"Ahhhh," Gavin muttered, falling to the floor, nose bleeding.
He grabbed Calliah's arms and pulled her out of the sex room, carrying her outside.
"You must be Axel," she murmured.
"Tall… handsome… broad, large arms, and most important of all… green eyes," Calliah whispered, eyes wide as she tried to steady herself.
Her gaze suppressed as she walked beside him.
He called an Uber.
"So, Axel… if you don't care about me, why are you still finding me, huh?"
"Stop drinking, you…" he snapped, shutting her up.
"Still care, huh? Then why are you here?"
"It's… my bar," he said coldly.
"You were watching me… I caught your eyes," she laughed.
"I have something to tell you… something I think I haven't," he said quietly.
"And…?"
"I think I like you."
"Your…" she started, but he shook his head.
"The Uber is here. Get in."
The driver pulled up, and Axel described her house to him before putting her safely in the car.
"Okay, before I leave… tell me, type of girl?" he asked.
"You agreed to leave?"
"Yes," he said.
"Cute… less annoying… not stubborn… not stupid… strong heart," he listed.
"And…?"
"And… you're the opposite of all that," he said flatly, closing the car door with a firm click.
The Uber drove off.
"You got a call," Josh shouted, running with his phone.
*****
At the Cell
"Operation's going well, boss," a man murmured.
"Good. Leave this place soon," the boss said with a laugh.
******
At the Airport
(In Italian, not English)
"Finally."
He stepped down from the private jet, collecting his small suitcase. His face was hidden, only his lips moving. His body tense, clad completely in black. A mask covered everything; his voice auto-modulated. A diamond ring glinted on his index finger over his glove: R-O-S-A.
He stopped at the front of the jet.
"This could never change," he muttered.
"Some guys are coming," a guard whispered. "Your arrival has been tracked… linked to a casino family."
"I wish they could," he said, pulling off his suitcase and grabbing a gun.
Enemies before friends.
He pointed the gun.
"I'm…"
"Your turn to die," he muttered, finger squeezing the trigger. The bullet struck the man's forehead.
"Boss! Boss!" the man screamed as he fell to the ground.
Masked guy walked past him.
"See you in hell," he said, watching his hand flick water from the bloodied scene.
He reached his car, bullets hitting its body as men chased him.
"That idiot deserves worse than death," he muttered, shooting as he ran.
"Guuuuu!" the sound of gunfire echoed.
He jumped into the car and drove off.
"Still finds me, huh?" his auto-modulated voice hissed.
He stepped out of the car, pistol in pocket. The ring he had been holding slipped into a bar drain.
"Ohhhh f**k! Fuck!!" he muttered.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!" he yelled in frustration.
######
State News
"Rumors Raines' main boss has arrived in the state!"
"The legendary ring of his mother… now in the public eye."
"A masked figure descended from a private jet; identity unknown."
"Could this man be the lost son?"
"Reports say a diamond ring fell into a bar and is now in an auction."
"Highest bid expected… the gift of a lifetime."
The entire state was buzzing as TV reporters gave live coverage from different stations, each adding more speculation and chaos.
*****
Hotel Room 077
The hotel bell rang.
"Room delivery," someone called.
The masked figure ignored it.
"Coming!" the delivery man repeated.
He opened the door, shocked to see the masked man standing there. Hair wet, chest broad.
"Purple eyes… that's rare," he murmured, dropping the pizza on the table.
The masked figure drew a gun from his trousers, shooting the man in the head instantly.
"No one sees my face and walks freely," he muttered, dragging the pizza from the man's hands, putting on his shirt, eating briefly, then vanishing from the hotel.
####
News Flash
"Another man found dead in a hotel room delivery!"
"Could this be Raines' boss hiding his identity?"
"The state is in chaos, terrified yet desperate to see who this masked figure really is!"
Questions for readers:
Who do you think this masked figure really is?
Why has he returned to the state?