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I waited, my heart pounding in my ears, the weight of my decision pressing on me.
It was risky reaching out to gang leaders, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
And right now, with Kuana’s life potentially at stake and our future uncertain, I was more than willing to take that risk.
After a tense minute, the guard nodded, and the massive metallic door slid open with a low hum.
I stepped inside, the dim lighting making the room appear larger than it was.
In the center, behind an intricately carved desk, sat a figure I had never met before, only heard about.
He was the only alien gang leader with a reputation for fairness and a strict code of ethics.
He looked up from his desk.
His sharp eyes, framed by his spectacles perched on the end of his ose, settled on me.
Always calculating, those eyes.
A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but his gaze remained guarded.
“Violet,” Cayggod greeted, his voice smooth and carrying the unmistakable undertone of authority. “How may I help you?”
* * *
The air grew heavier, the dim light filtering through Cayggod’s office adding an extra layer of tension to the already thick atmosphere.
My heart raced, and I could feel a drop of perspiration slide down the side of my temple.
“Cayggod,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ve come to you with a proposition. A business proposition.”
His brow furrowed, his earlier amusement giving way to curiosity. “Go on.”
“Information,” I said succinctly. “Classified information that one of your competitors is desperate to get their hands on. But instead of giving it to him, I can give it to you.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because you’re a boss with a more…” I paused, searching for the right word, “honorable reputation. Someone who, unlike my other business partner, values trust and loyalty.”
His eyes sharpened, his gaze intent on mine. “You’re suggesting you’d hand over this invaluable knowledge to me, bypassing your business partner entirely? What’s the catch?”
“A way out. For both me and another prisoner. Safe passage out of this prison and away from this godforsaken planet. In return, you get information that could change the power dynamics across the entire galaxy. All I ask is you… help me with convincing this other prisoner to leave Ikmal.”
Cayggod cocked his head to one side. “Help you convince this other prisoner? And how would I do that? Please be specific.”
I licked my lips, which suddenly felt like they’d been caked with sand. “You’ll get your goons to knock him out and carry him out of here.”
For a long moment, Cayggod didn’t respond.
His eyes, which earlier had been filled with guarded curiosity, now bore into mine, assessing, evaluating.
It was like being under a microscope, every inch of my being scrutinized.
“You come to me, to my domain, with a proposal that has the potential to start a gangland war, and you expect me to just… accept?”
He mused, leaning back in his chair, his voice dangerously calm.
“You misunderstand,” I countered, feeling the urgency of the situation grip me tighter. “This isn’t about war or power. It’s about leverage. If you possess something your opponent is desperate for, you can control the narrative. Dictate terms. Ensure peace. Or dominate. The choice is yours.”
