CH.26

Jenkin watched in awe as the two men effortlessly dispatched his would-be attackers in a flurry of well-aimed bullets.

It was over in seconds, and the disturbing silence that followed rang in his ears.

The two strangers prowled towards Jenkin's crumpled vehicle with the focused intensity of apex predators.

One was a mountain of a man, his sculpted face betraying no trace of emotion. The other cut an intimidating figure, though his frightening demeanor was complemented by a wicked grin.

Jenkin scrambled back when the grinning man leveled his gun at the windshield. "Out of the car, Counselor. Nice and slow," he said in a voice smooth as silk.

Jenkin's mouth was drier than the Sahara. He fumbled with the door latch and stepped out on trembling legs to face his unlikely saviors.

Up close, the intensity in the man’s pale eyes was jarring and predatory.

"W-Who the hell are you people?" Jenkin managed, fighting to keep his voice steady.

Killian's grin widened a fraction, though the mirth never reached his eyes. "Your knights in charcoal armor, sir." He jerked his head towards the ride idling nearby. "Now I suggest you get in the car before our friends decide to rejoin the party."

Jenkin's gaze snapped towards the sleek black vehicle, taking in its intimidating presence with a widening sense of trepidation. The sophisticated sedan oozed an unmistakable aura of wealth and power.

He swallowed hard as Killian gestured again with his gun.

"Th-This is insanity..." Jenkin protested weakly, even as his feet began carrying him towards the car against his better judgment.

"Oh, I assure you, this is very much the real world," Killian drawled. "The fun's just getting started."

Jenkin steeled himself and pulled open the back door, revealing an interior of buttery leather and polished wood.

The acrid tang of gunpowder clung in the air, a vivid reminder of the brutality that took place only moments before.

“What about my driver?” Jenkins asked.

Killian scowled as if he had just made an honest mistake. He swirled the weapon in his palm and fired a bullet that pierced the unlucky driver's forehead without looking, killing him instantly.

“No…” Jenkins screamed attempting to rush back to his dead driver but was halted by a gun pointing at his temple.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Killian warned.

His accomplice circled around to the driver's seat with the stealthy lethality of a tiger.

Jenkin slid onto the plush seat, half-expecting the maniac in the black suit to execute him point-blank.

Instead, Killian slipped in beside him, fixing him with that same unsettling smile. "Lovely day for a drive, wouldn't you agree?"

The growl of the powerful engine drowned out any reply Jenkin might have given.

As the automobile pulled away from the scene of mayhem, he sneaked a quick peek at his wrecked vehicle with a knot of dread coiling in his gut.

Sprawled across the seat in studied nonchalance, Killian looked almost civilized—if one ignored the gun resting casually across his lap.

His chiseled features and easy charisma might have rendered him charming in another context.

"So..." Killian's voice sliced through the tense silence. "I'd ask how your day's going so far, but I think that's pretty obvious." He let out a dark chuckle. "Don't worry, Counselor, you're in good hands now."

Jenkin's hands were trembling as he clutched his briefcase tighter. "Good hands? You just killed people back there! My driver no less!"

"Details, details." Killian waved a dismissive hand. "Those gentlemen were hardly upstanding citizens." He quirked an eyebrow. “And your driver was a means to an end.”

A lump formed in Jenkin's throat. "The Marino case..." He swallowed hard. "This is about the Marino case, isn't it?" He inquired, figuring he was being targeted due to the recent case involving a drug lord he handled.

The silent driver's steely gaze met Jenkin's in the rearview mirror, sending a shiver down his spine.

Killian tsked. "And they say lawyers are smart. What business might we have about your dealings with that odious little ant?" His smile took on a predatory edge. "You're a useful to us, Mr. Jenkins. Which is why my dear friend and boss wants to ensure your... continued well-being."

Jenkin felt like the walls were closing in around him. "Your dear friend? Who...?"

"All in good time." Killian held up a hand. "For now, just sit back and enjoy the ride, hmm?"

--

The car came to a stop in another desolate road where an even more luxurious automobile with the name ‘Gaard’ was waiting for them.

“Get down and come with me!” Killian said as he opened the door and moved in the direction of the waiting automobile.

He stepped past it and walked to the other side, softly trailed by Jenkins.

Killian threw open the rear door and gave Jenkins a hard look. “Get in!” He ordered.

Jenkins did as he was told. However, he felt chills run down his spine the moment he got inside the car.

A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision drew him out of his thoughts.

Seven was lounging beside him with head tilted back and eyes closed in a pose of utter nonchalance. But it was the silent figure seated across from them that commanded Jenkin's undivided attention and a sensation of dread crept over him like an icy shroud.

He turned slowly, as if moving through molasses, to find himself face-to-face with a man whose mere presence seemed to demand attention.

The stranger's amber eyes glowed with an internal fire that gave them an almost ethereal quality.

Jenkins felt his breath hitch in his throat as the intensity of the man's aura washed over him. Despite the sophisticated cut of his suit and polished appearance, there was an unmistakable primal energy about him – akin to a jungle predator lying in wait for its prey.

The man's striking features were partially hidden behind a black face mask, setting him apart from everyone else in the room and adding to his air of mystery.

Jenkins' eyes narrowed, and he risked looking at the man next to him again as awareness settled on him.

"Gaard," he whispered under his breath, realization dawning on him like a slow sunrise. "You're Gaard...from Gaard Corp."

His mind raced back to earlier news reports about Sevanon Winks, known as Seven - the Vice CEO of Gaard Corp. But the man seating Infront of him exuded authority far beyond that of anyone else.

He darted another glance at Seven who remained unperturbed by their company. Taking a deep breath, Jenkins dared himself to look again at the formidable figure opposite him.

His veins throbbed against his skin as adrenaline coursed through him.

"You're...you're not just any executive from Gaard Corp," he stammered out finally. "You're THE CEO." He swallowed hard as he recalled whispers about this enigmatic man. A man whose mere identity was enough to strike terror in the hearts of even the toughest underworld goons.

A low hum reverberated through the space, causing Jenkins to jump slightly. "I see you've heard of me," the masked man’s voice was a deep rumble that seemed to echo in Jenkins' very bones.