In the heart of a dimly lit underground club, the bass from the deafening music reverberated through the walls. People on the dance floor moved like a chaotic tide, screaming, laughing, and losing themselves to the rhythm. Above them, in a soundproof upper room with a sprawling view of the mayhem below, four men sat around a poker table. The air was thick with cigar smoke and the sharp scent of expensive brandy, their conversation drowned to the outside world by layers of glass and steel.
"I win again! Ha! I can't believe it, three wins in a row! This must be my lucky night," exclaimed one of the men, his grin smug as he raked the poker chips into a formidable pile. He was dressed in a crisp black shirt, matching slacks, and polished shoes that gleamed under the dim chandelier's light.
"Your lucky night indeed, my friend," said another man, leaning back in his chair with a relaxed smirk. He wore a casual light green T-shirt, paired with jeans and well-worn brown sneakers. "But don't get too cocky just yet. The night is young, and fortune has a habit of changing sides. Your winnings could very well turn into losses, and I'm definitely counting on it."
The man gathering his chips, sneered. "What's wrong, Don? Feeling a bit sore that you're losing for once? Need I remind you how you used to rub your victories in my face, bragging about how 'lady luck' was always on your side? I guess your lady-luck abandoned you tonight and decided to cheat on you with me instead." He chuckled darkly. "Too bad for you, but thanks for lending her to me though."
Don's grin widened, his eyes narrowing like a predator sizing up its prey. "Enjoy your brief romance with her while you can, Brian, because luck is a fickle mistress. I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you."
A third man, dressed in a white shirt, jeans, and sneakers, chuckled. "Don's right, Brian. You'd do well to listen. He's a master schemer when it comes to poker. Your hot streak could go up in flames before you know it. Might want to quit while you're ahead."
"Please, don't worry your ass, Patrick," Brian scoffed, leaning back in his chair and swirling the brandy in his glass. "I'm a governor and an eccentric multi-billionaire businessman. Do you really think a few poker losses could shake me? Besides, if I'm going to go toe-to-toe with anyone, I'd rather take on a big dog, like that self-proclaimed Rottweiler, Jethro Morales. That guy's been a pain in my ass for years. If it weren't for him being Silver Snake's brother, I'd have taught him a lesson or two by now. So that he would stop messing with me."
"Speaking of that," Patrick, the man in the white shirt, interjected, "that stunt you pulled on Milton's daughter at the race track wasn't exactly the wisest move. You know how much your so-called 'Rottweiler' is attached to that girl. If he finds out what you did, you'll be eating his poop for breakfast."
Brian waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, please. You know as well as I do that Jethro only has a big mouth because he's got a bigger brother backing him up. Without Silver Snake, he's nothing more than a toothless mutt."
Patrick raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp. "A toothless mutt with a massive tiger of a brother who could tear you to shreds if you mess with him."
The fourth man, sitting quietly in the corner and dressed in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, finally spoke up. "Either way, we need to tread carefully. I'm not thrilled about Milton's daughter joining the club either. There's something off about the whole situation… something that doesn't sit right with me."
"You're not alone, Vegas," Brian added, leaning forward with a somber look. "What kind of woman willingly dives into a world as cutthroat as this? Most women her age would rather live a life of comfort, beautifying themselves to snag a wealthy husband. Instead, she's here, racing in one of the most dangerous sports imaginable. It's suspicious."
Brian snorted, taking a long sip of his brandy and continued. "What's she trying to prove anyway? That she belongs in a man's world? This whole thing reeks of trouble."
"Oh, Brian." Vegas sighed, rubbing his temples. "When will you stop being an idiot? The world isn't the way you think it is anymore, and you'd better start catching up. Either way that's not even my point. What I am worried about is that..she will start snooping around and try to dig up the truth about her father's death. You and I both know the truth of what happened that day....and if she finds out.."
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of unspoken truths suffocating.
"Then we'll make sure she never finds out," Don said firmly, breaking the tension. "For now, we stick to the plan. We need to secure the 'Black Tulip' before anyone else does."
Brian furrowed his brows. "Do you really think that man-whore is the 'Black Tulip'? The way Silver Snake treats him doesn't add up. If he's so valuable, why does he use him like a sex toy.? That doesn't make any sense."
"Oh, that's the 'Black Tulip,' all right," Don replied, his tone grim. "And something tells me we're about to learn why very soon. But I'll warn you, it won't be pleasant."
The tension grew even more after Don said those words and the men shook their heads sighed and decided to continue with their game.
...
"Aaaaaaa!!!"
A sharp piercing cry broke the silence of the room. Where eight men were gathered. One was seated on the chair whilst smoking a cigar whilst another man was giving him a massage. Three men were seated on three chairs whilst they were being disfigured by three other men. Their faces and bodies were clotted with blood oozing out of the big cuts made by the other three men.
