Everyone knew Don Martinez and how ruthless he was. I was a million percent sure that his son would be just as ruthless.
I finally understood why he assigned the job to me. Because no one was as naive as I was. Who in their right senses would agree to accept this kind of risky mission? If I got caught, that would be the end of my life.
From constable to captain? I would be digging my own grave instead.
But I had already agreed to do this. And there was no way I could take back my words unless I wanted to lose my job. And losing my job would only make me worse of a human than I already was.
I glanced out the window to see that the moon was already sitting high in the sky, shining down like it had no concern for whatever was going on with me. Letting out a sigh of despair, I shoved the documents inside my bag and headed out of the station.
My old pick-up car was waiting by the side and a groan escaped my lips when I realized that I'd be spending the next twenty minutes trying to get the car to come to life. I threw my bag into the passenger seat and got in, turning the key to start the engine.
To my utmost surprise, the car roared to life at once and I let out a scoff of disbelief as I stared at the steering wheel in amusement. I guess the car understood that I was in a bad mood tonight.
The car shook as I drove home, my mind spinning with different thoughts. Should I quit this job? I could definitely find a better job somewhere else instead of risking my life for a captain who never cared about my existence till now.
The car came to an abrupt stop and I looked up to see that I had just arrived at the hellhole I called my home. Stepping out of the car, I pushed the car with all the strength I could muster until it was parked in the garage as it should be.
By the time I was done, I was covered in mud and dirt, and all I wanted to do at this point was take a nice warm bath and then go to sleep. But of course, there was nothing called peace in this hellhole of mine.
"Did you work at the dumpster? Why do you look so unkept and disgusting?" I heard my stepmom say the moment I stepped into the sitting room, her voice dripping with disgust, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes as I walked toward my room.
I had better things to think of and talking back would only make my life miserable.
"Mom is talking to you, you prick." Jackson slurred from the kitchen, but before I could respond, I felt something solid hit my back, and I froze.
I reached behind me and my jaw clenched when I realized that Jackson had thrown a cold, raw egg against my back.
My fucking stepbrother who thought he could always get away with everything.
I wanted to punch him hard in the face for his stupid stunts but I knew better. He was the beloved of the family. A rich lawyer in his early twenties whom the entire world adored. He was the only "hope" of the family.
Me? I was just a constable who hadn't been promoted for the past three years. A grown man in his mid-thirties who still lived in his father's house. I had no say in this house and my presence was nothing more than an eyesore.
My father abhorred me the same way he hated my mother. He hated her for everything she did. He never failed to make her feel horrible about her chubby size and he made her life so miserable that she took her own life-
"So sorry stepbro, it slipped from my hands." Jackson laughed, his words mocking me and I sucked in a sharp breath before I continued walking into my room, each step feeling heavier than the last.
"Don't be such a bully, Jackie, he's gonna cry soon." I heard my stepmom say as their laughter rang across the room but I didn't stop or try to turn around.
I was old enough to know that arguing with them would only put me in the worst situation and I would rather swallow their insults with a cup of tea than get humiliated. I slammed my room's door shut and walked into the bathroom, peeling my clothes off in an instant and letting the warm water wash away the dirt from my body.
I wish that it could wash away the disgrace and humiliation as well.
After taking a satisfying bath, I returned to my room and sat in silence, listening to their loud laughter from the sitting room. Hours passed and I just sat there, rethinking my entire life decisions.
When silence finally reigned and I realized that they had all gone to sleep, I slipped out of my room and headed for my car because I had left my bag in it. Grabbing the documents, I headed back inside only to find Jackson standing by the door to my room with a smirk on his lips.
"Look who we have here. You haven't been giving me attention, stepbrother and it's hurting me." His words were obviously mocking me but I simply pushed past him and walked into my room.
Before I could shut the door, he placed his hand on the door to stop me and a loud groan escaped my lips.
"Jackson, leave me the fuck alone and go away," I ordered but he simply looked at me with a mocking grin before shaking his head in disappointment.
"How does it feel to be the least important member of the family? I told you that you'd never win. I have them all wrapped around my little finger, and you know why? I have the money. You're just... a constable. Hilarious, isn't it?" He muttered with a sick grin on his lips, and I sucked in a sharp breath, warning myself not to let his words get to me.
"You do realize that the Earth will always continue to spin, right?" I asked and his face contorted into a frown as he stared at me in confusion.
"So?"
"So, fuck you, Jackson," I replied with a small smile on my lips and before he could respond, I slammed the door shut in his face.
There were no other options now. I had to take on this mission. If I suddenly became the captain of the station, my family would finally give me the respect that I needed. I stared at the documents with a smile on my lips and a heart full of hope.
My eyes scanned the documents and I slowly digested the necessary information concerning the suspect I was sent to capture. The mission looked pretty simple. I had to find the tycoon's son, infiltrate his life, and bring him down.
But was it that simple? I couldn't help but ponder that question as I lay in my bed.
However, my excitement got the best of me and I ended up sleeping with my hopes high. But the moment I got to work the next day, I could see all my dreams vanishing into thin air right in front of me.
"Jared," The captain had started and that was when I knew that something was wrong. "Submit the documents I gave to you. We found a better candidate to complete the mission."
It felt like my whole life had crumbled and I couldn't do anything about it.