"Boss, we need you here ASAP," Ricky said in a hurried voice on the other side of the phone.
I was peacefully sleeping, but this world doesn't want me to rest, I guess.
"What happened now, Ricky?" I asked while getting up from the bed.
"Someone leaked the information about our shipment to the Morettis."
The fuck is wrong with these motherfuckers? My blood boils when someone betrays me.
"Handle everything until I get there. You know what to do," I said and cut the call. I went to the bathroom, freshened up, and got ready in my black suit. Then I went downstairs.
"Good morning, everyone," I greeted, as everyone was already seated.
"Good morning," they replied in unison. I walked over and sat in my chair.
"Bhai, main abroad jana chahti hoon," Aadhya said suddenly.
(Brother, I want to go abroad.)
I looked at her, narrowing my eyes. She was never interested in going to a foreign country, but now?
"Why this suddenly?" I asked.
"Haan beta, tum to kabhi bhi jana nahi chahti thi, toh phir achanak?" Papa asked her.
(Yes, dear, you never wanted to go abroad before, so why all of a sudden?)
"Nothing serious. My best friend Anika is going, so I thought maybe I could go too and complete, my PhD there," she said casually and continued eating, enjoying her food.
"Well, since the princess wants it, she'll get it. Tell me which country, and I'll arrange everything for both of you," I said.
"America," she replied. I nodded.
"That's way too far. Remember to take care of yourself, Gudiya. Aur Guddu, manage the university jo hamare under hain," Dadi said, to which everyone nodded.
(And Guddu, manage the university that is under us.)
"Ofho, main ab chhoti nahi hoon, Dadi. Itni chinta mat karo na," Aadhya whined.
(Oh come on, I'm not a kid anymore, Grandma. Don't worry so much.)
"Gudiya, Ma ne sahi kaha. Itna to manna hi padega tujhe," Ma said and served food to Papa.
(Gudiya, mother is right. You'll have to agree to that much.)
"Haan haan, theek hai," Aadhya said.
(Yes yes, alright.)
Then we all ate together. I finished as quickly as I could.
"Meri aane mein der ho sakti hai aaj. Dinner ke liye rukiye mat, Ma," I told her and bent down to take blessings from her and Dadi.
(I might come back late today. Don't wait for me for dinner, Ma.)
"Theek hai," she replied.
(Alright.)
Then I left for the office. Let's see who dared to disturb my peaceful sleep.
The silence in the elevator was heavy—almost respectful. Ricky stood behind me, not daring to speak. He knew the rule: when I'm angry, don't talk unless you want your teeth rearranged.
The metal doors slid open with a hiss, revealing the corridor I designed for moments like these. Dim, industrial lights buzzed faintly above. The air was thick with humidity and an unmistakable scent of blood-soaked concrete. My shoes echoed against the floor as I walked toward the sound of struggling breath.
The basement wasn't a place people entered twice. You either walked out a loyal man... or were carried out in a body bag.
I pushed the reinforced door open slowly. It creaked. That sound alone could make a grown man piss himself.
There he was.
Rahul.
Kneeling. Hands bound behind him with barbed wire—bleeding wrists. His face was already bruised. A trail of blood from his nose ran down to his lips. Sweat clung to his temples like a death veil.
A single flickering bulb swung above his head.
"Boss..." his voice cracked, like dry leaves beneath a boot. "I... I didn't do it..."
I didn't answer. I stepped in slowly, unbuttoning my cuffs with measured calm.
"Do you know what time I went to bed last night, Rahul?" I asked, voice flat, devoid of emotion. He blinked rapidly, confused.
"2:37 AM. You know why that's important?" I walked a slow circle around him. "Because at 3:11 AM, the Morettis intercepted our cargo at the border. Thirty-eight minutes later."
I stopped behind him. My fingers tapped once on his shoulder.
"And you're the only one who knew all three: the route, the cargo, and the decoy plan."
He started to shake. "Please, Boss... I didn't—"
SLAP.
A backhand so sharp his body whipped sideways, blood splattering on the floor.
"Don't lie to me. You weren't just a foot soldier, Rahul. I trusted you. You ate at my fucking table."
I reached for the small iron crowbar resting on the tray beside the wall. Cold. Clean. Not for long.
"You know what the worst kind of rot is?" I said as I approached him from the front, crouching down. "The kind that comes from the inside."
Without warning, I drove the crowbar into his thigh. Not deep enough to kill, but deep enough to make him scream like a dying animal.
"ARGHHHHHHHH! BOSS!!"
"This is for Ankit. He died during the ambush. He had a daughter, you fucking coward."
I twisted the bar.
His scream echoed through the concrete walls.
"I swear... I didn't—"
"Say one more lie, and I'll carve your tongue out." I leaned in close. "You know I will."
His mouth quivered. Eyes bloodshot. Body trembling.
"It was... it was Sameer... he offered me money. Said they'd let me go free if I told him the plan..." he sobbed now, his whole body shaking. "I was scared..."
I exhaled slowly. So it was Sameer. That rat bastard.
"Scared?" I whispered. "Then let me show you what fear really feels like."
I stood up and gestured to Ricky.
"Hold him."
Ricky stepped forward, grabbed Rahul by the shoulders. I picked up the silver blade—small, curved, surgical. I knelt again, face inches from his.
"You gave them my men. You gave them my route. You gave them my name."
I ran the blade across his cheek, slicing clean and shallow. A crimson line bloomed immediately.
"Now I'll take something from you."
I slashed again—this time across the other cheek. A mark of betrayal.
"These scars? You'll carry them to hell."
He collapsed forward, sobbing into the floor.
I stood tall, breath calm now.
"Clean him up, make it slow. Send the body to the Morettis with a note,"
Ricky nodded silently. He knew what to do.
I turned, picked up my jacket, and buttoned it without a single bloodstain on me. My fingers slid the ring back onto my hand.
Peace was a privilege I rarely enjoyed.
But betrayal? That always had a price.
And I never left my debts unpaid.
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