Chapter 48:
Gut Feeling** *Anonymous POV* Anxiety gripped me as I paced the dimly lit confines of my apartment. The familiar walls felt suffocating, a prison of my own making, as I attempted to reach the one person whose silence weighed heavily on my conscience. I repeatedly dialed his number, cursing under my breath each time the call went unanswered. It had been days since he had set Ava’s house ablaze, an act that not only torched her sanctuary but also ignited a firestorm of dread within me. The absence of his communication twisted my gut with fear. What could he possibly be planning? I was left in the dark, unable to strategize any kind of counterattack should he decide to make a reckless move, akin to what Black Serpent had done before his downfall. In a moment of desperation, I snatched up my phone and called Blake, one of my most trusted men. “Boss?” His voice came through clearly, the urgency palpable even over the line. “Have you managed to track him down?” I pressed, my voice a tangle of tension and anticipation. I prided myself on being unflappable, the master of my own fate. But right now, a gnawing sense of foreboding clawed at my insides. “No… it’s like he vanished into thin air,” Blake responded, the frustration in his tone matching my own. “No one has laid eyes on him, and we’re running out of leads.” When news broke that Black Serpent had been apprehended, I knew I had to eliminate him before he became a liability. The cops would already be closing in, and I wasn’t about to let him point the finger at me. I had taken matters into my own hands, and like a surgeon, I had severed that connection before his betrayal could rip through my carefully constructed life. I had been right—the police wasted no time in pursuing him. Luckily, I had eliminated that threat discreetly and swiftly. I understood men like Black Serpent more than most; we were cut from the same cloth. If he had been caught, he wouldn’t think twice about sacrificing me to save his own skin. Loyalty was a currency he didn’t possess, and I couldn’t afford any loose ends. “Boss?” Blake’s voice broke through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. “What is it?” I snapped, irritation bubbling to the surface. This investigative dead end wasn’t just troubling—it felt wrong. The gut instinct that had always served me well screamed that something bigger was on the horizon, and I hated being in the dark. “We’re keeping an eye out, I promise. We’ll notify you as soon as we find anything,” he assured me. “Just find him. I need to know where he is, yesterday,” I barked before severing the call, the phone slipping from my grasp as I resumed my restless pacing. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I felt the weight of impending disaster wrap around me like a vice. The situation was spiraling, and I was powerless to halt it. “Fuck!” I roared, my fist colliding with the wall, the impact biting into my skin. A dark premonition haunted me, a feeling that all my secrets, all my careful lies were teetering on the edge of destruction. Each heartbeat echoed the urgency of my need for control, and I was painfully aware of the consequences lurking just beyond the horizon. In the midst of my turmoil, I found my phone once more, a lifeline to the only person who could ease the tumult within me. The only woman who understood my plight—the one who had always been there, unwavering and strong. “Hi, Mom,” my voice softened as I sank onto the worn couch, the tension in my body beginning to fade. “Hey, honey!” she exclaimed, her cheerful tone slicing through the darkness. “It’s wonderful to hear from you. I’ve missed you terribly!” The warmth of her words washed over me, and I closed my eyes, imagining her smile. “I’ve missed you too, Mom. More than you can even know,” I confessed, feeling the weight of my troubles lift for a fleeting moment. “Why are you calling? Shouldn’t you be at work?” she inquired, her concern seeping through the line. How could I explain that I needed her voice as a buffer against what loomed? That I sought comfort from the storm that threatened to engulf me? “Just wanted to hear your voice,” I replied, the catch in my throat betraying my emotional struggle. “Are you alright, sweetie?” Her worry was palpable, a recollection of my childhood safety net. I smiled at the pet name that had accompanied me through the years. “I’m fine, just a bit stressed with work. That's all.” “You work too hard! You should take a vacation or something. You’ve earned it!” She chuckled, the familiar sound bringing a smile to my face. I could picture her bustling around the kitchen, pots clanging as she prepared one of her delectable baked goods. Oh, how she adored baking. “I’ll take a vacation… eventually, when things calm down. Right now, it feels like everything’s falling apart,” I half-lied, burdened by the shadows looming at my back. “Make sure you take a weekend off and breathe, okay? It might help clear your mind,” she advised, her wisdom shining through once again. That was why I cherished her so fiercely. My mother was one of the few truly brilliant women I knew, and her insights were gold. With the threat of the hitman still lurking in the back of my mind, I resolved to heed her advice. After all, stepping back for one weekend couldn’t hurt. “Thank you, Mom. I really needed to hear that.” My heart swelled with gratitude. “I’m always here for you, sweetie,” she replied softly. “I love you too, Mom,” I whispered, feeling an unexpected surge of emotion. I was about to share more when my phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Blake’s name. “I have to go, Mom. Take care, and send my love to everyone,” I told her, urgency replacing the warmth of our exchange. “Will do, sweetie. Just take care of yourself!” she urged, her voice steeped in affection. With a quick confirmation, I ended the call and immediately dialed Blake again, my heart racing. “What do you have for me?” I barked, the softness from earlier evaporated. I needed answers, especially about Hawk—the name he preferred to go by. The man who had sent shockwaves through Ava’s life and mine, whose very presence radiated danger. He had terrorized Ava, and I feared the worst. A moment of silence stretched between us before Blake’s voice cut through like a knife. “We traced his whereabouts, and it appears… he has Ava.” I felt the breath hitch in my throat, a rush of adrenaline locking my joints. “Where is she?” I demanded, urgency tightening my grip on the gun now resting in my hand. “Send me the location,” I commanded, determination coursing through my veins. It was time to end this reckoning once and for all.