IN THE CAGE

114. EXPIRES

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

Jack Hunter sharpened his gaze, his breath softly blowing while he focused the gun in his hand right at the target point across the room. Feeling that he was in the perfect position, Jack pulled the trigger. The whirring of the bullet came out like an eruption, loud and painful. With a speed that did not reach a fraction of a second, the bullet landed on its target. At the point he marked.

"So seriously," Ace greeted Jack by standing in a different booth from the man. Jack, standing next to him, was bounded by a glass grating, wearing headphones before firing his shot towards the target board.

Ace did not make any deep preparations, did not put any serious focus anyway. He just came and shot straight at the target. Carcel who was standing behind Ace and observing the performance of his boss was clapping lightly.

"It's not usually that you come" Jack scolds Ace as he steps out of his room. He and Ace both got out of there and headed for the sofa that was on display in the corner of the basement. Two carrot juices are given by a waiter, accompanied by a plate of cookies.

"Is this kids food?" Jack didn't like what was on the table. He was more of the type of man who drank alcohol in broad daylight.

"Don't bring it up, uncle. Didn't you know that carrot juice is great for your eye health."

"I don't have any vision problems yet, Ace."

"It's better for prevention, then." Ace without waiting for his uncle to respond, took a sip of the carrot juice. Although Ace is not a fan of the taste of the fruit, he still drank the orange liquid. "I want a healthy-eyed uncle when I destroy Evan Caspian."

"Is that why you came here?" Jack sneered. "I'm not going anywhere and for sure, I won't go blind, until you avenge your father's death."

"Let's leave aside this little matter of retaliation, have you heard about the increased number of bodyguards in the Caspian residence?"

"I heard. Some of them are mercenaries."

Ace mangosteen. "I'm thinking, if we're going to attack Evan Caspian's residence, that means we're going to need more people, right?"

"Are you planning to attack there?" Jack thought, Ace will wait for Evan to attack him first.

"In the end, Evan and I will face each other. I won't let him dirty my yard, uncle. If there's any blood to spill, it won't spill in my place." Ace was determined to attack first. Resolve all problems with direct confrontation.

"Did Margot know your decision?"

"He'll know later."

"You can't involve Margot later, Ace. After all, he is the most bloodthirsty figure among you."

Ace knew that, so he preferred to keep all his plans secret from Margot. He did not want madness and his brother's ambition brought his plan to a mess. Everything should be as he calculated.

"I have no intention of fighting over the trophy with Margot. As long as I can conquer the Caspian residence, then that will be enough. Who kills who is up to Margot."

"So..., what about your plan?" Jack did not comment much on Ace and Margot's relationship. He is more interested in continuing their negotiations. "Do you think Evan will do what you think?"

"Evan will do it. After all, he's been obsessed with my weakness. After Jem spills a bit of information about me to him, Evan will forget whatever Max plans for him. I know Evan, he's a man who wants to solve every problem on his own. Max's help - even if he greatly admired his father - would still be a burden to him."

"We're very helpful because you understand Evan's personality well, Ace. I don't know whether to thank you or feel sad about the fact that this help exists because you've taken advantage of your closeness that has been built up for a long time."

"Our closeness...., oh, what do you mean our friendship first?" Evan grinned thinly. "That's an unnecessary topic. Our relationship as teenagers and our relationship now are two different things. I now feel like I won't blink if I kill him."

"But Evan may have a different feeling."

"Then it will be his weakness."

Ace sipped his juice once more and grimaced as the taste stung in his throat. It was very unpleasant and made him sick.

"Because now that everything is in the perfect position, we just have to wait for Evan Caspian to fall into the trap that you have prepared." Jack leaned against the sofa, he ignored the carrot juice completely.

"What about the bodyguards under uncle? Are they ready?"

"They were very enthusiastic, actually. The weapons you brought from the North a few months ago are like toys to them. If a fight happens, I feel.., even you and I don't have to dirty their hands."

"That's high confidence, but I still want uncle on standby." Ace thrust the carrot juice once more in front of his uncle. "Be healthy."

"You're obnoxious," complained Jack. He sighed. Inevitably, he was forced to drink the liquid with that disgusting color.

"Let me know when your plan goes well, Ace. I'll be on standby at my position."

Ace stood up from the sofa and sauntered with Carcel by his side. "Take that drink."

While Ace continued breezing out toward the hotel-loft, where the one above the shooting practice arena floor was located, Carcel who was on Ace's side gave the report he had just received.

