Callistus opened the messages from Mia, and each one made his heart race faster.
"Bro, who was your client?" she asked. "It's Ryan Boogi, right?"
Callistus's stomach dropped. Mia somehow knew, even though she usually kept clients anonymous, even to herself. But she knew Ryan.
"He's looking for you. He wants Ivan dead by tonight," the messages continued. "I'm heading to your house as soon as you reply."
Callistus stared at his phone, his heart pounding. Each word tightened the knot of dread in his stomach.
"This is bad... really bad," he whispered.
He set the phone down, trying to steady his breathing, but his thoughts raced. Why does Ryan want Ivan dead tonight? Is that why he asked Ivan for an invitation?
He needed to warn Ivan, but how could he explain without revealing too much?
"Fuck," Callistus muttered, sprinting down the stairs, nearly tripping.
"Cal!" Ivan called out when he saw him. "What's the rush?"
"Ryan—" Callistus said."He wants you dead!"
"What?" Ivan grabbed Callistus's arms, concerned. "What are you talking about?"
"He wants you dead! Mia's on the way—just don't go tonight!"
Ivan looked at him with a small smile. "I know," he said calmly. "I know everything."
Callistus's eyes widened in shock. "What? How?"
"I saw the messages on your phone. I know," Ivan said, his tone calm. "I'll be out tonight, but you stay here. Don't worry—Danish and the others will be with me."
He wrapped his arms around Callistus, who silently leaned into the embrace.
"Don't leave the house," Ivan warned. "Valentina will be out hunting anyone who steps outside."
"Valentina?" Callistus asked, confused. "Valentina Boogi?"
Ivan nodded, giving him a puzzled look.
"She's my ex," Callistus admitted.
Ivan rubbed his face in exasperation, then chuckled. "Of all things, you could've told me sooner. Hope she doesn't murder you when she sees you," he joked.
"Hopefully," Callistus said, wrapping his arms around Ivan again.
"What do you plan to do about Ryan now?" Ivan asked.
Callistus pulled out his phone and blocked Ryan's number without hesitation. Ivan smiled as he watched Callistus do it.
"That's a good start," he said.
Callistus nodded. "I'll stay here like, but what if something happens to you?"
"I'll be fine," Ivan reassured him. "We're prepared for this. Ryan won't get the upper hand."
As the evening approached and Ivan picked him up from work, the tension in the house grew. Callistus felt a knot in his stomach, but he trusted Ivan.
"Ivan, please be careful," Callistus said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ivan leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Callistus' forehead. "I will. Just stay safe here, okay? I'll be back before you know it."
With that, Ivan left the house, dressed sharply in a suit with a pistol tucked in his pocket, leaving Callistus alone in the quiet house.
—
"You actually made it," Ryan said, blowing smoke towards Ivan and Star. "Let's talk."
The room was dimly lit, dirty, and filled with the smell of smoke. Ryan lounged on a worn-out sofa, his appearance dishevelled, with messy hair and a stained shirt, clearly high on something.
Ivan and Star sat down, while Danish, Isabell, and Myiesha stood behind them. A few more, including Shantel, Qaseh, and Akmal, stayed further back.
—
Meanwhile, Callistus paced around the house, worry gnawing at him. He trusted Ivan, but he couldn't shake the fear that something might go wrong.
Time dragged on, and Callistus couldn't sit still. Every sound outside made him jump, his heart pounding in his chest. He kept checking his phone, desperately hoping for a message from Ivan.
—
"We made a pact, Ivan Chase," Ryan said. "You were supposed to marry Valentina to save my company. But something got in the way."
"We never made a pact," Ivan replied. "Our fathers might have wanted it for us, but I've made my choice, and I won't be pushed into anything I don't want."
Ryan laughed. "You really think you can defy me?" he said.
Ivan remained calm, his eyes fixed on Ryan. "This isn't about authority," he said. "It's about choice. I've made mine."
Ryan's smile faded, replaced by a glare. "Choice? You think you can just walk away from this? I have invested too much to let some nobody ruin everything!"
Ryan reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at Ivan. The room went silent, tension thick in the air. Behind Ryan, several of his men also drew their weapons, ready to back him up.
But Ivan didn't flinch. "You're making a mistake," he said, his voice steady. "You think violence will get you what you want? You'll only make things worse."
Star shifted slightly in her seat, her hand inching toward her own pistol, but Ivan gave her a subtle shake of the head. He wanted to avoid bloodshed if possible.
Before anyone could make a move, Shantel, Qaseh, and Akmal, who had been standing behind Ivan, stepped forward, raising their own weapons.
"You're not the only one with guns, bitch," Shantel said coldly, her black dress shining. "Think twice before you do something you'll regret."
Ryan's eyes darted between Ivan and his allies, clearly unprepared for this level of resistance.
His grip on the gun tightened, his frustration boiling over. "You're going to regret this, Chase. I swear, I'll—"
Before he could finish, the door burst open, and Valentina strode in. She took one look at the standoff and immediately assessed the situation.
"What the hell is going on here?" Valentina snapped, her voice sharp. "Put those damn guns down, all of you!"
Ryan hesitated, clearly torn between his anger and his cousin's orders. "No, this is between me and Ivan."
Valentina shot him a withering look. "Enough of your tantrums. You're going to ruin everything." She turned her gaze to Ivan. "Let's talk like adults, shall we?"
Ivan nodded, lowering his hand, signalling for his side to stand down. "That's what I've been trying to do."
Valentina moved closer, her eyes locked on Ivan's. "This doesn't have to end in violence, but make no mistake, Ivan—if you cross us, there will be consequences."
"I'm not looking for a fight," Ivan said, his tone firm. "But I won't be forced into something I don't want. My partner is who I've chosen, and that's final."
Valentina studied him for a long moment before finally nodding. "Then what about us? Are you just going to let our company fall?"
"Do I look like I care?" Ivan responded, his face devoid of emotion.
That was the last straw for Valentina. "Fucker!" she screamed. "You really think you can just walk away?"
Ryan, his expression wild and unhinged, aimed his gun again. "You're not leaving, Chase."
In a split second, Star, Shantel, and the others raised their guns, ready for a showdown.
Ivan, however, remained calm, standing up slowly. "If you want a fight, let's settle this one on one."
—
Back at the house, Callistus lay in bed. "Ivan, please don't do anything stupid," he whispered to himself, wishing he could be there by Ivan's side.