Chapter 3: Sunny, but shady.

John’s Pov. 

The day was pretty bright and sunny, not too bad for a Monday morning. I picked up my phone to check my schedule for today, damn! I have a whole lot on my plate for the day. I saw a notification from Fiona, my girlfriend. I opened it and schemed through her message, 

“Hi honey, please call me soon, I miss you so much.”

I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her, or maybe I will later in the day but right now, I had a lot to worry about. 

I leaned on my chair and swung it sideways while I used one finger to make a little noise in the office. My office isn’t so large but at least it’s portable, just as I like it. My father owns a big club so I work as the manager at the club. A knock on my door jolted me back to reality then a young guy in his early twenties walked in. “Morning sir, your father requests your presence” he said. 

“Morning Vince, where is he right now?” I asked, twirling my revolting chair around, to face him properly. 

“In his private room, sir” he responded with enthusiasm. I sometimes envied the energy he gave off. My dad said he picked him up from the streets after seeing how eager he was to leave life in the streets. 

I’ve always looked at him like a brother I never had, being the only child of my father is a little bit boring so it wouldn’t hurt to bring him into my space. Besides, he’s the youngest amongst my father’s boys. 

“Tell him I’d be on my way soon.” I said with a tone of finality. 

“Okay…right away” he said, turning to leave. 

Immediately he left the office, I stood up from my chair and made my way to my dad’s private room. I responded to a few hellos from my father’s boys, they were busy doing their respective jobs.

 I got to the private room to find a man covered in sweat and tied up to a chair with thick rope. His face was covered with his hair and he put his face downwards, God knows what this man must have done to get on my father’s bad side. 

The room was dimly lit with a small fancy bulb, if I wasn’t coming from my office I’d have sworn that it was dark outside. Two of my dad’s men held whips, I guess they must have whipped the man a thousand times. I walked towards where my was sitting and bowed my head slightly, it was my way of saying good morning.

“Do you know him?” My father said huskily, crossing his right leg over his left just before sipping something from a glass cup. Vodka, I whispered. Recently, he stopped drinking but well, he perhaps still does it when provoked. I swallowed hard, pursed my lips and looked towards one of the men standing close to the man on the chair. 

I gave a slight nod and simultaneously, he pulled the man on the chair by his hair making the man yell out in pain. I recognized the man immediately as he locked his eyes with mine. He used to work with my dad a few months ago until he absconded with some of my father's money. 

“Morris Bernaby” I said to my father without looking at him. 

“Ah, my boy” he exclaimed lightly, relaxing on his chair. “This young man disappeared with my edibles worth a hundred thousand dollars and still had the temerity to take a few bundles from my office. I guess he must have thought I am stupid enough to leave my money without a camera” he continued, staring sternly at the traitor. Hard to tell his gaze due to the dark sunshade he had on, I could dictate he wasn’t staring anywhere else.

“I needed the money to do something…please John! Tell him I did it because I had no choice!” He said tearfully. I stood there looking at him without saying a word. I knew I was supposed to feel sober because he’s someone I used to know. I felt emotionless and the fact that he didn’t have a valid reason to steal, made anger build up inside me. 

“What exactly did you need the money for? Huh?” I asked, walking towards where he was tied up. 

“John, I’m sorry I didn’t think….” 

“That’s exactly the point Morris. You didn’t think, did you?” 

“Oh God John! Have a heart, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to do it. I needed to settle some debts” he said shakily. He already knew his fate, death. I didn’t even feel sober knowing he used to be a worker at the club or the fact that we used to be on talking terms. 

My father purposely called me to this room to finish him off, that’s exactly what i was good at. He stole from us, so he had to pay for his sins. 

I turned towards the table and picked up the pistol on the table, then turned to look at Morris. I could see beads of sweat on his forehead and hear his shaky breath. I decided to tease him a little before I do what is expected of me. 

“Do you remember how you used to help us handle this kind of situation?” I asked, placing the gun under his jaw, using it to lift his face so he could look at me. 

“Please John, I’m sorry. Don’t do this to me, please.” He said tearfully. His face was sweaty and traces of blood were on the sides of his mouth. I guessed he took time to confess to his deeds. 

“You dare steal from Big Jim. You made me lose the edibles worth hundred thousand dollars and still went ahead to steal my money. My fucking money, boy! Finish him off Johnny. I don’t have all day” my father hollered behind me with a tone expressing rage, finishing off the remaining liquid in his cup.

“Please John, I beg you. Don’t do this to me. I…” 

“Shhhhh…” I cut in and continued, “I’m going to make this as quick as possible, and off you go” I said with a sinister smile with the gun under his jaw. 

“Please John…I beg you” 

His pleadings sounded like music to my ears as I turned around and walked towards my dad, then within a split second, I turned around abruptly and pulled the trigger, letting the fiery bullet do the rest.