01

Tracy's POV

This was my last mission! My fingers tightened around the mission file, the weight of my freedom pressed against my ribs like a vice.

One last mission, one last risk, and I’d be free—if I survived.

In my mafia clan, loyalty had been a lifelong commitment—one could never leave after joining. Yet, I was just about to break free.

As I prepared for the mission, I suddenly came to a halt. “Who could be my mission contact!?” I wondered, but the thought was short-lived, as I focused on getting ready.

With my gaze on my reflection in the mirror, I found the red gown fabric I put on to be effectively clinging to my hips, accentuating every contours on my body. Also, as my blonde hair cascaded down my back, the hairpin-like syringe remained securely tucked away in it.

Moving on to the last, most important mission tool, my eyes landed on the cologne, where it'd been resting on my make-up shelf. As I sprayed a spritz of it on my bare neck, my boss' words came echoing in my mind—"The vervain cologne would make the unknown weak."

His words leaving my eyebrows arched upward, I couldn't help but wonder "How?" one more time.

With everything in place, I was ready. I headed out to my car and we headed to the Royal Club. Forty-five minutes later, I pulled up at the magnificent building and I headed in.

As I settled into the bar area, I heard the music pulse through the air with an exotic, sultry beat. My eyes twitching around, I began searching the club room for any sign of my mysterious contact.

When five minutes passed, my nerves began to fray. There was no progress yet. My gaze falling on my phone again, for what felt like the hundredth time, I found no messages.

As I continued to wait, my heart quickened, and my palms grew sweaty.

Right then, a text appeared on my phone screen, stating—"Jayden Crane." Instantly, my legs locked in place, refusing to budge.

My heart pounding in my chest, my breath caught in my throat, as I thought about the rumors surrounding Jayden Crane—the ruthless, cunning, and deadly Mafia lord.

Now that I knew my contact's name, I was sure that this mission was a potential death sentence.

But then, I sucked in a deep breath to calm my frazzled nerves, and focused on the prize attached—my freedom.

Immediately, a spark of defiance ignited within me.

"Why should I fear Jayden Crane?" I thought. "I've heard rumors about his ruthlessness, but my Boss could be just as formidable.”

Lost in thought, I was suddenly jolted back to reality by the buzzing of my phone.

My Boss—Boss D's name flashed on the screen, and I was left wondering by his cryptic instructions; “Feign ignorance about the Killer Machine.”

In reality, I knew all Jayden Crane was capable of executing as the only Mafia Lord, and I wouldn't dare to cross his path, had I known.

Sucking in another deep breath, I narrowed my eyes, and steeled myself for what was to come.

Then just like that, I stepped on my fear, and decided to look for the devil himself.

Upon turning back, my heart skipped a beat. A pair of ocean blue eyes were staring intensely at me.

The Devil's eyes seeming to bore into my soul, the club air vibrated with his presence, as he drew every eye in the room to him.

His piercing gaze and chiseled features leaving me breathless, a chill traced down my spine, and left goosebumps in its wake. Perhaps, it could be as a result of seeing him in person for the first time.

Erratically blinking twice, I snapped out of my trance, and immediately unlocked myself from the intense stare.

Having gathered enough courage, I decided to walk up to him. But with each step I took towards him, my stomach twisted into knots, and my skin prickled with unease.

As I approached him, he suddenly stood up, and his towering figure made me feel petite.

But just before I could ask if I could sit beside him, I felt his strong arm wrap rigidly around my ass, pulling me onto his laps roughly.

As my ass bounced abruptly on his torso, my eyes widened, and my breath hitched. I couldn't help but stare into his face, and raise my brows at him slightly in question.

But to my surprise, his lips curled into a sly smile in response. As his smile seemed to gleam with secrets, I sensed a sinister undertone, and my stomach dropped.

But suddenly, I felt him draw me closer to his body, his nose wandering to my bare neck. As his rigid grasp kept me in place, I sensed him inhale the vervain fragrance deeply.

His face inches from mine, a hollow sensation spread through my chest, leaving me breathless. In the heat of the moment, my mission was quickly forgotten.

But then, my hand abruptly drifted to the syringe hidden in my hair. Instantly, my focus snapped back into place, and I awaited the green light.

Right in time, I saw him lie backward slowly with his eyes dropping slightly on the VIP couch. Then, what my boss told me about the vervain spray struck at me, once again—he already inhaled enough to make him paralyzed.

But seeing him lying helplessly on the couch, I wondered for a minute if I should hold back and withdraw the mission.”

As his chest rose and fell with a slow, shallow breath, for some unknown reason, a pang of sympathy struck at me.

But upon recalling who he was, I shook my head, and dismissed the fleeting concern. Reaching into my hair, I pulled out the syringe, and inserted it into his arm to extract his blood.

Right then, it was done! I had his blood in the syringe, and my mission was completed! “I'd be free in a few hours!” I thought, and prepared to leave.

But on my way out, my skin prickled with unease, the weight of my decision settling in, like a cold stone in my stomach.

Jayden Crane, not a man to be trifled with—the whispers of his ruthless tactics and cunning nature had reached me long before our impromptu meeting, and yet, I had foolishly put myself in his crosshairs.

As my car came to a halt in the clan, I headed straight to Boss D's suite, and handed over the syringe to him. He smiled upon receiving it, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“I'd be moving out of the clan tomorrow, Boss.“I declared, interrupting him.

“You leave in the next few days," I heard him say.

"It's for your own safety," he added.

My mind raced with chaotic thoughts. Did I trust him enough? Did I really need to be protected? However, I gathered my courage and nodded, and I was dismissed.

As I stepped into my suite, I froze. There in the shadows, was a grey-eyed stranger. His eyes glinted with a sinister light as they remained fixed on me, unreadable.

“I had been waiting for you," his voice suddenly boomed in the room, leaving my mind racing with questions. I tried to step back, but my feet felt rooted to the spot.

"What do you want?" I demanded in a voice resolute, as I maintained my stance near the door.

But the stranger didn't respond. Instead, he appeared at my back in a flash, and grabbed my neck roughly.

“You'd make a perfect addition to our midnight meal,” he abruptly whispered into my ear, his breath cold against my skin.

As his words echoed in my mind, I began struggling to break free. But

before I could succeed, I felt a sting in my neck, and the world around me dissolved into darkness.