Chapter 52: Failed Success?

< Shirley >
"When will you put your plan into motion?" I asked in a slight angry tone, frustrated by the incident earlier. How dare Dylan say sorry after kissing me?
"12:35 AM," Dylan replied, looking around.
I didn't understand what it had to be that exact time, but it was none of my business. I just want to disappear and cry in one corner.
We were sitting on the stools of the bar at a corner, away from the crowd. The music was hurting my ears. I was shedding imaginary tears of blood from the awful sights. Couldn't these people get a room or something? They were making me horny for Dylan.
"Hey, I want a drink," I whined when I felt my throat getting dry.
"I already told you we can't eat or drink anything here," he responded curtly.
I cried out dramatically. "Darling, please?" I pleaded, flashing him my best puppy eyes. He heaved a sigh and got up. "You can never reject my puppy eyes, can you?" I put on a victory smirk.
He twitched his lips and said, "On second thought, you won't get any drink."
"Oh, no, no, please," I cried out again.
Shaking his head in annoyance, Dylan went away.
Even though I was mad at him for apologizing for the kiss, I acted normally just like Dylan pretended like nothing happened. Yet, it was stinging a bit as he was showing no emotions after that. But it was okay for now. At least, that was what I continued assuring myself with.
I was waiting for Dylan while drumming my fingers on the counter when I noticed a woman who was trying to seduce him. I already knew Dylan couldn't care less and maintained his emotionless face. But I also knew that he was trying his best not to kill that woman out of irritation.
Dylan smoothly swatted her hands from his shoulders and started approaching me. The woman shot me a disgusting look. I smirked and mouthed, "You wanna come at me, hoe? Be my guest."
She stomped her feet and went to seduce someone else.
When I was sipping my drink while having a one-sided conversation with Dylan, something caught my eyes. Many people were going inside through a silver double door with sinister smiles on their lips, avoiding the bar completely.
Something was off. Everyone here looked filthy rich. Since I was brought up in an aristocratic family, I knew this type of low-standard place would never appeal to people like them.
"Dylan, where are these people going?" I tapped his shoulder and pointed at the crowd of people, entering through that double door.
"There is a casino here. Once you pass through that door, there is a long corridor which leads to the actual attraction of this place. Many mafia people, gang leaders, wealthy and affluent people, spoiled brats, these types of people are swarming around there. I hate that place," Dylan explained.
Excitement and curiosity bubbled inside me. I immediately turned my face at him.
"Don't even think about it. We are not to enter there. We can get caught in the surveillance camera, and we have to go through body checking as well. Besides, someone can recognize me, not as a mafia leader, but as a businessman or car racer," he warned even before I could plead.
"But I have never been to a—"
"No means no."
"I'll give you anything you want."
"I have almost everything one can desire, but what I want—you can't give it to me."
I puffed my cheeks. "I will give you a kiss then."
"I d — don't want it," he replied as fast as he could as if trying to prove he didn't care about our first kiss. It made me sad.
I lowered my head and turned away my face from him.
I was sipping my drink, making weird noises to annoy him. Meanwhile, he paid no attention and concentrated on his mission. He was talking to someone with the help of his mini Bluetooth device and I continued sulking.
All of a sudden, a blonde guy sat down beside me. He flashed me a small smile and took out his phone for some purpose. I started a conversation with him.
"My friends will be coming soon. What about you?" he replied politely, resting his phone and giving his undivided attention to me.
"I am with my husband."
"You are married? You look too young to be married," he said with shock written all over his face.
"Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
"Yes." I chuckled at his affirmation. I wasn't actually not married, so it wasn't a compliment for me. But who cares? And I didn't plan on getting married anytime soon either.
"You are really nice to start a conversation. I am kind of introverted, you see," the blonde said shyly.
"You are really nice as well. You are at least paying attention to me unlike a certain someone I know who is busy chatting on the phone," I grumbled.
Suddenly I could feel Dylan's blazing gaze at the back of my head.
"Who?" the blonde asked out of curiosity
"No one important actually." Maybe Dylan was murdering me in his mind right now in the worst possible ways but I continued talking, "How silly of me! I didn't catch your name yet. By the way, my name is Sh — Katherine."
