr. Jonathan just a few days earlier, Andrew stiffened and asked gravely, “So, what’s your plan now?”
In a quiet tension that thickened the air, Bryan looked at Andrew like they were strangers, mere silhouettes cast by fate’s indifferent light.
“Why should I tell you anything? Are we on the same side?” he questioned.
Andrew responded without a moment’s hesitation. “Indeed, I want us to collaborate.”
“And why would that be?”
Andrew’s words were adamant. “Because we share a common enemy in that despicable Mr. Jonathan. We can’t just stand idly by and let him exploit us. It’s time to end this chapter and begin anew.”
Bryan remained reticent, offering only a terse reply. “And here I thought you were in love with her.”
His words struck a chord deep within Andrew that resonated with a melody of pain. He had once loved a woman, but his history had inflicted her insufferable agony. He no longer had the moral standing to ask for her forgiveness nor the face to utter words of love again.
Andrew’s agony was alone, with no one to console or share in his torment. For even the strongest of men can be weakened by love’s afflictions. He neither wept nor sighed, fearing others would sense his vulnerability and make it his Achilles heel.
Having been oppressed throughout his younger years, he vowed never to return to those dark days once the opportunity for retribution presented itself. For Andrew, the only way now was forward.
Before his uncle passed away, he had wished for Andrew to become a man of great respect and admiration. His uncle had known the humiliation and pain of being oppressed and defeated.
Reflecting on his life, Andrew led a gang of men who would die for him. If he were to abandon his course, what would become of them? Stray dogs with no masters are as good as wild dogs, scavenging for sustenance, always on the verge of death, unable to choose their destiny.
Moreover, the woman held hostage, the woman he had risked all to claim, was Mary. She had taught him the complexities of love and the pain that came with it. Typically, the harder one tries to hold onto something, the easier it is to lose.
If he were to lose her now, it would mean his life had become meaningless.