SEBASTIAN’S POV
I stared at the file on the desk in front of me, my gut churning. The folder was deceptively thin, almost as if mocking me.
For a job that required me to kill, I expected something more substantial, something that justified what I was being asked to do.
Yet, when I flipped it open, I was greeted by a dozen grainy black-and-white photos of men I didn’t recognize.
No names. No crimes. No background. Just faces.
I leaned back in the chair, running a hand through my hair, and let out a frustrated breath.
My father, the all-powerful man he was, had always operated with the belief that questions were dangerous. To him, obedience was more valuable than understanding.
Still, I couldn’t stop myself. “This is it? Just pictures?”
He stood across the room, his posture calm and composed as always. His suit was pressed to perfection, and his tie knotted with precision.
He didn’t even glance at me as he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, his expression devoid of any emotion.
“That’s all you need,” he said, his voice clipped. “You’re wasting time, Sebastian.”
I shoved the folder across the desk, the papers sliding out slightly. “I’m not a damn machine. Who are these men? What did they do? Or are we just killing people at random now?”
His gaze finally met mine, his dark eyes cold and calculating. “What they did is irrelevant. Your job is to clean up my messes, not question them.”
A bitter laugh escaped me as I stood, pacing to the window. “Unbelievable. You want me to risk my life, but you can’t even bother to tell me why? Am I supposed to just trust you?”
“You’re supposed to obey me,” he said sharply. “That’s what you’ve always done. That’s what you’ll continue to do.”
I turned to face him, my jaw tight. “I’m not your puppet. If you want me to take lives, you damn well better give me a reason. Otherwise, find someone else.”
For a moment, there was silence. The kind that felt heavy, like the calm before a storm.
My father didn’t respond immediately, and that should’ve been my first warning. Instead, I stood there, arms crossed, waiting for him to cave.
He didn’t.
Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black notebook. He flipped it open, casually thumbing through the pages before he spoke again.
“You’ve always been stubborn, Sebastian. It’s one of your more… irritating traits.”
“Spare me the lecture,” I shot back. “I’m serious. Either you tell me what these men did, or I’m out.”
He smiled then, a slow, calculating smile that sent a chill down my spine. “You really think you have a choice?”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to ignore the unease building in my chest. “I do. I’m not a kid anymore, and I’m done letting you control my life.”
“That’s adorable,” he said mockingly, closing the notebook. “But let me ask you something, son. Do you know where Sasha’s father is right now?”
The question caught me off guard. My chest tightened as I stared at him, my mind racing. “What?”
“You heard me,” he said, his tone almost casual. “Do you know which hospital he’s in? The room number? The name of his attending physician?”
My stomach sank. “Why the hell does that matter?”
He took a step closer, his smile never faltering. “Because I do. I know every detail, Sebastian. I know about the coma. I know about the treatments. I even know about Sasha’s late-night visits.”
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. “What are you saying?”
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m saying that I’ve been keeping an eye on your little wife. And her father. It would be a shame if something happened to them, wouldn’t it?”
Rage flared in me, hot and blinding. I stepped forward, my fists clenching at my sides. “Don’t you dare threaten her.”
“I’m not threatening anyone,” he said smoothly. “I’m just stating facts. If you don’t do this job, I can’t guarantee their safety.”
My breathing was ragged, my vision narrowing as I stared at him. This was a new low, even for him.
He’d always been manipulative, always found ways to get what he wanted, but dragging Sasha into this… it was unforgivable.
“You’re a bastard,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Perhaps,” he admitted, his tone unbothered.
“But I’m also a realist. You care about Sasha, don’t you? Do you care about her father? Then do what needs to be done. It’s that simple.”
I wanted to hit him. Wanted to wipe that smug look off his face. But I knew it wouldn’t change anything. He held all the cards, as always.
I turned away, my hands shaking as I tried to collect myself. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, suffocating. I couldn’t let anything happen to Sasha. Not to her, not to her father.
“You’re sick,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Call me what you want,” he said. “But make your decision quickly. Time is ticking.”
I closed my eyes, my mind racing. I didn’t want to do this. Every fibre of my being screamed against it. But what choice did I have?
After what felt like an eternity, I turned back to him, my expression hard. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
He smiled, satisfied. “Good boy.”
“But this is the last time,” I added firmly.
“After this, I’m done. You stay away from Sashay. You stay away from her father. If I find out you’ve gone near them again, I swear-”
He held up a hand, cutting me off. “Spare me the threats. Just get it done.”
Without another word, I grabbed the file and stormed out of the room. My chest felt tight, anger and frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
As I stepped into the cool night air, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This wasn’t just about me anymore.
It was about Sasha. About protecting her from a world she didn’t deserve to be dragged into.
I didn’t know how I was going to get through this, but one thing was certain-I couldn’t let my father win. Not this time.