His' Bait

||Hardie Morrison||

Staring into the empty space, I puffed out huge smoke from my nostrils. Arrgh!

Jamel. Jamel. Jamel.

Gareth. Gareth. Gareth.

I hate to hear those two names. Yeah, they weren't really opposing me but they look like they really are. To themselves though and I don't really care, maybe I do...

Being a huge drug addict and a drug Lord, do I need to be bothered by some opposing drug dealers in states?

But here i am bothered by Gareth and Jamel which shouldn't expected of me. They're just a threat and what again...? I don't even know but they keep getting into my way and it seems they are everywhere too.

Maybe I should just strike the deal with them and then what happens afterward...?

Get them outta my way, huh?

Yeah, oh yeah. That seems like a good idea to me.

They called for the deal and Yes, I'm striking it with them.

Its either now or never!

***

"We are here boss..." Lincolnshire, one of my most loyal hangmen announced, immediately the car came to stop.

I sniffed in the last morsel of cocaine with me, wiped my nostrils before hopping down from my limo.

I stared at the huge building before me, it really take in more fortune but I bet mine worth more.

Not to brag though, just saying.

In drug dealing, what matters the most? Money, Post or being famous?

Maybe they all matters, yeah I'm starting to think that way.

I gat the money needed, I am holding a high post here in New York and yes, I'm famous too. But everything started getting all blurry when Gareth and Jamel came into the picture.

Do I have to risk all I've worked hard for, day in day out, all for these two? Hell no, I need to act fast or what...?

Loose them all? I can't possibly allow that, not when I'm still breathing.

"This way." A dark figure guy with a hazing look gestured forward. I gave him a questioning stare and he barely give me a nod.

He led Lincolnshire and I through a singled filed passageway with barely dim light. I could feel the dark aura oozing off here making it blend with the partially dark passageway.

"Here we're..." He paused after a long walk leading underground and here before a huge oak door. Yeah, I could feel it and I'm still feeling it. Something seems odd about this place.

"He is in?" I asked in deeply hoarse voice.

"Do I look like a liar to you?" He threw at me. "I won't bring you to this place if he wasn't."

Lincolnshire drew out a short gun from his pocket pointing it towards his head. "Watch how you speak to Hardie, Fucker."

I raised my palm. "Lincoln..."

Lincolnshire gave me a hesitating look before he lowered his gun. "Thank your damn stars, boy."

"Boy huh?!" The guy look unfazed as he let out a dark chuckled. "Thought you can threaten me with guns?"

Lincolnshire burned with anger as he groan under his breath. We are here for a deal and not for exchanging words and bullets, yeah.

"Let it go." I huffed and turned towards the other guy. "Show us in."

"Yeah. Why not?" He said in a mocking tone before inputting a short code on the wall side. Slowly, the ground shook as the huge door give way.

"He's somewhere down there." With that he turned away without waiting for a reply.

Lincolnshire stared at me and I gave him an assuring nod before we walked in. Just as expected, the door closed behind with a hissing sound.

Everything here seems weird, even the building structures too. Not one would have suspected that the building could hold an underground passageway. Maybe, just maybe, I haven't achieved what Jamel had in store...

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||Jamel Grayson||

I chuckled darkly as the blonde bitch trailed her artificial nails on my chest down to my abs giving me the feeling I would never wan to miss. Gareth hung his head low sniffing in coke not bothered with the bitches trying to get his attention.

He's sometimes like that or maybe he's always, busy with his coke, shutting out the world from him. He's a kind of introvert, a loner to be precise, wanting to do his thing his way.

I've always admire him for that but I wished he could the world some other way. Getting hooked up with bitches, gunning cops down and getting Politicians wrapped on your finger. Yeah, that what defines life.

He never fought for it but surprisingly, politicians feared him. Cops gives way whenever he's around and bitches hovered around him even without him giving them attention.

He's not that rich but he got all a man could probably demand of. Post, popularity, bitches? What else? And Beauty? Yeah did I mentioned him to be a beautiful man? Guess I forgot to but Gareth is sinfully beautiful and deadly too.

Sometimes, I fear him even if he's my childhood friend.

"What?" Gareth voice broke into my thoughts. I raised a questioning brow at him.

"Why what?"

"You've been staring at me with a creepy smile, like being amused. Am i amusing you?" He said still sniffing in his coke.

"Guess you are." I let out a croak laughter. "But never mind."

"Tch... that's weird" He flicked his long lashes as his eyes wandered about before it finally settled at the far end of the hallway. I trailed his stare and there he is.

Hardie Morrison. New York supposed Drug Lord.

"Finally, he considered our offer." I chuckled gravely. "I was doubting if he'll ever concur to it at first."

"Maybe he isn't that bossy as rumored. Who cares anywhere." Gareth said plainly. But I doubt that, Hardie I heard about isn't a soft guy to bend.

Maybe he has his own grave reasons for giving in, whatever reason it must be, I'm ready to send him back to dusk...

