The aftermath of the shootout lingered in the air, heavier than the night's tension. When we returned home, the silence was deafening. Neither Rose nor I spoke as we cleaned up in separate rooms, our thoughts clouded by the night's events. The reality of what we'd done and the lines we'd crossed began to settle in.
I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed, the gun still in my hand. I stared at it, replaying the moment I pulled the trigger, the man falling to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut. My chest tightened. I had taken a life tonight.
Rose knocked softly on my door before stepping inside. She had changed into her usual casual clothes, but her face was pale, her eyes holding a haunted look.
"Can't sleep?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I shook my head. "No. You?"
She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "It's hard to stop hearing the shots, you know? Seeing…" Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head as if trying to shake the images away.
"I didn't want this for you," I said softly.
She let out a bitter laugh. "You think I wanted it for myself?"
Her words stung, but she softened, stepping closer and sitting beside me on the bed.
"What happens now?" she asked, looking at me for answers I didn't have.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Leo will probably have more jobs. They'll keep pulling us in until we're too deep to get out."
"Too deep?" she echoed, her brow furrowing.
I hesitated. "This… this isn't just about deliveries and shootouts. The Meridian Syndicate doesn't let people walk away, Rose. Once you're in, you're in for life."
Her jaw tightened. "Then we'll have to find a way out before it's too late."
The next morning, Elise's cheerful humming in the kitchen was a cruel contrast to the storm raging in my mind. I watched Rose interact with her, putting on a flawless mask of normalcy as if nothing had happened the night before.
"Good morning, Daniel," Elise said with a warm smile. "You two were out late. Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just helping a friend."
Elise nodded, seemingly satisfied with the explanation. "You're a good man, Daniel. Always helping others."
Her words cut through me like a knife. If only she knew the truth.
Later that day, I received a call from Leo. His voice was sharp, no trace of the usual smugness.
"Good job last night," he said. "You and your girl handled yourselves well. I think you're ready for something bigger."
My stomach churned. "What kind of job?"
"There's a meeting," he said. "A sit-down with some of the other players in the city. We need someone there to represent Meridian's interests."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the only one who doesn't look like a thug," he said with a laugh. "You'll blend in better."
I didn't like it, but I knew refusing wasn't an option. "Fine. When and where?"
"I'll text you the details," Leo said. "Oh, and bring Rose. A pretty face never hurts in negotiations."
I clenched my fist. "She's not involved in this."
"She already is," Leo said coldly. "See you there."
That evening, I told Rose about the meeting. She was furious.
"So now I'm arm candy for your criminal buddies?" she snapped.
"It's not like that," I said defensively. "They think you'll help us blend in. That's all."
"And you just said yes?"
"What choice did I have, Rose?" I said, my frustration boiling over. "They don't give you choices."
Her eyes softened slightly, but the tension between us didn't dissipate. "Fine. I'll go. But I'm not doing this for them—I'm doing it for us."
The meeting was held at a high-end restaurant, the kind of place where people wore designer suits and made deals that changed lives—or ended them. Rose looked stunning in a sleek black dress, but her eyes were cold, her posture stiff.
The other men at the table were older, their eyes sharp and calculating. Leo sat at the head, his usual smirk firmly in place.
"Daniel," he said, gesturing for me to sit. "Rose. Glad you could join us."
As the meeting progressed, it became clear that this wasn't just about alliances—it was about control. The Meridian Syndicate was planning to expand, and they needed to eliminate anyone who stood in their way.
"Loyalty is everything in this business," one of the men said, his gaze settling on me. "Are you loyal, Daniel?"
I hesitated, feeling the weight of Rose's gaze on me. "Of course," I said finally.
The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. Because loyalty is rewarded. And betrayal…" He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
When the meeting ended, Rose and I walked out into the cool night air.
"What the hell was that?" she hissed.
"A warning," I said grimly. "They're testing us, Rose. Watching our every move."
"So what do we do?"
I looked at her, my mind racing. "We play along. For now. But we start looking for a way out."
She nodded, her jaw set. "Then we do it together."
For the first time that night, I felt a flicker of hope. We were in deep, but we weren't alone. And if anyone could find a way out of this mess, it was us.