"Oh, my name is—"
Someone suddenly grabbed my wrist and made me stand up harshly.
"No one cares about your name," Dylan spoke up grimly.
That unknown guy's brown eyes became wide as a saucer at Dylan's rudeness. Well, Dylan was infamous for his rudeness and cold attitude after all.
Dylan turned to me and whispered into my ears, "You wanted to go there, didn't you? I will take you later on. But right now, we have more important things to handle. Our target is here."
I gulped down, realizing the hard part of the mission was coming. I knew what I had to do. Yet, there was another thought in my head. Was Dylan getting jealousy or did he make me get up due to the arrival of the target only?
"Act as if everything is normal," Dylan instructed, noticing the tension on my face. I put on a smile and covered my eyes with my hair to look at the target discreetly. "Do you see that guy in the brown suit with two other guys and a woman?"
I hummed in response when I spotted them. But my eyes widened as I recognized a familiar face.
"Hey, Dylan, who is that guy on the left side of the target?" I inquired.
"That is Kade's brother."
"His brother is my freaking boss. According to the plan, we are going to frame him?" I squeaked.
"Lower your voice," he instructed, and I closed my mouth immediately. "And yes, we will. I don't care if he's your boss. I am going to frame him either way."
I couldn't believe that my boss was a fucking rapist and drug addict who molested countless women. Thank goodness, Brian didn't make a move on me yet. That day must have been a close call.
"But—"
"Distract Kade's wife, Irina. Kade's youngest brother, William, will be handled by Xavier. And our scapegoat, Brian, is now your responsibility as well. Don't forget."
"He will recognize me—"
Dylan pressed the Bluetooth on his ear and ordered, "Kayden, dim the lights."
Immediately, the lights were dimmed. Anyone's face was hardly recognizable, yet the shape of the things were visible.
"Listen, you will be on your own now. You know the plan. So good luck and don't freak out." Dylan softly kissed my forehead and went away.
I took a deep breath, putting on a confident smile. Irina Taylor, wife of Kade Taylor, was supposed to be the only one in Kade's family who was good at heart. Otherwise, the rest of his family were engaged in crimes. She was a friend of Katherine Trance.
I approached Irina and greeted in a soft voice, trying to imitate Katherine's voice, "Hello, Irina. It has been a while."
"Is that you, Kathy?" she asked in a surprised tone.
"Of course, who else?" I smiled.
"I thought you won't come here today," Irina said.
"Is that really Katherine? She sounds different," Brian said, eyeing me up, which made me want to throw up.
"I have got a cold," I replied, faking a cough.
"Yes, she is right. She doesn't sound that different either," Irina defended.
"But she seems different. Her figure— I mean, uh, she looks sorta— never mind." Brian shuttered, trying to cover up. "By the way, darling, is Daniel here?"
"Oh, yes, he is talking with some associates."
Brian shivered. "Oh, then I will be going, Katherine." His tone completely changed. Meanwhile, William was completely silent. "Hey, Will, let's grab a drink." Both of them went to the counter.
"I am really sorry for Brian, sweetie. Please, don't tell Daniel. He is going to kill him," Irina apologized.
"He doesn't bother me," I shrugged it off and continued to distract her. I checked my wrist watch. Ten minutes to go.
___
"Hey, Brian, can you come with me?" I asked with a flirtatious smile.
"Daniel isn't around, right?" he asked fearfully.
"Of course not."
"Then sure. Let's go." He grabbed my arm. I cringed but maintained my smile. I led him towards the corridor in the south.
While I was taking him there, he started talking, "Your husband is such a jerk. I don't know how you handle that hot-tempered bastard. I will never forget how he almost killed me last time for trying to flirt with you. But he should have known his wife better. I always knew you were into me."
Eww, I was sure that whoever Katherine was, she wasn't into this bag of shit. I couldn't believe that I didn't realize he was a rapist.
I only smiled at him and waited until we reached the room no. 108. As soon as we entered the room, someone injected him with a syringe. Brian winced at the sudden attacker, falling flat on the floor. I gasped.
"Easy," the attacker murmured with a victorious smirk dancing on his lips.
"Is that you, Xavy?" I asked, and the assaulter removed his mask, revealing his handsome face.
