|| IRIS's POV ||

" Tell me! Why should I hire you among all the talented women? You have 3 minutes. Either you continue the job or fail."

The rudeness of his tone gave me the urge to throw my resignation letter at his face right away. I sucked a deep breath, trying to work on my bad temper. A distant voice echoed in my memory, loud and clear,

" Remember! I don't fail in my mission! This mission isn't for the organization. This mission is for me."

That one last sentence hit me hard. Maybe I was fool in love but I wanted to prove myself desperately to him. He sounded so serious when he said those words to me. For the first time, he asked something personal apart from our bloody games and other missions. I worked hard to get into this mission and I wasn't going to back away without completing it.

I blurted with a fake smile, ignoring his burning eyes on me,

" Because I am professional in many sectors. You don't have to bother to find out other people to do your task. I believe that you have studied my history already."

He looked uneasy by my words. It was true that my top-notch grades left no room for arguments. Only god knew how hard it was to fulfill all of his darn requirements. He hummed softly, his eyes reading my CV which I submitted. Throwing the letter in the dustbin, he asked out of nowhere,

" One last question! Who will you save first if one of us falls in danger?"

I held back a ridiculous laugh. Mr.President didn't know that I was the danger that he should get scared of. After taking a few moments, I replied honestly, irritated by his bossy attitude,

" Of course, Me! I am not your bodyguard,Sir. A woman will save herself first unless it's her child."

His gaze narrowed at me for a short moment. Looking back at his laptop, he replied ironically,

" Consider it pass.One mistake and you will be behind the door, Miss Young."

A triumphant smile curved on my lips. Bowing at him shortly out of respect, I walked outside, keeping my head high. Once I was out of everyone's sight, I clicked my phone open to write down a text.

" IT'S DONE!"

For the rest of the day, Mr.Scott explained me all the work ethics. Basically I had no access to Mr.President's personal staffs. This one strict rule reminded me of something interesting.

" Where you are restricted, your answers will be there!"

Artemis said it before sending me here personally. It seemed like Mr.President trusted no one but I was bound to cross the border. I needed time to make him, believing in me.

__________

I headed back to my apartment happily afterwards. It was probably the first mission that I was doing alone. Camila wanted to take this job badly but it required someone to be patient and loyal. I was the right choice for this mission. Staying next to the president wasn't an easy job.

After having dinner, I fell asleep with relief in my heart, hoping to fulfill my mission and leave this city soon. One hour later, my thoughts were lost in my dream. There was a little girl, desperately trying to run away. I saw my mother in my dream, laying on the floor, half naked under a bunch of men. In her weak voice, she made a small sound,

" IRIS...Ru...Run....Run..."

That little girl listened to her mother. Finally she started running through the dark streets, forgetting the fear of dogs that she had once badly.

I woke up with a scream again, gasping for breath. In the whole department, I met the darkness in my heart, tears were already rolling down from my eyes. After a few moments, I finally turned sober. It had been a long time since I saw my mother in my dream. My psychiatrist told me that it was good to forget some certain things. It still pained me to remember that I could do nothing to help her off.

Remembering something, I walked to the closet, picking out my disguised clothes. Thankfully I brought it along with me.

_______

SATIN CEMETERY

" Did you miss me, mama?"

I dropped her favorite white roses on the side, my eyes tearing up. It pained me to think that I wasn't even allowed to visit her grave. Artemis, my one and only sworn brother believed that it was a huge risk. It was the first time that I broke a rule. I couldn't fall asleep after the nightmare again. It felt like my mother was calling me to meet her once. My father didn't play vital role in my life. But it pained me to think that his life was sacrificed as well. In a flash of night, I was left alone in the world. Unfortunately, I had no siblings as well.

Dropping on my knees, I talked to her for a while. Except for the light from the moon and the cold breeze of the cemetery, nothing was my companion. Out of nowhere, I felt a presence in my back. Without turning my head, I could feel the cold aura, coming from my enemy.

Subconsciously I dug my hand down to find my cellphone. Then I remembered my biggest mistake. Due to these unsettled emotions, I left it in my car. Casually, I always got alarmed when an unprepared attack came on my side. Gosh! Couldn't I have a peaceful day? Sometimes it sucked me off to remember that I would never lead a normal life. Whenever I went, the shadows of my enemy would be following me. I thought that it would be safe to come in disguise but their sudden appearance shocked me for real.

Curving my lips into a smirk, I spoke loudly, letting those people know that I was well aware of their existence,

" I hate slow playing the most, buddies!"

|| IRIS's POV ||

Frowning hard, my eyes swept over the unfamiliar black uniforms. The group definitely looked dangerous but they didn’t intimidate me as I was too tired and mentally exhausted. I sighed in exasperation.

