The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling garden that surrounded Colette's mansion. It was a rare moment of calm, and Colette found herself walking alongside Raize, the dark elf underboss, through the carefully cultivated pathways. The garden was a masterpiece—an array of vibrant flowers, fragrant herbs, and fruit trees that bore the spoils of meticulous care.
Raize glanced around, a faint smile gracing her usually stoic face. "The garden is beautiful this time of year," she said, her violet eyes scanning the rows of blooming roses and flourishing berry bushes.
Colette hummed in agreement, though her sharp blue eyes were distant. "It is. Kent enjoys it more than I do, though. He's the one who insisted on all the fruit trees."
Raize chuckled softly. "It suits him. He's the kind of person who appreciates simple, honest things." She plucked a ripe apple from a nearby tree, examining it with care. "Still, I enjoy walking through here. It's peaceful. A rare reprieve from the chaos of our work."
Colette smirked, her wings flexing slightly. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Peace is fleeting in our world."
Raize nodded, her expression growing serious. She took a bite of the apple before speaking again, her tone quieter this time. "Speaking of chaos, there's a situation that requires your attention."
Colette stopped walking, turning to face her. "Go on."
Raize set the apple down on a nearby bench, her violet eyes meeting Colette's piercing gaze. "One of the farmers' markets we control is being targeted by another gang. They're demanding extortion money—trying to muscle in on our territory."
Colette's smirk disappeared, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. Her tail flicked behind her, a sign of her irritation. "Another gang, on my turf? They've got guts, I'll give them that."
Raize folded her arms, her tone measured. "Their demands aren't small, either. They've threatened to burn the market down if they're not paid by the end of the week."
Colette let out a low growl, the temperature in the garden dropping slightly. "They think they can intimidate me? Pathetic." She took a step closer to Raize, her towering frame casting a shadow over her underboss. "Do we know who they are?"
Raize nodded. "A smaller group trying to make a name for themselves. They've been causing trouble in the outer districts, but this is the first time they've encroached on our operations."
Colette's claws flexed as she considered her options. "Tell Oakley to pay them a visit. Make it clear that they have two choices: leave, or die."
Raize's smirk returned. "Understood. I'll have him deliver the message personally."
Colette's icy blue eyes narrowed further. "And if they don't listen… I want their families dealt with. All of them. Every last one."
Raize's expression didn't falter, though there was a brief flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "You want to target their families, too?"
"Yes," Colette said without a hint of doubt. "Let it be a message to anyone else thinking of crossing me. You don't just pay for your mistakes—you make your loved ones pay as well. That's how you control fear, Raize. It's not just about strength; it's about making people know there's no escape."
Raize gave a small nod, her voice calm. "I'll make sure Oakley understands."
"Good," Colette said, her voice cold as frost. "And remind him that failure isn't an option."
As they resumed their walk, the tension in the air lingered. Raize glanced at Colette, her violet eyes thoughtful. "You're ruthless, boss. But I suppose that's why you're at the top."
Colette smirked faintly. "Ruthlessness is a necessity in this business, Raize. If you show even the slightest weakness, someone will take advantage of it. That's the difference between me and them—I don't hesitate."
The conversation shifted back to lighter topics as they walked further into the garden, but Colette's mind remained focused on the situation. The gang would either leave her territory, or they would pay the ultimate price.
And if they didn't understand who they were dealing with, Colette would make sure they learned the hard way.
The mansion was unusually quiet that morning. With Colette out dealing with the latest crisis in her territory, Kent decided to take it upon himself to prepare something special for her. She had left in such a rush that she hadn't even had time to eat breakfast—a habit he often worried about.
"I'll surprise her when she gets back," he murmured to himself, tying an apron around his waist as he set to work in the kitchen.
The smell of sizzling bacon filled the air as Kent poured batter onto the waffle iron. He hummed softly, arranging the table with care. Freshly squeezed orange juice, warm waffles topped with whipped cream and strawberries, and perfectly crisped bacon—all laid out for when Colette returned.
As he finished plating everything, Kent glanced at the clock. She should be back soon, he thought, pulling out his phone to send her a quick message. But before he could type anything, the sound of a door creaking behind him made him freeze.
He turned, expecting to see one of Colette's soldiers or maybe Raize. Instead, a stranger stood in the doorway.
The man was tall and wiry, dressed in dark clothing with a mask obscuring most of his face. His posture was tense, and his eyes darted around the room before settling on Kent.
"Who are you?" Kent asked, his voice calm but wary.
The man didn't respond. Instead, he raised a small device in his hand—a tranquilizer gun.
