"You won't get away from us, Sean!" The thug's voice echoed through the dimly lit warehouse, his tone dripping with malice.
Sean lay sprawled on the cold concrete floor, his body battered and broken. Blood dripped from a deep cut on his forehead, trickling down the side of his face, blurring his vision as he tried to focus. Pain radiated from every part of his body, his ribs ached with every shallow breath, his arms felt too weak to move, and his head throbbed from the relentless beating he had endured.
I have to get out of here. Sean thought desperately, his mind racing even as his body screamed in protest. I can't die here. I haven't accomplished anything yet. I have just graduated from high school… I just can't die.
Summoning every ounce of strength left in him, he gritted his teeth and slowly, painstakingly, pushed himself up. His muscles trembled, his hands barely supporting his weight as he forced his bruised and bloodied body off the ground.
Laughter erupted around him. The thugs, standing in a loose semicircle, watched him with amused sneers.
I see you still got some fight left in you. The leader, Joe Thomas, taunted, a smug grin stretching across his face. He raised a hand, curling his fingers toward himself in a mocking invitation. "Come on, then. Show us what you got."
Sean forced himself to stand upright, though his legs threatened to give out beneath him. His entire body felt like it was on fire, but he ignored it. His gaze darted around the room, five men, including Joe, all watching him like wolves circling an injured prey.
With a shaking hand, he wiped the blood from his mouth and fixed his glare on Joe. "You won't get away with this, Joe Thomas." He rasped, his voice hoarse from the pain. "I promise you; I will have my revenge."
Joe tilted his head, looking Sean up and down with feigned consideration before turning to his men. "You hear that, boys?" he said, amusement lacing his words. "The mighty, the powerful Sean Kaci thinks he's going to get revenge!"
The gang burst into laughter, their voices echoing off the metal walls of the warehouse. Joe smirked and took a step forward, his boots clicking against the floor. "Tell me, Sean, who do you think ordered this hit?"
Sean's breath hitched. His mind scrambled for an answer. 'Who would dare go after someone from the Kaci family?' He thought, his stomach twisting in dread. 'Whoever it is… they're asking to be sacrificed.'
Joe must have seen the confusion on Sean's face, because his smirk widened. "Since you're going to die anyway, I'll tell you." He said casually, as if discussing the weather.
Sean staggered backward, his vision tunneling. His foot brushed against something solid, a crate pushed against the wall. Just beyond it, he spotted an open window. A way out. His heart pounded. 'If I can just make it there… I might survive.'
Joe's voice yanked him back to reality. "Sam Kaci."
Sean's body went rigid. His breath caught in his throat.
Joe stared at him, savoring his reaction. "That's right. Your own brother, Sam Kaci, ordered the hit on you. He wants you dead, Sean Kaci."
Sean felt his world tilt, the pain in his body momentarily forgotten. His mind reeled, trying to grasp the weight of Joe's words. His brother, his own flesh and blood, had betrayed him.
'Why?' The question pounded in his skull. 'Why would my brother want me dead? What have I ever done to him?'
His hands clenched into fists at his sides. His body trembled, not just from exhaustion, but from something deeper. Betrayal.
Joe watched the way Sean's face twisted in disbelief, the shock plain in his wide, unfocused eyes. The moment was too good to pass up. He chuckled darkly before putting on an exaggerated expression of mock surprise, covering his mouth with one hand.
"Look at him, boys! He's shocked!" Joe sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
His gang erupted into laughter again, their cruel amusement filling the dimly lit warehouse. The stale air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and the metallic tang of rust. The flickering overhead bulb cast eerie shadows along the cracked concrete floor, distorting their figures as they loomed over Sean like vultures circling a dying carcass.
Sean's vision blurred, not just from the blood running into his eyes, but from the sting of betrayal. His chest tightened, and for the first time, he felt something deeper than the pain from his injuries.
It was heartbreak. His own brother had ordered his death.
Sean's throat constricted as his eyes burned with unshed tears. 'I just don't understand… we're family. What have I done to him?' The question echoed in his mind, but there were no answers, only confusion and pain.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it.
I have to get out of here. I have to know why Sam wants me dead, and if I die now, I'll never get any answers.
The thugs were still caught up in their mockery, jeering and joking at Sean's expense, their attention momentarily off him. Taking a slow, measured breath, he inched closer to the wall, his movements deliberate and controlled despite the agony in his limbs. His fingers brushed against the cool, rough surface, guiding him toward his only chance of escape, an open window just a few feet away.
I guess this is the only way out. Sean thought grimly, his heart hammering against his ribs. 'I have no other choice.'
Before he could hesitate, before doubt could creep in, Sean mustered the last of his strength and lunged forward.
The laughter came to an abrupt halt the moment his body crashed through the window. The jagged edges of the frame scraped against his arms as he tumbled down, gravity pulling him toward the unforgiving pavement below.
Thud.
The sound of the impact snapped the gang out of their amusement.
"Fuck!" Joe shouted, his head whipping toward the window. He rushed forward, gripping the sill as he peered down.
Sean lay sprawled on the ground, motionless, his body twisted awkwardly atop the rubble and debris that littered the alleyway below.
Joe cursed under his breath before barking out. "Let's go!"
The gang scrambled, rushing out of the warehouse and down the stairs, their footsteps pounding against the metal grating. When they reached Sean's still form, they hesitated. His chest didn't rise. His eyes remained shut.
One of the thugs shifted uneasily. "What do we do, boss?" He asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Joe didn't answer immediately. He pulled out his phone, knelt down, and snapped a picture of Sean's seemingly lifeless body. With a few taps, he attached it to a message and sent it off.
His lips curled into a smirk as he read over his own words:
"The job is done. Please wire the remaining funds."
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, Joe rose to his feet and turned to his men.
"We did our job." He said coldly. "Let's get out of here."
Without a second glance, Joe and his crew walked away, disappearing into the night, leaving Sean lying there in the dirt.