"Of course, your very own beloved Xavy, Shilly darling," Xavier joked. Since the day Dina called me 'Shilly', he has been calling me that as well, and I called him 'Xavy' in return. Xavier and I had become like good buddies as we always gossiped during breakfast, after my training with Dylan.
"How did you get in?"
"This place might seem unhygienic but damn, this has a tight security," Xavier mumbled.
"Then why don't you just kill Kade?"
"Only if Dylan would let me. Boss says that Kade is too smart for me to kill and I should handle these low lives. Tch. It's no fun," he whined and I chuckled. "Oh, shoot, I need to kill that William guy too. Get out of here. Kade will be here soon."
Xavier quickly jumped out of the window. I was about to leave the room but the door knob started rotating.
In an instant, I hid behind the wardrobe. Dylan and Kade entered the room. I didn't dare to peek in, so I just listened quietly..
"Oh, gosh, what happened to Brian?" I heard Kade freak out.
"Don't worry. He's just unconscious," Dylan replied calmly.
"What's the meaning of this, Daniel?" Kade asked.
"It's Dylan, not Daniel, Mr. Kade Taylor." I got goosebumps at Dylan's tone. It sounded dangerous—it would be an understatement. I gulped down the lump in my throat.
"Dy—Dylan L—Lewiston." Shock was evident in Kade's voice. "Ahh! What did you just inject me with?" From my peripheral view, I saw Kade put his palm over his neck and Dylan had a needle in his gloved hand.
Dylan had already removed his mask. "Nothing much. Just a poison which will kill you painfully in the next three minutes. Since you're going to die anyway, you might as well as answer two questions of mine." Kade fell on his knees, squirming in pain.
"W-what do-do y-you w-want to a-a-ask?"
"Good." Gathering some courage, I peeked over my shoulder at Dylan. He had a dark look in his eyes. My heart beat increased as I was scared out of my mind. I put a hand over my chest to calm down.
"I'll ask you two questions only. First question: Were you the one who killed Rachel?"
"W-who is Ra-Rachel?" Kade was choking on his words.
"Ten years ago, on 17th June, a black-haired, 17 years old teenage girl was murdered by a thug near the central park at midnight. Her name was Rachel Albert, my cousin."
Ten years ago? That was even before Dylan joined the mafia.
"Yes, y-yes, I rem-remember. Yes, I was the one who killed her."
Dylan's face twisted in anger yet he continued asking, "The second question, who killed Cordelia Stratford?"
"You-your sister?" Kade rasped out. I was confused. Why did Dylan and his sister have different last names?
"Yes, she was eight years old when she died. Do you remember?"
"I only know t-the per-person who ordered me to k-kill her."
"I already know that person. Who was the one that stabbed her?" My heart clenched at the pain hidden in his voice.
"I-it was your father." My eyes widened. Dylan's father killed his own daughter?
I stood in the corner as I watched Kade die. In a few seconds, his body became still. His eyes remained open and some fluid came out of his mouth. I put my hand over my mouth to restrain a scream.
"Damn you." I was about to come out of hiding but stopped when Dylan took out his gun. He started firing it at the dead body like he had gone crazy.
"Die, just fucking die. You killed Rachel." Dylan had a mad, psychotic look on his face. As an instinct, I pushed away the gun from his hand. I closed my eyes, thinking Dylan would hit me out of anger but he just stared at Kade's body.
"Just die," he mumbled, sitting down on the couch. He rested his palm on his face and let out a disappointed sigh. "I didn't want it to be true. I wanted it to be a lie that Dad killed Cordelia." My heart sank by his sad voice. I sat beside him and patted his back.
Dylan rested his forehead on my shoulder. I stroked his hair, trying to comfort him.
"Why does this success feel like failure?" he muffled in a cracked voice. I didn't reply and stayed silent. "You know, he killed my cousin, Rachel. The only cousin who believed me and tried to help me. But they killed her as well for supporting me. If it wasn't for her, I would've died out of hypothermia in that cold room..." He started sharing his feelings with me.
I listened to him while patting his hair with love. I didn't care if there was a dead body and an unconscious body lying in front of me. All I cared about was Dylan and his feelings.
Maybe my love made me even more selfish than I already was.