My stomach twists.
Mark exhales through his nose, slow and measured. “You want a ghost account. Something that launders your money without a trace.”
The bald man grins, flashing yellowed teeth. “I knew you’re smart.” His smile fades, and his voice turns glacial “This is your insurance policy. Fuck up again, and next time, I won’t be sitting here having a nice little chat.”
I feel the words like ice slipping beneath my skin.
Mark doesn’t react at first.
Then, slowly, he nods.
“Fine.”
I flinch.
That’s it? No protest? No hesitation?
The man pushes himself off the couch, adjusting the leather jacket over his broad shoulders. The gun glints once again beneath it before he snaps it shut.
“You’ll get the details soon,” he says, glancing at Mark before looking at me one last time. His gaze lingers, like he's savoring my fear, like he's tucking it away for later.
“You should be grateful, sweetheart,” he tells me. “Your husband just saved your life.”
I can’t speak. My throat is too tight, my breath trapped somewhere inside me, caught between panic and disbelief.
Mark… saved me? More like he created this situation in the first place.
But the man doesn’t wait for a response. He just chuckles, shaking his head as he strides toward the front door.
“Make sure she doesn’t become a liability, Dilano. Or I will handle her myself.”
The door clicks shut behind him.
And just like that, he’s gone.
I sit frozen on the couch, staring at the empty space where he stood, the stench of tobacco and metal still hanging in the air.
I don’t move.
Mark does.
He exhales quietly, like the moment’s already passed for him, like it was just another business deal. He stands, brushing his palms against his pants, straightening his posture.
Like nothing happened.
Like he didn’t just hand himself over to a criminal.
Like he’s not the villain here.
I look up at him, finally forcing my lips to move. “Mark…” My voice is barely a whisper, but he doesn’t look at me. Not until he’s already made his way to the bar cart in the corner, pouring himself a drink.
Only then does he turn.
His eyes meet mine.
And he shows me another side of himself I never knew existed.
He throws the glass with the alcohol, making it shatter against the glass table in front of me.