“No more today! Please!” I complained to myself.

Where did they all come from anyway? My right hand slowly travelled up to my waistline to pull out my favorite weapon. They were instantly alarmed by my movement.

“Put your down hand little girl. Don't be stupid and follow us quietly.” The leader commanded.

Having a military grade rifle pointed at my head, I decided to lower my hand. I shrugged my shoulders before instinctively bringing my hands together behind my head. At the leader’s command, one of the individuals tied my hands together behind my back before covering my face with a black sheet. They quickly dragged me out of the cemetery, not caring if I tripped on the surrounding tombstones. I felt asphalt under my feet right before they tossed me into a car. Driving at a high speed, despite the heavy rain, I heard a lady’s voice beside me as she called her boss.

“We finally got her and we are the way.” She reported.

“Who was she talking about?” I wondered. “I just arrived in the city a few days ago.”

I hoped it had nothing to do with him.

.....

|| XAVIER'S POV ||

" Surprise, Xavier! Happy Birthday bud!"

Daniel threw his arms cozily. I almost jerked him away since I had no interest in this stupid party. It was my father's plan from the beginning. He called me to remind me that I should celebrate this party with my members. He called it a business, public stunt. In his eyes, it was important to represent a party like a family to the eyes of the public. To be honest, I would have loved to celebrate it possibly if he suggested that I celebrate it as his son, not as the president of USK state.

Other members stood up gradually, wishing happy birthday one after another. I had to wear a fake smile to follow his order. Daniel brought me champagne and muttered to my ears with a grin,

" You look like dead meat. Missing your hot secretary?"

I rolled my eyes at him. The image of that self-stubborn girl lingered in my mind. She was pretty hot today. My wild imagination got interrupted by a phone call. It was from the Mayor of Blueborn City. It seemed odd to get a call from him at this late hour.

As soon as I picked up his phone, a cry broke through the speaker. Mr.Brown who was at my father's age was pleading miserably,

" Xavier! They got...they got my daughter...They want revenge! Please save her..Save her..."

A month ago, we seized a truck of illegal drugs near the border. The information was revealed by an insider. However, I didn't expect the outcome too fast. Kidnapping the Mayor's daughter was too lame for me. I clenched my jaw tight, asking in a growling voice,

" What happened? Tell me everything!"

Mr.Brown told me that he got an anonymous call from an unknown number. The dialer told him that it was his price to assist me. Then his eighteen years old daughter went missing from her grandpa's house. Although he didn't know the man, I didn't even need to investigate who it was.

Rubbing my sore forehead, I assured him, ending the phone call,

" Don't worry, Mr. Mayor. Your daughter will be safe. Just give me some time."

Suddenly a text message appeared on my phone. It was written in sarcasm, using a funny emoji,

" Like my gift?"

My lips twisted in rage. Involving girls into our own personal issues were never for me. I felt sorry for the girl who had to go through this shit at this very young age for her father's loyalty to me. Without answering his reply, I made another call to my best hitman, Michale. Although he was under me, I rarely contacted him. Not everything could be solved through guns and shots.

" Boss!", he spoke in a lazy tone, just had woken up from his sleep possibly. I took a sip from my freshly served wine, ordering after letting out an exhale,

" Head for the south and blow their entire materials out. I want to see the truck burn. Also rescue Mr.Mayor's daughter. That man had made a big move this time."

Michael was silent for a while. He blurted letting out a whine,

" Don't worry! I worked for him for 3 years. I know how to handle the piece of his shit."

I hummed before putting down the phone. I had trust in Michael. He was a man who couldn't be controlled by Money or power. It was a miracle that his father was my teacher back in my childhood. As a family man, he felt devoted to me. It was also surprising that he left that life to be my undercover man. He wanted to live in this city.

Half an hour later, Michael called me again, his tone still sounding lazy. While puffing his smoke out, he explained the whole thing with a yawn,

" Boss, it's done! His 1 billion dollar assets are ashes now. By the way, the girl is saved but harmed a little."

I clenched my jaw in anger. It was never tolerable for me that an innocent one was hurt because of our chaos. After a few more chats with Michael, I ended the call with a happy smile. As soon as I hung up, an unfamiliar number called me again. I picked it up to hear his deeply hated voice,

" Well played, Xavier! Aren't you afraid that I will expose your secret to the whole world? Huh? Do your people know how many people you killed to secure your position?"

|| IRIS's POV ||

" Black Limbo! Hmm! Interesting! I thought,You guys are dead already!"

