A group of rugged men settled around a flickering bonfire, the warm glow casting shadows against their chiseled faces.
The air around them crackled with tension; it was evident these were not men to be played with.
Ryder, in particular, sat apart from the rest, his intense gaze fixed blankly on the dancing flames.
Memories crept into his mind —the moment he had held her at gunpoint and her audacious challenge for him to pull the trigger. No matter how hard he tried to banish the thoughts, she lingered like a ghost, haunting him with the undeniable question of why she affected him so deeply.
She was just another victim in his chaotic world, so what made her different?
He exhaled sharply, running his gloved hand through his tousled black hair, the strands rebounding against his face.
"What are we going to tell the boss? He's going to be furious," one of the men muttered, tension creeping into his voice. Ryder's eyes narrowed slightly, his irritation simmering under the surface.
"It's Ryder's fault. He should take responsibility," piped up a bald man with sharp features, sitting several meters away. His hardened expression added an extra layer of steel to his voice.
"You know that's not true," Blade, the guy next to Ryder, interjected, always ready to defend his friend. The bond between them ran deep, forged through countless brushes with danger and an unwavering loyalty that made them seem more like brothers than mere comrades.
"If he had just silenced the girl, we wouldn't have wasted time," the bald man continued, disdain dripping from his words. "Every one of us saw it. He should have just pulled the trigger, like she demanded." He scoffed, his tone filled with contempt.
Ryder's eyes narrowed further. "You heard the boss. No kills," he reminded the bald man, his voice low but firm, a clear echo of their leader's orders that they were all bound to follow.
"You should have at least hit the w*nch or something," the bald man retorted, their gazes locking in an unspoken duel. The atmosphere thickened with tension, neither willing to back down until Blade stepped in, positioning himself between them.
"We should be focusing on how to explain this to the boss... Fighting won't help," he urged, trying to restore some order.
"No one is fighting here, Blade," the bald man shot back, leaning in slightly as if to overwhelm his opponent.
"I'm just trying to make Ryder understand the consequences of his actions. What? Did he fall in love at a crime scene? Why couldn't he have just smacked her down or taken her out; he was just standing there like a fool."
Ryder clenched his jaw tightly, anger bubbling beneath his calm facade.
"That's because Ryder doesn't hit women," Blade replied sharply, standing firm in defense of his friend, whose fists were clenching tighter in response to the provocation.
"Would Axe have done better if he had led the team?" Ryder's lips parted to shoot back at the bald man, who wore a name appropriate for his hardened demeanor.
"Of course," he shrugged, pride radiating from his words. "I don't fall in love on a crime spot."
That was the last straw. With a surge of adrenaline, Ryder sprang to his feet, pushing Blade aside. He seized the bald man by the jacket, his fury evident as he glared down, nostrils flaring, eyes burning with intensity. Blade watched with concern, trying to gauge how far this might escalate.
"I. Did. Not. Fall. In. Love," Ryder emphasized each word, his voice low but laced with urgency, seeking to drill the point home.
"Oh yeah? I guess the boss won't care about that when he arrives. He only needs results, and you've failed miserably," the bald man sneered, a smug grin curling his lips as he met Ryder's fierce gaze head-on.
Just as Blade stepped nearer, gripping Ryder's wrist to pull him back from the brink of violence, someone cleared their throat. All eyes turned to the imposing figure emerging from the shadows—a massive man draped in a sleek black jacket, his knuckles glinting with rings. Ryder, Axe, Blade, and the others instinctively fell into a rigid line, their gazes fixated on the ground, a display of respect.
The boss halted a few meters away, his presence looming. "Why don't you go explain things to him, Ryder? He's losing patience," Axe hissed, his whisper carrying an edge of mockery.
"Ryder doesn't need to go," Blade declared boldly, his voice breaking the heavy silence that enveloped the group.
Ryder raised an eyebrow.
Blade squared his shoulders with an air of determination. Taking a deep breath, he let the resolve swell within him before striding away from their gathering, each step firm and unwavering.
"Boss... here is what happened..." That was the last phrase that escaped Blade's lips before he suddenly collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a thud, rendering him unconscious.
Axe watched the scene unfold, a knowing look settling over his face. "I knew that would happen," he murmured, his gaze drifting to Blade's still form as it lay curled on the floor.
"Rip for now," he added, a hint of resignation coloring his tone.
A heavy silence fell over them, an oppressive stillness that felt almost grave.
The tension in the air was palpable as the boss began to stride towards them, his presence commanding and unmistakable. He halted directly in front of Ryder, who stood his ground, resolute and unyielding, refusing to flinch or raise his gaze to meet the man's intensity.
In stark contrast, Axe struggled to suppress a smirk, a mix of curiosity and intrigue flickering in his eyes as he contemplated the impending fate that awaited Ryder.
The thought of Ryder facing the consequences of his failure weighed on Axe, particularly as it had cost them dearly on this mission.
"Take a break, Ryder," the boss said evenly, his voice calm and measured, sending a wave of surprise through Ryder. The words hung in the air, unexpected and laced with underlying menace.
Axe's lips parted in astonishment, his head lifting instinctively to catch the exchange between Ryder and the boss.
"You've failed me," the boss continued, his tone unwavering. "And I cannot keep gazing into that face filled with disappointment."