Chapter 1
A Threat Wrapped in Blood
The room smelled like fear.
And gunpowder.
Jasfer stood still.
But his fingers…
They trembled slightly behind his back.
Three men sat in front of him.
No smiles.
No mercy.
"Your time is over, Jasfer."
One of them spoke.
Slow.
Cold.
Jasfer didn't reply.
He already knew this moment would come.
"You thought you could walk away?"
Another one laughed.
"A man like you… doesn't retire."
"I already paid what I owed."
Jasfer said.
His voice steady.
"Paid?"
The third man leaned forward.
"You think money solves everything?"
A pause.
Then—
A photo was thrown on the table.
Jasfer's eyes dropped.
And his heart stopped.
Jay.
Smiling.
Holding a small kitten.
Alive.
Innocent.
Unaware.
"Beautiful girl…"
The man smirked.
"Your daughter?"
Jasfer's jaw clenched.
"Don't."
"Oh… now you care?"
The man leaned back lazily.
"You should have thought about her… before crossing us."
Silence.
Heavy.
Deadly.
"What do you want?"
Jasfer finally asked.
"Simple."
A slow smile.
"Your life…"
A pause.
"Or hers."
The world went quiet.
Jasfer didn't breathe.
Didn't move.
Nothing.
"You touch her…"
His voice dropped.
"I'll burn every one of you alive."
They laughed.
Loud.
Cruel.
"You're in no position to threaten us."
Another photo slid across the table.
This time—
Jay outside her house.
Alone.
"We're already watching her."
Jasfer's control…
Cracked.
"What do you want?"
He repeated.
This time…
Not as a businessman.
As a father.
The man stood up.
Walked slowly around him.
"Make a deal."
"With someone stronger than us."
Jasfer's brows furrowed.
"What are you saying?"
The man leaned close to his ear.
"Marry her off."
"To him."
Jasfer froze.
"No…"
He whispered.
"I won't."
"You will."
A gun clicked.
Right behind his head.
"Or we start with her fingers."
Silence.
Jasfer closed his eyes.
His little girl.
The one who calls him "papa"…
The one who trusts him blindly…
How could he—
"Who?"
He forced the word out.
The man smiled.
"A man even we don't touch."
A pause.
A name that carried death.
Keifer
Jasfer's heart dropped.
"No…"
"That's the only way she lives."
The gun pressed harder.
"Choose."
Tears burned behind his eyes.
But they didn't fall.
Because men like him…
Didn't cry.
They sacrificed.
"…I'll do it."
The words tasted like poison.
"Good."
The gun lowered.
"And Jasfer…"
"If you try anything smart…"
The man tapped Jay's photo.
"She dies first."
They left.
Just like that.
As if they hadn't destroyed his world.
Jasfer stood there.
Alone.
Broken.
Then slowly…
He picked up her photo.
His fingers trembled.
"I'm sorry…"
He whispered.
"Papa failed you…"
A tear finally fell.
Because now…
To save his daughter—
He had to give her…
To a monster.
And far away…
Jay laughed.
Unaware.
That her life…
Was already decided.
End of Chapter 1