ROLAND’S POV
The night had fallen like a heavy blanket over the city, suffocating the last remnants of light.
I stood in my cramped hideout, surrounded by tools of chaos. The room was dimly lit by a single, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.
The shadows it cast danced ominously across the cracked walls, but I didn’t care. My mind was set. My pulse pounded with adrenaline as I finished gathering everything I needed.
The plan was simple, yet it was daring enough to feel like sweet revenge. I would take Sasha tonight, no matter who stood in my way.
She was the key to all of it-the leverage I needed to make Sebastian suffer, to bring him to his knees.
The thought of it made the corners of my mouth twitch into a grim smile. This wasn’t just about power anymore. It was personal.
I reached for my favorite pistol, a sleek black Glock that had never failed me, and slipped it into the holster beneath my jacket.
The weight of it felt reassuring, a cold promise of control. I then moved to the table, where a knife with a serrated edge gleamed under the faint light.
That blade had seen its fair share of blood, and tonight it would see more if necessary. Beside it lay a set of zip ties, a roll of duct tape, and a few other essentials for the task ahead.
Just as I finished packing the duffle bag, I heard the unmistakable creak of the door.
My shoulders tensed instinctively, and my hand went to the Glock’s grip. But I relaxed when I saw who it was. My so-called partner.
His silhouette filled the doorway for a moment before he stepped inside, his boots thudding against the floor.
He was a tall man with a face carved by years of survival and betrayal-a face that didn’t hide the fact that he wasn’t someone to be crossed.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone sharp and suspicious as his eyes landed on the arsenal spread across the table.
“Getting ready,” I replied without looking at him, my voice calm but with an edge of irritation.
I zipped up the duffle bag and swung it over my shoulder. “It’s time to move. I’m going to get her.”
He snorted, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. “You mean Sasha?”
“Yeah, who else?” I snapped, finally turning to face him.
“We’ve waited long enough. Sebastian’s gotten comfortable, thinking I’d forgotten. It’s time to remind him who he’s dealing with.”
My partner didn’t move, didn’t flinch. He just stood there, watching me like I was a fool. And then, with an exasperated sigh, he pushed off the wall and took a step closer.
“You’re not taking my weapons,” he said flatly, reaching for the duffle bag.
I jerked back, my grip tightening. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He raised an eyebrow, as if I’d just asked the stupidest question in the world. “You heard me. If you’re going through with this half-baked plan, you’re not using any of my weapons. Period.”
For a moment, I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Then the anger boiled over. “Are you serious right now? We’re partners, remember? This was your idea too!”
He shook his head, his expression hardening. “Yeah, it was my idea-when it made sense. But this? Running in there like some trigger-happy maniac? That’s all you, Roland.”
“And I’m not about to let my gear get traced back to me when you inevitably screw it up.”
The audacity of this guy. My jaw clenched, and I took a step forward, closing the distance between us.
“I’m not going to screw it up. This is a clean plan. I’ve thought it through.”
He laughed-a short, bitter sound. “You? Thought it through? Please. You’re so blinded by your obsession with Sebastian and his little wife that you can’t even see straight.
You’re going to get caught, and when you do, they’ll come after me too. I’m not risking that.”
His words hit a nerve, but I refused to back down. “I’ve been planning this for weeks! I know every detail, every angle. Nothing’s going to go wrong.”
“Oh, really?” He stepped closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“And what happens when you get there and she fights back? Or when Sebastian shows up sooner than you expect? Or when the cops-”
“Enough!” I shouted, cutting him off. My chest heaved as I glared at him, the tension between us crackling like a live wire.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I’ve got this under control.”
“No, you don’t,” he shot back, his voice low but full of venom.
“And I’m not going to let you drag me down with you. You want to play the hero? Fine. But you’re doing it without my weapons.”
With that, he reached for the duffle bag again. This time, I didn’t pull back. I let him take it, watching as he unzipped it and began pulling out the contents.
The Glock, the knife, the spare ammunition-one by one, he claimed them all.
“You’re making a mistake,” I growled, my fists clenched at my sides.
“No, you’re making a mistake,” he countered, stuffing the weapons into his own bag.
“But I’m not going to be the one who pays for it.”
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. I could feel the anger simmering beneath my skin, threatening to explode.
But I forced myself to stay calm, to think. He wasn’t going to stop me. I didn’t need his weapons. I could do this on my own.
“Fine,” I said finally, my voice cold and steady. “Keep your damn guns. I don’t need them.”
He looked at me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge whether I was serious. Then he shrugged and slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Good luck, Roland,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’re going to need it.”
He turned to leave, but I wasn’t done yet.
“Why are you really doing this?” I demanded, my voice rising.
“We had a deal. We were in this together. What changed?”
He paused in the doorway, his back to me. For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to answer. But then he turned his head slightly, just enough for me to see the edge of his profile.
“What changed?” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You did. You let your emotions get in the way. And now you’re going to pay for it.”
With that, he walked out, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room.
For a long time, I just stood there, staring at the empty doorway. The anger was still there, bubbling beneath the surface, but now it was mixed with something else. Doubt.
No. I couldn’t afford to doubt myself now. I had come too far, sacrificed too much. I wouldn’t let him or anyone else stop me.
I turned back to the table, my eyes scanning the remaining items. There wasn’t much left-just the duct tape, zip ties, and a few other odds and ends. But it would have to be enough.
I would find another way.
And when I had Sasha in my grasp, when Sebastian was begging for mercy, my so-called partner would realize just how wrong he’d been.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.