Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Deal With Luke
Gabriel's POV
Back in college, I got into trouble—I beat up a girl for bullying me relentlessly. I thought it was justified—a moment of righteous anger. But then she turned out to be the mayor’s daughter, and my world crumbled. Luke was the one I called when I felt the walls closing in. He didn’t hesitate. He silenced her permanently. That one act became the first domino in the series of events that landed him in prison.
We used to have a spot near the college where we’d meet whenever trouble brewed—a place hidden from prying eyes. Tonight, I was headed there again. Mandena hadn’t changed much, but I had. I was no longer the scared, reckless boy I once was—or so I told myself.
When I arrived, Luke was already waiting, leaning against the cement bench, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. The glowing ember burned like a warning in the dark.
“You’re late,” he barked, his voice slicing through the silence of the empty street.
“Sorry,” I muttered, taking a seat beside him. The bench felt colder than I remembered, or maybe it was just the chill creeping into my soul.
Luke exhaled a cloud of smoke, his sharp eyes cutting into me. “You look like shit, man,” he said, almost amused.
I forced a bitter laugh. “You have no idea.”
“You’d better start talking, then,” he said, flicking the cigarette to the ground and grinding it under his boot. “What’s got you so spooked?”
I hesitated, my heart pounding like a war drum. My mouth felt dry, and the weight of my words threatened to choke me. But there was no turning back now.
“It’s my wife,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “She’s... ruining me. Choking the life out of me. And I need her gone. Permanently.”
Luke didn’t flinch. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. “Permanently, huh?” he said after a long pause. “You sure about that?”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Luke leaned back, his eyes narrowing. “That’s going to cost you. Thirty grand.”
“Thirty?!” I hissed, my voice rising before I caught myself.
“You didn’t think I’d still charge what I did back in college, did you?” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “We’re grown men now. Responsibilities. Risks. Pay up, or no deal.”
He was right. The stakes were higher now, and so was the price. Back in college, it had only cost me $2,000 to make someone disappear. But those days were gone.
“I’ll pay,” I said through gritted teeth. “Ten now. The rest when it’s done.”
Luke nodded, his smirk widening. “Good. Just like old times.”
He patted my back, the weight of his hand sending a shiver down my spine. Memories of the past flooded my mind—the screams, the blood, the lies we told to survive.
“Got a picture?” he asked, his voice pulling me back to the present.
I pulled out my phone and airdropped a photo of Emmanuella to him. My hands trembled as I tapped the screen.
“I don’t want this to be messy,” I said firmly. “No drama. No suspicion. It needs to look... natural.”
Luke’s eyes glinted in the dim light. “Don’t worry. I’ve learned a lot since college. This’ll be clean. Give me a month.”
“One month,” I repeated, my voice hollow.
“By then, your problem will be gone for good,” he promised, his tone chillingly casual.
I rose to my feet, the weight of our agreement pressing down on me like a vice. “Remember, I was never here,” I said, my voice low.
“You were never here, man,” Luke replied with a wink, pocketing the cash I’d handed him.
Driving home, my mind raced. The streets blurred into streaks of gold as I gripped the wheel tighter.
When I entered the bedroom, Emmanuella was sprawled across the bed, snoring loudly. I stood there, staring at her. This woman—this parasite—had brought me to my knees. But soon, she would be nothing more than a memory.
“Soon,” I whispered, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Soon, it’ll all be over.”
Her snoring filled the room, a grating sound that felt like nails on a chalkboard.
“You disgust me,” I thought, the words bitter on my tongue. She was a leech, draining me dry, running off to satisfy her filthy cravings with other men and returning like nothing had happened.
I turned away, unable to look at her any longer. Stripping off my clothes, I changed into my nightwear and headed for the living room.
Only a fool would sleep next to the devil.
As I sank into the couch, pulling a blanket over myself, a strange calm washed over me. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of peace.
One thing was certain: with Emmanuella out of the way, my life would finally be mine again. My business would flourish. I’d have the clarity to think, to plan, and to strategize. And maybe—just maybe—I could find my way back to Rebecca.
She loved me once. She could love me again. I knew it.
Smiling to myself, I closed my eyes. Sleep came easily for the first time in forever.