He’s here because he’s chasing something he can never truly have—control.
“Alright,” he says slowly. “But remember this: if you betray me, I won’t hesitate.”
I smile. Aaron’s never hurt anyone in his life. But I have. Plenty of times.
“Neither have I.”
The weight of my words hangs between us, the silence thick with unspoken threats and promises of unimaginable rewards. Money and power—the kind he’s only dreamt of. We both know the stakes: one false move and we lose everything. But if we succeed, we’ll be untouchable.
Aaron raises his glass, and we silently toast. The clink of glass sounds like a promise. We both take a sip, and I welcome the burn—the reminder that I’m sinking deeper into this life, losing yet another piece of myself to this world.
“If that’s everything, I’ll sign and let you enjoy your evening.”
I lean back in my chair, considering his words. “Since I’ve given you something, I’d like you to do the same.”
“I thought I already did, with all of this.”
“No, this is just paperwork. I’m talking about a celebration. Something to mark the beginning of our very long partnership.”
Aaron pauses. “What do you have in mind?”
I smile, shrugging casually. “Something memorable, maybe even a little dangerous. Sets the tone for what’s to come.”
Aaron raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure the next few years will be dangerous enough. What are we celebrating? The chaos we’re about to create? Or how rich we’re going to become?”
“Both,” I reply, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “I want to see you without all your guards up.” I reach into my briefcase and slide a pen across the table toward him.
He’s in this for money. But I’m in it for something bigger. It used to be simple for me, but those days are long gone.
He takes the pen without hesitation. “Is there something specific you want?”
I’m tempted to say more, to push him further. I want to see how he reacts when he’s out of control—when I can take him to places that make him lose his focus.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
“Sign first.” The fire crackles behind me, adding an eerie warmth to the atmosphere as I watch Aaron. I feel a pang of envy. He’s still untouched by the weight of it all.
He’s still free.
Sometimes, I’m haunted by who I used to be—the man I was before all of this. But that man is long gone. I wouldn’t recognize him now.
Aaron takes a deep breath, flips the folder open, and signs his name. The pen scratches against the paper, filling me with a rush of anticipation.
The deal is set.
This night might turn out better than I expected.
But I wonder if Aaron—or his friend—has any idea what they’re getting into.
I’ve done my homework on Dominik Lewis. I know his history, the kind of things he likes to get involved in. I wonder if Aaron knows how his best friend chased his sister through the woods and fucked her senseless in Boston.
Something tells me he doesn’t.
“Fantastic,” I say into my glass before setting it down and finishing up a few details. “Expect a package within the next two days. It’ll contain an untraceable phone and laptop assigned to you. Your projects will be outlined in detail. I’ll be in touch regularly through that phone. You need to have it with you at all times. Sleep with it. Eat with it. Shower with it. Even fuck with it, if that’s what you’re doing. I don’t give a shit what you’re doing, when I call, you answer. When I text, you respond. Got it?”
“Got it,” he says through gritted teeth. He hates being spoken to this way and I fucking get off on it.
I’m going to have a great time breaking you, buddy.
