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5 years ago…
June 30th, xx09
Clark turned to look back at Rena. She looked shocked, sad, and lonely. He should have waited. This hurt more than he thought it would. She rejected his hand and the offer to walk her back home. He knew it wasn’t a true rejection but it felt like it. It cut his heart like a knife and it flashed on his face. He knew she saw the hurt in his expression and that hurt just as much. He never wanted her to see him like that, but it was too late. The damage was done. There was no turning back now.
“3 years. I promise I’ll be back.” His voice trembled slightly, betraying the storm of emotions within him. He took one last look at her, memorizing every detail of her face, the way her hair fell over her shoulders, the tears glistening in her eyes. Then he walked away, into the hands of the enemy.
When he arrived back at the house, the car was there waiting for him. The night was eerily silent, the only sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. He glanced over at his grandparents’ house one last time. The old, familiar structure seemed to hold a lifetime of memories. His dad was peeking out the window, he gave Clark a nod, then disappeared. Clark let out a sigh as he approached the vehicle, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his shoulders.
Liam was leaning against the opposite side of the car, his posture casual yet intimidating. As Clark rounded the corner, Liam looked up at him, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
Giving him a glare, Liam sneered, “Who are you?”
“Clark… Clark Reyes.” Clark put emphasis on the Reyes part, hoping it would mean something to this man.
“Huh. Well shit. I was hoping it’d be a girl, but I guess you’ll have to do. Get in the car, boy, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
Clark got in the backseat of the car and strapped himself in. The interior smelled faintly of cigarettes and cheap cologne. Liam got in the driver’s seat and turned the car on. As he started driving, he looked in the rearview mirror, his eyes cold and calculating.
“So did the old hag tell you who I was?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Yeah, you’re my shit hole of a father who came to use me to solve his problems,” Clark spat back, his voice filled with bitterness.
“Of course she said that. Well, she’s right, unfortunately. I just hope you get me enough to pay my debts. If you were a girl, I could have sold you to the traders. Made 10x more, but I think I have a place for you. One of the big bosses lost his errand boy. You’re capable, right? I bet he’d LOVE you. He’s got a thing for blondes.” Liam chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down Clark’s spine.
“Fantastic…” Clark mumbled under his breath, his mind racing with thoughts of Rena.
The remaining twelve-hour drive across the state was in silence, other than the few phone calls Liam took. Clark tried to listen in, but most of the conversations seemed to not be of any use, so he let his thoughts drift back to the one he was doing this for.
He thought of her smile, a beacon of light that had pierced through the shadows of her past. He remembered the first time he saw it, a moment etched in his memory like a precious gem. It was so in contrast to the sad aura she had carried with her, a testament to the two long years of suffering she had endured at such a tender age. Yet, somehow, in the brief time they had known each other, he had managed to coax that radiant smile from her, a smile that seemed to light up the entire world.
Her laugh was music to his ears, a melody that resonated deep within his soul. It had taken a long time to get her to laugh, but when she finally did, it was nothing short of magical. He would tell her the silliest jokes, ones that made no sense at all, just to hear that enchanting sound. Each laugh was a victory, a sign that he was helping to heal the wounds of her past.
Her eyes were like gemstones, sparkling with a beautiful shade of blue that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. He could stare into them for hours, losing himself in their depths. He remembered the day they shined the brightest, the day he truly knew he was in love with her. It was a sunny afternoon, and they had spent the day by the lake, laughing and talking about everything and nothing. He carried the picture they took that day with him everywhere, a constant reminder of the bond they shared.
Her very being was a gift, a precious treasure that he cherished more than anything else in the world. He felt so special to be able to know her, to be near her, to talk to her, to love her. He knew, with every fiber of his being, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted to grow old with her, to share every joy and sorrow, every triumph and failure. He was going to marry her, and nothing in the world could change that.
His comforting thoughts were shattered when the car pulled up to a mansion. A butler came to the car as Liam parked.
“Stay here. Don’t say a single word.” Liam growled as he exited the car to speak with the butler.
After what looked like a heated argument, Liam opened Clark’s door.
“Get out. The head wants to meet you.”
Clark didn’t remember much of what happened next. He followed Liam into the mansion where he was led to an office. Some man was there who was giving Clark a creepy state. Words were exchanged and then the butler was called to take Clark to his room.
The butler had said something about a uniform and that it was waiting for him in his room. Once Clark was in his room and the door shut behind him he looked around. Taking in his surroundings, he felt the weight of his situation land heavy on his shoulders.
He walked to the wall opposite the bed, each step feeling heavier than the last. Sliding down, he brought his knees to his chest, seeking some semblance of comfort in the tight embrace of his own arms. Before he knew it, the tears started to fall, hot and unrelenting, tracing paths down his cheeks.
“I’m so sorry, Ree,” he whispered, his voice breaking with the weight of his sorrow. “I love you. Please wait for me. Please…Please forgive me.” The words hung in the air, a desperate plea to the one person who meant everything to him. He buried his face in his knees, the sobs wracking his body as he clung to the hope that she would understand someday.