"Boss, Vera and Anggara are meeting tonight at Leviathan."

"How's the news about reporter Jun?"

"He had already discussed the matter regarding Anggara's relationship with Evan. I also got word that they were fighting."

"Newspaper?"

Ace smiled immediately. "I didn't expect Fawn to complain to you about the Caspian family's internal problems."

"I think he just let go of his frustration. Boss knows for himself that Fawn is very protective of Anggara."

"Getting information from Fawn is good. But Carcel, I hope you don't put unnecessary closeness on him. If Fawn calls you again, ask him to stop."

"Is that okay?"

"I don't want him to feel like I'll always be behind him. Deciding a little bit on the connection will make him feel restless himself." Ace continued as he got in front of his car. "In that way, I'll stay in his mind longer."

Carcel amazement. "That's an interesting trick."

...----------------...

Leviathan, at eight o'clock in the evening, Vera stood alone in a dark, silent back alley.

Today, while Vera was busy cutting Margot's nails, she got a short message from Anggara. A message inviting him to meet at Leviathan. At first, Vera reluctantly agrees to the invitation, but Margot snatches her phone and reads the message.

"Just go, I don't need you" is Margot's outspoken exorcism.

Vera felt mixed up after that as well. He felt-whether-how-Margot did not show deep concern for his relationship and Anggara. Though in Vera's mind, he had thought that Margot would be furious with him. Gonna scold him or maybe worse, fire him. Butno. After Margot got information about the relationship between Vera and Anggara through Ace, Margot only nodded twice and shuddered shoulder without caring.

Did only Vera feel that she was very close to Margot? Does Margot really care about anything other than herself?

Well, he shouldn't have questioned that either. Vera meant, Margot did indeed stray slightly from normalcy. What can she expect from a woman who sleeps with a pink light in her room?

Now.., leaving Margot aside.., Vera will meet with Anggara. The man who has been his partner. No, the partner Vera was referring to had no serious meaning. They are not lovers. The partner here is only used to describe the consensual relationship that exists between them. Relationships without status, without name, without feeling and of course.

"I think he's been busy lately. Why are you suddenly asking me to meet?" Vera muttered to herself while staring at the screen of her phone. Vera played a simple game on her phone, a game that swapped boxes of the same color. While he was immersed in the game as well, Vera paid little attention to the arrival of someone who instantly covered her phone with a palm.

Vera looked up and was about to stare at the figure in her mind, definitely Anggara. And that's true.

It's just that, before Vera was able to express words of greeting to him, he had already been silenced by a pagutan. Vera's eyes widened as her head was pushed against the wall. Anggara greeted her with a rough and impatient kiss. A kiss that implies thirst and frustration.

Vera long closed her eyes, letting Anggara dominate her. He was leaning against the cold wall behind him. Hands holding low on an open Anggara leather jacket. He pulled the man close to his chest, sharing the same body heat.

Anggara's tongue infiltrates and plays in his mouth, head tilted in such a way.

Vera replies to Anggara's kiss for some time, her chin looking up with open lips. They scooped each other up, snatching air from each other. Until finally, Vera found her consciousness again. He dampened the lust that was burning in his chest, and immediately, he pushed Anggara away from him.

Vera's lips were wet by the salivary, breathing up and down panting.

Anggara raised his eyebrows, objecting to Vera's actions.

"Is this why you asked me to meet?" Vera looked at Anggara as she swept the salivary trail on her lips.

"Do you mind?"

"I think we've got our own schedule." Vera commented ketus. "I haven't been off work. I was forced to see you because I thought something was important."

"I need entertainment" Anggara said. His eyes focused on Vera completely.

"I'm not a circus animal to entertain you." Vera brushed Anggara's arm off his shoulder. "If you need entertainment, find another woman."

"I thought you were mine." Anggara pressed Vera's shoulder back into its original position.

"We have a consensual relationship."

Vera looked at Anggara, eyes scanning the man's face closely. Just then, Vera realized there was a trace of bruising in the corner of the man's eyes and lips. Vera's hand went up and was about to touch Anggara's face, but at the same time, Anggara stopped her.

"Don't" stop Anggara.

"What's going on?"

"Not anything serious."

"You sure?" Vera's worried about Anggara. He never found the man in such circumstances. After all, who would have dared to hit him? A word from everyone.

"It's just a trivial matter." Anggara moved to the side of Vera, the back also greeted the wall.

"Vera, I guess..., from today on, what if our relationship stops here?"

"..."

"..."

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