I remarked about their special batch, remembering the clear details once shared by Artemis. I met a bunch of unfamiliar faces as soon as the black wrapped clothes were out of my eyes. They appeared shocked as soon as I blurted their identities correctly. I wondered how they discovered my location. So far, my mission in this city was kept super hidden.

The bald headed leader looked pissed off, a Blondie chick was almost grinding her ass over him. She passed me a look of hatred as if we had some enmity in our previous life. A guy with long hairs snapped at me, raising his gun,

" Another word, bitch! I will kill you!"

I almost laughed at his words. He couldn't even point the gun properly yet he was planning to kill me. That woman encouraged him, sending me a vicious smirk,

" She got a smart mouth, Tomy! Why don't you play with him?"

The rage inside me burst within a moment. Pretty sure, she was suggesting to rape me. I hated dominations and empty threats the most. Before I could punch her face, the old blad headed leader threw her off from his lap. He roared, casting her a murderous glare,

" Are you crazy, bitch? Do you know her identity? Wolf will turn the whole city down if something happens to her."

Blondie looked absolutely furious. She grounded her teeth together and didn't say anything further. I smirked back at her, turning her more furious than ever. The bald headed man started speaking to me respectively, lowering his voice,

" Girl! We have nothing against you but you must tell me where Wolf is!"

I exhaled heavily. Seriously, they caught me in a military style just to know where the madman was. I had no fucking idea. He barely talked with me. Even Artemis wouldn't tell me his exact location. I rolled my eyes at him, replied with a snort,

" Do you think that you are worthy of knowing his location?"

The leader's face darkened immediately. The blondie snapped at me again, gnashing her teeth together,

" Boss! I told you! She is a bitch! Let the boys have fun with her!"

" SHUT UP!", came the roaring answer from the bald headed again. He took a deep breath again before continuing in a serious voice,

" Listen woman! I don't care. He has broken all ties with me. I am hanging with my 50 million dollar business. I need to talk to him ASAP. Tell me otherwise..."

I raised my brows playfully, sticking my tongue out,

" Otherwise what, Mr.bald?"

He opened his mouth to speak something but was interrupted by a phone call. He answered it in front of me and heard a voice from the opposite, too familiar to me,

" Let her go unless you want your whole bar turning into ashes!"

WOLF!

My stomach churned into a sweet feeling. How did he know that I was abducted by his stupid enemies?

The bald looked upset by the threat. He clutched his phone tight, shouting desperately,

" You have cut off all the ties with us. You don't want to hear from me. I had to do this, Wolf. Don't misunderstand! But you must listen to me first."

I almost puked by his words. He was actually commanding the night king of the underworld to listen to his bullshit conversation. Another cold command echoed through the speaker lazily,

" You have 2 more minutes left, Sebastian!"

The bald gritted his teeth for the last time, threw his phone off before shouting at his men helplessly,

" FREE HER! FREE HER NOW!"

His men practically pushed me out of the bar as soon as possible. Once I was thrown in the street, I noticed that it was an old remote street bar, many miles away from the main town. It was surprising that they didn't want me dead.

Stumbling back, I stared hard at the building, surrounded with darkness. I wondered how he could threaten this man from that distance? There was not a single trace of blast anywhere. At least, some precautions were required.

A horn from the car pulled me back to reality. I froze in mid air, shooting a look only to see a black SUV. The air around me dropped remarkably low when the god-like man emerged from his luxurious car.

Mr.President!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was the most bad luck that I could encounter today. He stepped forward to me, asking in a growling voice,

" What the fuck are you doing here?"

I almost hit my own head for this stupid kidnapping. The way he was suspecting, I could tell that I was so close to losing this job. I swallowed, replying after giving it a thought,

" I...I was kidnapped here.. Someone took me..."

The anger in his eyes turned into fury. He shot a glance at the old bar then at me before gripping me close,

" Who are they? Tell me! Show me! How did you manage to get rid of them? TELL ME EVERYTHING!"

His possessive tone made me regret everything. However he looked genuinely concerned about my safety. I opened my mouth to say something but at the same time, a blasting sound echoed so close. I gasped aloud in shock but soon I fell into a pair of warm, protective arms. He wrapped me close and dragged me away from the blasting spot. I cast a glance at the bar's destruction side. Even a few minutes earlier, it was standing with all its glory. It all had turned into no more than dust now. Remembering all the other people inside, I felt guilty except for the men who were no better than animals.

Then I remembered his clear threat and a line from my nun mother who once told me,

" Never trust a devil's words."

Yes, he was the devil but unfortunately, I was stuck with the devil.