August 15th, xx09
It had been a little over a month since Clark had been brought to the Ricci mansion. He was assigned as an errand boy for Antonio Ricci, the second head of the mafia. Whitlock was still often around so Clark was able to somewhat keep an eye on him.
Today Clark and the butler were in town picking up supplies. Clark had been ordered to stand by the van while the butler was inside with the vendor. The van was parked in an alleyway behind a shady store. Clark was zoning out thinking about Rena when he heard Whitlock’s voice. He wasn’t supposed to be in town today, what is he doing here?
Clark peaked around the van and saw Whitlock talking to someone. The alleyway was dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the walls from the flickering streetlight at the entrance. He crouched lower behind the van, making sure to stay out of sight.
Whitlock, dressed in a casual leather jacket, jeans, and a plain white t-shirt, stood with a tall, burly man who had a scar running down his left cheek. The man wore a dark trench coat, and his eyes darted around nervously.
“You have the merchandise?” Whitlock said sternly.
“Of course. But the price has gone up. Security’s tighter these days.” the unknown man replied, a grin forming on his face.
Whitlock’s expression hardened. “We had a deal, Marcus. You don’t get to change the terms now.”
Marcus smirked, pulling out a small, sleek case from his coat. “This isn’t just any shipment, Whitlock. These are top-of-the-line narcotics. Worth every extra penny.”
Whitlock glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, then opened the case. Inside, Clark could see the glint of several vials of liquid. Whitlock’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
“Fine. You’ll get your money. But if you try to pull something like this again, you’ll regret it.” Whitlock growled
Marcus chuckled, closing the case. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
As they shook hands, Clark quickly took out his phone and snapped a few photos, making sure to capture the exchange. He knew this information was crucial for the agency. He carefully retreated back to his position by the van, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just witnessed.
Once the butler returned, Clark kept his composure, but his thoughts were already on how he would relay this information to the other undercover agent. The agency needed to know about this drug deal, and Clark was determined to ensure they did.
October 3rd, xx09
Clark’s breath came in short, controlled bursts as he crouched behind a stack of crates in the dimly lit warehouse. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal, and the distant hum of machinery added to the tension. He adjusted his earpiece, ensuring his connection to the agency was secure.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7sOebGPnR
Earlier that evening, Clark had been in the mansion’s library, pretending to organize books. The other undercover agent, posing as a gardener, approached him discreetly.
“Clark, we have a lead on the shipment. You’ll need this.” the gardener whispered.
He handed Clark a small, inconspicuous bag. Inside, Clark found a compact camera, an earpiece, and a small handgun for emergencies. The gardener gave him a nod, signaling the importance of the mission.
“Thanks. I’ll be back before anyone notices.” Clark said as he left the room.
Clark waited until the mansion was quiet, then slipped out through a side door. He made his way to the garage, where he had stashed a motorcycle earlier. With a quick glance around to ensure he wasn’t being watched, he sped off into the night, heading towards the warehouse.
“Clark, do you have visual confirmation on the shipment?” an agent spoke through the earpiece.
“Affirmative. The crates are marked with the red X, just like the intel said.”
He peered around the corner, spotting a group of men unloading the crates from a truck. They were heavily armed, their faces obscured by shadows. Clark’s heart pounded as he watched them carefully.
“I’m moving in closer.” Clark whispered
He crept forward, using the shadows to his advantage. As he approached the truck, he could hear snippets of conversation.
“Boss wants these delivered by midnight. No screw-ups.” one of the thugs said in a gruff voice.
“Yeah, yeah. Just keep an eye out. We don’t need any surprises.” another one said looking around for anything suspicious.
Clark’s fingers itched to reach for his camera. He needed clear evidence of the illegal firearms. He positioned himself behind a stack of tires, close enough to see the men prying open one of the crates. Inside, he saw rows of sleek, black firearms, each one gleaming under the dim light.
“I’ve got visual on the weapons. I’m taking photos now.” Clark whispered to the agent.
He snapped several pictures, making sure to capture the faces of the men and the contents of the crates. Just as he was about to retreat, one of the thugs turned, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Clark.
“Hey! Who’s there?” one of the thugs yelled.
Clark’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly ducked behind the tires, holding his breath. The thug approached, his footsteps echoing in the warehouse.
“I’ve been spotted. Need an extraction plan.” Clark whispered frantically.
“Hold your position. Backup is on the way.”
Clark’s mind raced. He couldn’t afford to be caught now. He glanced around, spotting a narrow passageway leading to the back of the warehouse. He waited until the thug was distracted, then made a dash for it.
He slipped through the passageway, emerging into the cool night air. He could hear the distant wail of sirens, signaling the arrival of his backup. He quickly relayed his position to the agency, ensuring they knew where to find him.
Minutes later, a black SUV pulled up, and Clark was ushered inside. He handed over his camera, the photos providing crucial evidence of the illegal firearms shipment.
“Great work, Clark. This will be invaluable for our case.”
Clark nodded, relief washing over him.
Clark arrived back at the mansion just before dawn, slipping in through the same side door he had used to leave. He quietly made his way to his room, relieve and accomplishment washing over him.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4qIuQOwTi