Kent's heart raced as he realized what was happening. "Wait—"
Before he could react, the man fired. A sharp sting pierced Kent's neck, and his vision began to blur. The tranquilizer worked quickly, his limbs growing heavy as he stumbled forward, trying to grab onto something for support.
"Colette…" he murmured weakly, his voice fading as darkness overtook him.
The last thing he saw was the man stepping forward, slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of grain before slipping out the way he came.
When Colette returned to the mansion later that morning, her mood was surprisingly light. The meeting had gone smoothly, and she was looking forward to spending the rest of the day with Kent.
The first thing she noticed was the smell of freshly cooked waffles and bacon wafting through the halls. A soft smile touched her lips as she made her way to the dining room.
But when she arrived, her smile vanished. The table was set, the food perfectly arranged—but Kent was nowhere to be seen.
Her sharp blue eyes scanned the room, her instincts immediately on high alert. Something was wrong.
"Kent?" she called out, her voice echoing through the empty space.
There was no response. Her tail lashed behind her as she turned toward the nearest soldier, who had just entered the room. "Where is Kent?" she demanded, her tone icy and dangerous.
The soldier's face paled. "I… I don't know, boss. I haven't seen him."
Colette's claws flexed, her fury simmering just beneath the surface. "Find him. Now."
As the soldiers scrambled to search the mansion, Colette stood in the dining room, her sharp eyes scanning every detail. Her gaze fell on the tray of food Kent had prepared, and a wave of unease washed over her. Kent wouldn't just leave without telling her…
Her claws clenched into fists, and her icy aura began to fill the room. Whoever had dared to take him would soon learn the price of crossing her.
Colette's world was about to erupt into chaos—and heaven help anyone who stood in her way.
The air inside the mansion was heavy with tension. Colette paced the floor of her office, her claws flexing at her sides as her sharp blue eyes flicked toward the clock. The soldiers outside the door remained silent, their postures rigid. Everyone could feel the storm brewing within their boss, and no one dared to interrupt her.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke the tense silence. Oakley appeared in the doorway, his usual calm demeanor slightly shaken. In his hand, he held a letter, its edges slightly crumpled from his tight grip.
"Boss," he said, his voice steady despite the unease in his eyes. "We found this in your office."
Colette turned sharply, her towering frame radiating a cold, deadly energy. "What is it?"
Oakley stepped forward and handed her the letter. She snatched it from him, her claws nearly tearing the paper as she unfolded it. As her eyes scanned the text, her expression darkened, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply.
The letter was simple, but its message was clear:
We have your husband. If you value his life, you'll pay 50 million dollars and give up control of your downtown operations. We'll be in touch.
Colette's hands trembled as she crushed the letter in her claws, her ice aura surging outward uncontrollably. Frost crawled across the walls and ceiling of the office, and the temperature plummeted. Outside, snow began to fall, blanketing the estate in an unseasonal chill.
Her wings flared wide as she let out a low growl, her breath visible in the freezing air. "They dared to take him?" she hissed, her voice shaking with barely restrained fury.
Oakley stepped back slightly, his usual composure faltering in the face of her rage. "Boss, what are your orders?"
Colette turned to him, her eyes glowing with icy determination. "Gather everyone. Every capo, every soldier. I don't care how busy they are or what they're doing. They're to meet me in the war room now."
Oakley nodded, already moving to carry out her command. "Understood."
As he left, Colette clenched her fists, her claws digging into her palms. Her mind raced with thoughts of Kent—his smile, his warmth, the way he always managed to soften her edges. The very idea of someone laying a hand on him was enough to make her blood boil.
She stormed out of the office and into the main hall, where her soldiers had already begun to gather. The sight of their boss in this state—her scales shimmering with frost, her breath coming out in angry bursts of mist—sent a chill down their spines.
"This is what's going to happen," Colette began, her voice carrying through the hall like a blade slicing through the air. "Tonight, there's going to be a bloodbath. Whoever took Kent—whatever pathetic mafia thinks they can challenge me—they'll regret the day they were born."
The soldiers nodded, their fear of Colette outweighing any reservations they might have had.
Her tail lashed behind her as she continued. "I want their location, their leaders, their entire operation. Leave nothing standing. If they don't return Kent to me unharmed, I'll wipe them off the map."
The room fell silent as her words sank in. No one doubted her sincerity. They had seen what Colette was capable of when provoked, and this was personal.
"Prepare for war," she ordered, her voice as cold and unyielding as the frost that coated the walls. "We move as soon as we know where they are."
The soldiers dispersed, moving with purpose as they began arming themselves for the impending fight.
As Colette stood in the now-empty hall, her ice aura continuing to radiate outward, she made a silent vow: no matter what it took, she would bring Kent home. And whoever dared to take him would pay the ultimate price.