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||Hardie Morrison||

Trailing deeper into the heart of the dark passageway, it later burst open in a partially light blue hallway. A large clubhouse might fit in, maybe.

My both hand in my pants pockets, I stood godly, scanning around the hallway. Just at the other end sat the two fuckers who actually thought it'll do them good by striking a deal with me, not a good deal though.

Jamel Grayson. Gareth Sebastian.

I hate to hear those name and now I'm meeting with them? But well, I have to do this.

I scuffled towards them in my best intimidating look.

"Are you sure about this, Hardie?" Lincolnshire asked barely escaping a whisper.

"They want me to, do I have any other option here?" I asked back.

"Yeah. You could just back out and..."

I cut him short. "And look like a weakling same as the two pussy faces tagged me?"

"Well..." He trailed off as we appear before Jamel and Gareth. Fuckers.

"Look who we have here." Jamel chuckled like he's cracking a joke. Gareth just gave me a short stare and then face his sh*t, I don't care.

"Nothing is funny here, Jamel." I hissed at him.

"I know, I know..." He replied flatly.

"Dismiss..." He sneered at the bitches hovering around. The bitches stared at him weirdly before scurrying away in utter fear.

"So...?"

"Now that you're here, let's get down to business." He said.

"Yeah." I huffed. "Got the papers with you?"

"Of course. You excepting to sign the deal on lips?" Jamel mused.

Somehow, I find Jamel funny and weird. Everything seems to amuse him.

"The f*ck, Jamel." I groaned clearly not in mood fpr his shits. "Let's dig into business already."

"Yeah. But first he needs to excuse." Jamel said referring to Lincolnshire.

"So you could murder him right here? Behind my presence?" Lincolnshire scoffs.

"You should know better, Hardie." Gareth spoke for the first time.

"He should know better? Of his death, huh?" Lincolnshire pressed in pure sneer.

"Lincoln..." I nod at him and he sigh before heading towards the exit.

"Now, no one's here to protect you." Jamel smirks.

I stared at him without batting my lids, did he thought he could kill me right here? If so, then he's so wrong.

"How about we play a short game first?" He pressed still putting on his smirks. Seriously?

"Is this also part of the deal?" I scoffs.

"Maybe..." He said smugly. Before I could say Jack, I heard gunshot and a bullet fell beside me. Yeah, this shit is happening for real...

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||Jamel Grayson||

I smirks as he stared in disbelief and confused. Yeah, I just want to end his life here and then gain all he'd worked for.

Its clear, he's the richest Drug Lord and I can't just afford to be the second. I'm greedy and bloodthirsty, I want to be mentioned the first before any other drug lord.

Good thing he got no relatives, I would have start from them and watch him emotionally down before I finish him off. But it seems I'll have to act fast, tch.

"Really, Jamel...?" He groaned deeply.

"Life can be cruel sometimes, Hardie." I said with a smug grin.

"What about the deal?" He said flatly. Yeah, I haven't gotten his signature, how can I be so dumb.

I masked my fallen expression with a sly smile. "Well, as I state earlier it was just a game."

"A death game." He still didn't look mused.

"I never mean it that way, Morris. It was all a act, tch. I thought you would fall, good thing you did not." I pressed further.

He let out a deadly smile. "Life f*cks us up more than a street game, how am I suppose to fall? Tsk, tsk, don't worry. Let get to business."

Even with my intention to kill him, he still appear unworried. Clearly, there should be something behind his confidence. Maybe being fearless and cold even at the face of death, that's what it takes to be drug Lord. Is it not?

"Here, you might want to go throught it first. All that remains is your signature." Gareth stretched a file towards him.

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||Hardie Morrison||

I took the papers from him and went through them. Truth be told, I don't think I understand a thing from here.

Games. Pass card. Last to be defeated. All the fortune?

I was expecting more of this but here I'm only seeing a death game here. Who's gon' die?

How in heavens name who some motherfucking fool think of such shitty things like this? Clearly, there's more to this? Yeah?

I adverted my gaze towards Jamel then Gareth. "Really?"

"At least you can read." Gareth answered sarcastically.

"That wasn't the reply I expected from me. Why this shit? Why involving me in this, the fuck, there are some other pussy faces who will accept this. Why Hardie?" I snorts at them.

Just as expected, Jamel chuckled yet again. "Are you now afraid of mere papers?"

"Why will I?" I shot at him.

"Then sign this shit and stop prolonging the issues here. Just so you know, I got something I should attend to." Gareth sneered.

Seriously, what's wrong with the both of them? Are they taking me as a fool or what?

"In a nutshell, what are you trying to insinuate?" I asked playing numb.

"Pick the motherfucking pen and sign this shit, then we dismiss. Nothing more." Gareth half yelled.

"How about I make a request?" I said in a flat tone.

"And the request is?"

"I'm taking this with me, at least to get a clear knowledge of it." I pried into their eyeballs as if searching for answer.

"And if you aren't allowed to?"