The man in the head seat raised his hand signaling the men to stop. Then he looked at the three men being tortured with a dark chilling gaze.
"Mr X.....we...swear....we...we..tried our best...to locate the person....threatening the Black Tulip....but.....they...are...just too smart...whenever we get a location....by...tracking them...I...don't know how...but somehow they...must be...getting alerted...before we can catch them...." heaved one of the three men being tortured.
"Excuses and excuses! That's all you have been giving me and not results! Do you know how precious the Black Tulip is?! If anything happens to him, do you think that only you would pay!! I am sick and tired of your incompetence!" Said Mr X reething in anger. Then he called out, "Viper!"
Soon after a bulky man with his entire body and face painted with scary snake tattoos walked into the room wearing a slick black suit and shades and he went and stood in front of Mr X and said, "Yes Boss."
"I am putting you in charge of...." a loud cluttering sound interrupted Mr X from speaking further. The man that was massaging him dropped the tray with some of the materials he was using. He quickly scrambled to the floor to pick his fallen items and if someone was watching closely he could have seen him sneakily hidding an expensive Rolex watch in his wiping towel. He quickly took hold of his items, slightly bowed in apology and left the room.
Mr X watched intently as the man scrambled out of the room then he sighed and continued, "I am putting you in charge of this mission. Call all your hound dogs to search every nook and crook of this country and find that blackmailer and deal with him."
"Yes Sir." Replied Viper and he started moving towards the door.
"Oh...and Viper!" Called out Mr X.
Viper stopped and turned around and faced Mr X.
"Don't disappoint me....or else.."
Viper nodded and left the room.
Mr X then turned back to the six men and said, "Get these pieces of garbage out of my face! And make sure to feed them to the lab rats. It's so long since they last feeded on something...meater." then he stood up leaving the howls and cries of the three men who were being tortured echoing in the room.
....
"Three thousand dollars for you. Nothing more, nothing less."
"But this watch is worth over fifteen thousand! And you're pawning it for only three thousand?" Jonathan's voice cracked with frustration.
"Look, man," the pawnbroker replied, his tone flat and unapologetic. "This watch is old, okay? It's not brand new, so it can't fetch its original price. Take it or leave it. Do you want the money or not?"
Jonathan clenched his jaw, his shoulders sagging in defeat. Without another word, he took the cash and left the office, the bills crumpled in his hand. The weight of disappointment pressed down on him as he stumbled toward his car. Sliding into the driver's seat, he let out a heavy sigh, his head falling onto the steering wheel.
"This isn't enough…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. He stayed motionless, the silence in the car amplifying the turmoil in his mind. Minutes passed, stretching into what felt like hours, before he finally started the engine and drove home.
Once inside, Jonathan headed straight to his bedroom. His gaze fell on the packed suitcases lying on the bed, their presence a stark reminder of his impending decision. He stared at them for a long moment before turning to his dressing table. Opening one of the drawers, he retrieved a small, worn key.
With deliberate movements, he pushed his wardrobe aside, revealing a hidden door behind it. The door creaked open, and Jonathan stepped into a dimly lit room. The walls were painted a soft pink, and the furnishings, a small wardrobe, a delicate dressing table, and a canopy bed, were equally dainty. On the bed lay a little girl, her short, wavy brown hair framing her angelic face. Her small nose and pink lips gave her an ethereal beauty, and she clutched a large, plush teddy bear as she slept.
Jonathan stood frozen, his gaze fixed on her. The sight of her stirred something deep within him, a mix of protectiveness and desperation. After a moment, the girl stirred, her sleepy eyes fluttering open.
"You… you're back…" she murmured, her voice sluggish and soft.
"Yes," Jonathan replied, his tone gentle. "Hello, my little Tulip." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering as if to seal a silent promise.
"You're not leaving again, are you?" she asked, her words slow and heavy with sleep.
"No… no, I'm not leaving you again," Jonathan assured her, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. "This time, we're going to take a long trip together. Just the two of us."
"Where? Where will we be going?" she asked, her curiosity momentarily breaking through her drowsiness.
"To Fairyland," Jonathan said, his voice softening further. "Somewhere far, far away, where no one will ever find us." 'Or discover your existence,' he added silently.
"Really? I wanna go to Fairyland…" the little girl murmured as her eyes drifted shut once more.
Jonathan watched her, his heart aching with a mix of love and resolve. "Don't worry, my sweet Tulip. I'll make sure we go to Fairyland, even if it costs me a limb. You're my beautiful, precious secret, and I'll never let anyone lay a hand on you. No one will ever find out about the other effects of the Black Tulip drug. And I think it's about time for the key to disappear…" he whispered.
His gaze lingered on her peaceful face, and a glint of fierce determination flashed in his eyes. Whatever it took, he would protect her. No matter the cost.