3rd person narrative:
Ethan walked back to the warehouse, feeling a weight of unease settle in his chest. He hated seeing Emily in such distress. As he entered the dimly lit space, the harsh sounds of Wayne’s torment echoed off the walls. Christof, who was far too excited by the task, barely looked up when Ethan spoke.
“Don’t kill him,” Ethan commanded, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
Christof paused, giving Ethan an annoyed look. “What do you mean, ‘don’t kill him’?” The older man’s tone was filled with irritation.
“I promised Emily I wouldn’t,” Ethan explained, his eyes hardening as Christof scoffed.
“That girl,” Christof muttered, shaking his head. “I’m starting not to like her.”
Ethan’s stern gaze didn’t waver. “Listen, my boy,” Christof continued, his voice taking on a more persuasive tone, “you don’t need that girl in your life. She’s going to bring you nothing but trouble.”
Christof had long seen Emily as a threat to his business. Her influence on Ethan was making him consider an early retirement, something Christof couldn’t afford. His operations were tied to Ethan’s strength and connections, and if Ethan left, it would all start to crumble.
“She is my life, Christof,” Ethan cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m done with this. This is the last time we’re going to work together.”
Ethan’s voice was firm as he made his decision. “I’m going to ask Emily to marry me and start a life far away from all of this.”
Christof’s laugh was cold and mocking. “You want to marry the girl who plotted with this fool to kill you?” His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. “You can’t possibly be serious, son. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent, allowing Christof to continue.
“That’s what I love most about her-she’s innocent,” Ethan finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “A little naive, too.”
“I get it,” Christof replied, rolling his eyes, a hint of jealousy in his voice. “But her naivety could be problem if you retire so early. You’ve got a lot of enemies, Ethan. People like this fool here,” Christof kicked Wayne, who groaned in pain, “who would love nothing more than to see you dead. Imagine having a wife who might unknowingly help them achieve that goal.”
Ethan’s eyes darkened, his patience thinning. “She wouldn’t do that,” he said, cutting Christof off before he could continue.
Christof sighed, sensing the conversation was slipping away from him. He softened his tone, trying another approach. “Listen, Ethan, I understand you’ve found love, and you want to finally be happy. Honestly, I think you deserve it. But this business… it’s not something you just walk away from. You know the rules.”
Ethan turned to Christof, his gaze intense, almost threatening. “Are you threatening me, Christof?”
The tension between them was palpable. Both men knew the unspoken rule of their world: once you’re in, the only way out is in a coffin. Ethan was too valuable, too powerful to simply leave.
“I’m not,” Christof replied, his tone diplomatic. “And I doubt the others would either. But I’ll tell you the truth, son. If you try to leave right now, the committee would stop at nothing to bring you down. They wouldn’t care if it was the last thing they did.”
Ethan’s resolve wavered, the weight of Christof’s words settling over him. He knew the old man was right.
“What do you suggest I do?” Ethan asked, his voice quieter now, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
Christof’s lips curled into a sly smile, sensing victory. “Give it time,” he said, his voice smooth, almost coaxing. “You’re the youngest among us. The rest of us? We’re just a bunch of old men. We’ll die off, eventually-of natural causes, of course.” He winked at Ethan, who listened intently.
“But you need to be patient. Let them die slowly, one by one. When they’re gone, I’ll be at the top. I’ll start a new committee, and then you’ll be free to go.”
Ethan studied Christof’s face, trying to read between the lines. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he asked, his voice low and guarded. They were a committee of six strong powerful men who controlled the criminal world and Christof was suggesting a slow, calculated elimination of the other committee members, making it look like a natural.
Christof nodded, his smile widening. “It would make the world a better place, don’t you think? It would make your Emily safer, and maybe even proud.”
Ethan sighed deeply, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He glanced at Wayne, still writhing in pain on the floor, and then back at Christof, who was watching him with expectant eyes.
The plan was risky, but Christof was right-there was no easy way out. If he wanted to protect Emily and start a new life, he’d have to play the long game. He’d have to bide his time, pretend to stay loyal, and wait for the right moment to make his move.
Ethan nodded slowly, a new resolve forming in his mind. “Fine,” he said, his voice steady. “But after this, I’m done. When the time comes, I’m walking away. For good.”
Christof’s smile returned, satisfied with the outcome. “Of course, my boy. Of course.”