The investor didn’t wait for an invitation. He stepped inside. His presence filled the room with an unsettling aura. “I didn’t need to inform you,” he retorted coldly, his eyes locking onto mine. “I’m here because you’re late, Ares. Far too late.”
My forced smile faltered. He had been patient for weeks now. But I knew that patience was running thin. The plutonium shipments were delayed. Everything had been complicated lately. Tabitha’s stubborn refusal to relinquish control had split my attention. And now it was catching up to me.
“I understand,” I began, keeping my tone even, trying to mask the panic that had begun to bubble up. “But these things take time. The pack has been difficult to manage, but the shipment is coming. I just need a little more time.”
The investor’s eyes narrowed. His lips curled into a menacing sneer. “Time? I’ve given you more than enough time, Ares. My clients are growing impatient. Do you know what happens to wolves who disappoint me?”
Beside me, Nimfa stiffened. I could feel her fear radiating off her in waves. She knew the stories. We all did. The investor didn’t just punish failure. He obliterated it. Nimfa tugged at my arm, whispering frantically, “You promised him, Ares. We can’t afford to cross him.”
I ignored her. I had to keep my focus. “Look, I can make this right. Just a few more days and—”
The investor cut me off with a sharp wave of his hand. “I’m done with your promises. You have until the end of the week. After that, you’re no longer useful to me.”
With that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving behind a suffocating silence.
Nimfa’s face went pale. Her hands trembled as she began to pace. “We’re dead." Panic crept into her voice. “He’s going to kill us, Ares. You’ve crossed him too many times.”
“Stop it,” I snapped harshly, turning on her. “Panicking won’t help.”
She kept pacing as her voice rose with fear. “You don’t understand! He doesn’t just kill his enemies, he wipes them out! You promised him the plutonium, and now—”
My patience snapped. I struck her across the face. And the sound of it echoed in the small room. Nimfa stumbled back, clutching her cheek in shock. It wasn’t the first time I had hit her, but it still caught her off guard.
“Get a grip,” I growled. “I don’t need your hysterics right now. We’ll handle this. I have a plan.”