"I'm backing out then..." I said with a taunting grin.

They both stared at each other in shock, clearly, they weren't expecting me to put them under condition.

And that says it all, they're bent on destroying me...

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"And if you aren't allowed to?"

Jamel asked with a deep frown.

"I'm backing out then..." I said with a taunting grin.

They both stared at each other in shock, clearly, they weren't expecting me to put them under condition.

I can't just sign this deal with them without knowing much about it.

And that says it all, they're bent on destroying me.

Gareth was the first to recover from his shock. "You backing out?"

"Tsk, I never mentioned that." I said feigning annoyance.

"Or did I?"

"Wait, what! You never said anything?" Jamel frowned deeper, clearly in confusion.

"Did you hear something? Like what you aren't supposed to hear?" I prolonged my feigned expression.

"Hmm... But I thought I hear you said something about backing out." He said more to himself.

"Then you must be hearing things." I huffed in pretence.

"Well never mind." He waved it off, not knowing what else to say to defend himself. "Can you just sign now?"

"H-huh? I thought I asked for a request just now?" I growled.

"Yeah. Yeah. You can take your time in reading it." He smiled trying not to shutter.

"I never asked to take time in reading. I'm taking it with me, consider the deal then send it back with my signature in it, that is if I'm willing to give in." I said with a calm but intimidating voice. "What did you say?"

"What do I say? I say, you can or are you opposing him Gareth?" Jamel quickly voiced.

"Why will I?" Gareth raised his brow with a questioning look.

"Let's call it a day then." I gave them a sly smile before standing up. "Good day..."

With those two words, I exited still feeling the tension I left behind. I'm sure I've gotten them into a tight situation but then all I've got to do is play along with them. Hardie can't afford to loose a thing.

Let's see who wins at the END...

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||Jamel Grayson||

This just didn't make any sense.

Hardie not giving in immediately. And here I am doing nothing about it. Yeah, how could I? His ignorance and cold expression and his voice, everything about him keep giving me a bad vibe.

Maybe I should have killed him when I had the Chance to. I hate everything about him, I never believed I could still be afraid of him even after being the second ranked drug lord.

He...he... he is just... what was I going to say anyways? I don't even know how best to describe him. Good Lord, I sure need to act fast, his calmness is freaking me out.

"You look pale. Is it because of him?" Gareth pointed out.

I quickly masked my expression with a smirk. "Of course not, why will I? He is never a threat to me, so I see no reason to be afraid of him."

"You seem to look like you just saw a ghost." He said flatly.

"Does ghost even exist? Come on stop believing in myth, okay?" I chuckled. Even though, I'm starting to convinced myself that Hardie was a risen ghost with the kind of aura that surround him.

"I'm not. Just saying." He toned.

"What do you think of it?" I whispered.

"What did i think of what?" Gareth flicked his long lashes that could get women jealous, slowly in confusion.

"The outcome of course. As in the deal we made him want to strike, is it something good. Don't you think they would be repercussion of it?" I asked trying not to sound fearful or desperate.

"Who say there's a repercussion in it? Come on, stop acting like a chicken." He chuckled darkly before getting up. "I'm gone..."

"Yeah." I nod curtly as I watch him leaves. I sigh resting my head behind, I just hope this turns out to be good.

Of course, Gareth does not seem bothered or shaken. He's always confident in his doing while I'm here having a second thought...

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||Hardie Morrison||

"What did you think?" I asked Lincolnshire after he went through the papers I got from Jamel.

"Something doesn't seems just right here, there's more to this." He creased his brow like he's searching for something in the papers to prove his words.

"Yeah. I'm thinking that way too." I reasoned.

"For thinking of something like this, they're willing to bring you to dusk at all cost." He furthered.

"H-huh huh?"

"They will want to strike starting with what you cherish most, don't you think?" Lincoln said.

Lincolnshire is right though. He's a type of guy that think faster before time.

"Yeah." I nod.

"I think so."

"Or are they..." He stopped halfway as he inched his brows thoughtfully. "Are they still trying try to figure out what could possibly hit you hard?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" I knot my brows in confusion.

"Like what you can't do without. What I mean is something you cherished most." He replied plainly.

I know, he's always thinking a step ahead.

"Right."

"That something you cherished most, you got one?" That his last statement got me as I breathed in sharply.

No! I shouldn't be thinking about this now, it just too bad just as it hold the worst memories ever. Oh gawd!

I closed my eyes in pain as I breath in sharply, this is just bad!

"What? I don't meant to. If you are not telling me, then fine, its okay. Just telling you though, not for you to spit it out." He rushed words like he's guilty.

I kept mute like I'm unaware of his speech.

Amelia...!

I thought about her and my heart tightened in pain. No, I shouldn't be thinking about her, it always make me loose my mind.

I closed my eyes and breathe in sharply. Not now!

She is my past maybe, I should stop thinking about her.

"I say you sign this. Accept their challenge." Lincoln barge into my thoughts. "Don't strike first, watch their moves..."