My eyes shot up, aghast at his callousness; as I began to experience this sick feeling of uneasiness all over again.
“Come on man, you know I can’t do that. Moreover, I am a pebble in your shoe, so why don’t you just let go of me?” I said in a petrified and confused tone.
I felt tempered again as the boys laughed like I was some stand-up comedian, my choleric outbursts ignite when hold up to ridicule.
No one in his right senses should crave or welcome any sort of pillory, but I quelled the urge to go all beastly and manage my anger as I have never done before as my beast can be conciliate, but not an unleashed bullet.
“Oh, that?” Flashing a mischievous smile, “well, you were. But, I take that back, moreover, I need your talents for my missions and you’re gonna give them. You owed me remember?” he said with much pride.
“Just be reasonable, and learn not to question my deeds no more, is that taken?”
Indignant at first, but regaining composure gradually, by each measure of oxygen I silently stole into my lungs.
“Yes, but you don’t mean that. Did you?” Regarding the operation, he undoubtedly was planning.
I answered his question, but with a question sheepishly. Knowing it’s of no use, Jude doesn’t waste his words.
“That’s it. You just won’t learn!” He grunted with a frown on his face.
“Well, we shall see. 8:20 pm tonight!”
“Do we have a deal or not?”… “Huh!”
*** Present ***
“You can’t outsmart me,” he bragged, “and don’t attempt to eschew the emperor either, the outcome might be fatal… Of course, it will.”
Nodding conclusively as he gestured for them to leave strolling behind them, then he stopped almost by the door, as soon as his boys were relocated to the exterior of the house and probably beyond its eaves by now: he turned around, and in his rarely heard friendly voice meant only for coercing; “how can you not see bruh?”
“I’m trying to make you my right-hand man,” he confessed,
“moreover, don’t you think?” Projected his right index finger, hitting against his temple repeatedly “you can’t keep depending on people’s money to satisfy your gambling urge, and other necessities. You’ve gotta work towards a mainstream for steady income too.”
“I knew myself, those three boys combined will never measure to your smartness and rigidity, take my offer to your betterment, or else, I’m sorry I’ll have to force you to that of mine.” And rubbing the side of his waist, where the gun was safely tucked; and I trust you won’t sabotage my plans.” He vocalized as his eyebrows raised in suspicion.
It was like he gave me an idea to replicate and maximize; to save myself from his hook, immediately the word rang in my eardrum; all I could think of is a way to be free from his brutal threats, which is, of course, to sabotage his plans.
“The emperor never takes chances.” Disrupting my thoughts back to actuality and acknowledging his presence.
“Yeah, yeah… Und– understood!” I faltered. As he continued with his majestic strides to exit the flat.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
I cursed, as I punched ferociously into the side of the wall he has rested his back like he’s got no worries in the world, intimidating and terrorizing my sanity. Immediately, my left palm cupped my injured fist with an inspiration of self-blame.
Hissing, I looked towards the quartz table clock placed side-by-side with the family’s photo on the even surface of the table, northwest of the sitting room and my heart raced; as I could hear my heart pound against my chest,
“But wait, not too long I came in, and now it’s 10 minutes past 4 pm,” I mumbled to myself,
“I’m not going to be part of it” I shook my head bitterly like I meant it, perhaps I did.
I went back in, into the room but I was too disturbed mentally to maintain a sitting position, I took to restless pacing as the uncomfortable sensation builds, making me sick in the comfort of my room, unable to think properly. I ambulated to the sitting room, I managed to fit my butt on a section of the old couch, and propped up my feet unto the center table, as I mull over the possible ways to be extricated from that incriminating law-breaking scheme.
“Do I go west, perhaps I would be free from their threats? Hmm… That is impossible though. Useless idea ever!
Go report them? Still would not proffer the liberation I sought.
Lord have mercy, I need a plan that will pull out their fangs and get Jude, especially out of my hair, make me a free man once again.”