Isaiah was confused why it was the skinny pale lady who was laughing, but he found it similar to Atorro laughing when he told him that he would give him money for his help. The thought of it disturbed him."Why?" Isaiah started, slightly stuttering. "Why are you laughing?""You're a child," Celia said, startling Isaiah once more. "You're a newbie in this world of ours. If you've indeed been with Atorro, you would know that we don't value money in our family. In our world, money isn't everything. They are deeper values we cherish. Family, loyalty, respect, power. These are all what we find more appealing than money. Sorry."Isaiah could not believe this; he found it extremely frustrating, so he doubled down. "What about if I give you a hundred million dollars? What would you say about that? All I need is your account number."This time Celia did not laugh. "You think I'm a child?" she said, seriously. "You think I'm joking? Nothing you say would make me give anything to you. Not even f

"Wyatts?" Isaiah repeated, as though hearing it one time was not enough for his ears to assimilate. He had never heard such a name in his life. "What do they want?"You seem scared," Atorro observed. His eyes were dim behind his shades. His low. "Don't worry, they are a small gang of criminals. They can be defeated fairly easily, or you can just pay them off. It's as easy as that.""Is that all?" Isaiah asked. "Are you not going to tell me anything else? Who sent them and why did they come for Jenny?" "I have given you quite enough information," Atorro replied. "I would like to see exactly what I sent you out for." Atorro gestured with his hands, rubbing his fingers together.Isaiah turned to Jerry. "Tell your men to bring her in," he said. Jerry made a phone call and in no less than three minutes, Celia was brought in, hands in handcuffs. She fell on her knees once they brought her to the room. Her eyes were filled with poison, directed at Atorro, who stared calmly at her. "Now l

"Cut off her thumb," Atorro said, his tone hardened, his eyes bereft of remorse that the woman he had just killed was once upon a time his wife.His words shook Isaiah, who had been speechless ever since the killing, from the world of thoughts he had buried his mind in."What exactly are you?" he said, to no one apparently. His voice was so low nobody heard. But he could also have been talking to Atorro. It was a mystery, not only to anyone who could have heard but also to himself.One of the men came in from a corner with a knife, a really sharp one. He bent towards the woman lying down in cold blood. "Remember, take the finger that she used to open her safe. It's her left thumb." Atorro's voice was frightening and commanding.The man raised her left arm, took her hand up and held her left finger. He proceeded after that to cut it. It was not a clean job. The blade was not as sharp as was thought. The man had to jam it on numerously, making a mess of blood and flesh.Isaiah felt so

Isaiah watched the car leave, like he was in a trance-like state, unable to move forward and unable to move backwards. Just floating around in the middle of nothing. He wondered if he would ever see Jerry again and whether tonight would be the last night he would have his life intact. He stood there for a little more time before he was shocked back into reality by the ringing of his phone."Who is this?" The words rang in his mind. He hesitated even looking at whoever was calling. For all he knew, whoever was calling could be one of Gambino's henchmen. "No, I should not let fear paralyze me like this," he thought, making a fist and dipping his hand into his pocket. He brought the phone out and saw that it was none other than Elena calling. He quickly picked the phone up."Hello, sir. Isaiah," Elena said. "I'm sorry if I am being that much of an inconvenience, but I wanted to ask if you still plan to have the meeting with me today. Or did you forget? It's almost sundown.""I'm sorry,

When the phone call ended and the angry voice of his father got replaced with terrible silence, Isaiah became filled with fear. This was not the first betrayal. This was the second one in one day. And both of them had cut deeper than any blade, this one especially reaching the bone."What will happen to me now?" He asked, his voice a hollow echo reverberating on all sides of the penthouse. "Am I doomed?"The elevator seemed to give an answer. It opened up, the sound of it startling Isaiah so much he almost jumped out of his skin. But who came out of the elevator were not brutish and hardened men with guns as he imagined. Rather, it was Madame Kristine, the manager, and two other security guards. He recognized them. They were the ones he pardoned."Ah, Madame Kristine, it was really just you," Isaiah said, slightly relieved that he was still alive."Mr. Isaiah," she said in a stern tone. "Or is that even your real name? You know what? I don't care. Guards, throw him out of the hotel to