It was three days after the night at The One-Night Grave.
The Kai's mansion in the northern estate rose like a black blade against the bruised dusk sky — glass walls reflecting the dying orange light, sharp angles cutting into the horizon. Inside, the main lounge felt colder than usual. The marble floor gleamed under low amber strips. The charcoal leather sofas sat in a loose circle around the obsidian table. Along the walls stood the life-sized marble statues — nude women frozen in graceful poses, white stone skin glowing softly under spotlights.
One statue stood directly behind Kai's chair — taller than the rest, arms lifted high above her head, elbows slightly bent, palms turned upward in helpless display. The line of her throat and chest was exposed, vulnerable, carved in perfect submission. Draped across her breasts was Ira's red satin lace bra — soft crimson against cold white marble, hanging like a quiet trophy, the delicate lace edges catching the light every time someone breathed.
The brothers were already there when Vernon walked in.
Lucas sprawled across one sofa, boots up on the table, beer bottle dangling from his fingers.
Victor leaned against the armrest beside him, silk shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled to show scarred forearms.
Damon sat cross-legged on the floor, back against the sofa, cigarette smoldering between his lips.
Leon paced slowly near the windows, crescent moons on his double-breasted jacket glinting.
Ren perched on the edge of the table, legs swinging, baby face lit with restless energy.
They were talking about Harlan — the sub-leader of the Shadow Reckoning who'd been bleeding them for months.
Lucas snorted. "If that fucker wasn't a widower, I'd have fucked his wife just to piss him off."
Victor chuckled low. "You'd fuck anything that moves, Lucas."
Damon exhaled smoke. "He's holed up somewhere nasty. Kai's got the location. Finally."
Leon stopped pacing. "About time. I'm tired of losing shipments."
Ren grinned, childlike glee in his eyes. "I just wanna see what he looks like when he realizes we found him."
The elevator dinged.
Vernon stepped into the room.
His black coat hung open, faint crimson serpents embroidered across the chest. Shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, right hand wrapped in fresh white bandage— knuckles bulky, a few red spots already seeping through. Hair still damp from the shower, falling loose around his sharp face. He walked in quietly — no sound except the soft click of his shoes on marble.
The talking stopped.
Lucas sat up. "There he is."
Victor's eyes flicked to the bandage. "Woah, bro — what the hell happened to your hand?"
Damon tilted his head, cigarette pausing mid-drag. "Yeah, what's with the mummy wrap?"
Leon crossed his arms. "You look like you punched a concrete column."
Ren leaned forward, curious. "You okay?"
Vernon didn't answer right away. He walked to the empty sofa, sat down slowly, legs spread slightly, hands resting on his thighs — bandaged one on top. His voice came out calm, quiet, almost bored.
"Accident. Practicing."
Lucas barked a laugh. "Practicing what? Breaking your own fucking bones?"
Victor shook his head. "You're already the best fighter in Draxton, man. Why do you gotta be so hard on yourself?"
Damon smirked. "He wants to be a goddamn killing machine. That's why."
Leon chuckled. "Yeah, well, slow down before you break something we actually need."
Ren grinned. "You're scary enough already."
Kai sat motionless at the head of the circle — legs crossed, hands resting lightly on his thighs, obsidian suit absorbing the light. His gaze never left Vernon's face — dark, unblinking, like twin voids drilling straight through skin and bone.
He said nothing.
But Vernon felt it — that cold weight pressing on his chest.
Kai's silence was louder than any question.
Then Kai spoke — voice low, smooth, final.
"Harlan."
The room stilled.
Kai leaned forward slightly — just enough.
"Elias 'Ghost' Harlan. Ex-military. Mid-level coordinator for the Shadow Reckoning. He's the one rerouting our shipments, leaking blackmail files, turning our managers. He's been bleeding us for months."
Lucas cracked his knuckles. "About fucking time we found him."
Victor nodded. "Where?"
Kai's eyes stayed on Vernon — steady, unreadable.
"The Venom Pit."
He let the name sit.
Then continued — calm, precise.
"Abandoned chemical refinery in the southern swamps. Rusted pipes, leaking vats, nerve agents in the air, acid runoff pooling in the walkways. The place itself will kill you — burns skin, melts lungs, blinds you in seconds. Harlan's using it to synthesize a new toxin. Selling it on the black market to anyone who wants to hit us."
Damon whistled low. "That's a suicide run."
Kai kept saying,
"No team can get in. Too many sensors. Too narrow. Gas floods trigger on movement. One wrong step and you're dead before you blink."
Ren's eyes widened — childlike fascination mixed with real fear. "So… one man?"
Kai nodded once.
"Solo. Infiltrate through the sewer outflow — half a mile of knee-deep toxic sludge, chlorine gas burning your eyes and throat. Emerge in the underbelly. Move across catwalks over boiling acid vats — fall and you're gone. Avoid pressure sensors that flood the place with poison gas. Harlan's in the central mixing chamber — guarded by three chemists with gas masks and dart guns loaded with paralytics. Snap his neck. Sabotage the main pipe — release the corrosive foam. It eats metal, eats flesh. Climb out through the rusted ladder shaft before the whole place collapses. You have thirty minutes before the gas buildup turns it into a killbox."
Silence.
Lucas stared. "That's not a mission. That's a fucking execution."
Victor shook his head slowly. "No one survives that."
Damon exhaled smoke. "I'm good, but I'm not that good."
Leon laughed — nervous. "I'd rather fight ten guys with guns than swim through poison shit."
Ren swallowed. "I… I don't wanna melt."
Kai's gaze swept the room — slow, deliberate.
Then he spoke — voice calm, final.
"Who wants it?"
No one moved.
Kai waited.
Then — softer, almost amused.
"I will give whoever takes it anything they ask. Anything."
Vernon sat still. Kai's words hit him hard.
" Anything."
Vernon's bandaged hand rested on his thigh.
He felt Kai's eyes on him — that cold, piercing weight.
The room stayed silent.
Kai's voice dropped.
"I know none of our men can do this. It's almost impossible. So I'm relying on my brothers."
Lucas shook his head fast. "Nah, man. I'm not dying in a puddle of acid. Fuck that."
Victor rubbed his jaw. "I can kill guys. I can't fight poison gas. That's suicide."
Damon stubbed his cigarette. "I'd rather shoot Harlan from a mile away. This? No."
Leon laughed weakly. "I'm out. I like living."
Ren looked at Kai with big eyes. "I… I don't wanna die like that."
Kai kept quiet.
Victor said, "Kai, this mission is impossible! If we send any of our men , we will only lose a life without any outcome."
Kai leaned back — calm.
Kai'd known.
He always knew it was impossible!
He just wanted to tell them anyways.
He opened his mouth to speak — to call it off.
Then Vernon's voice cut through the quiet.
"I'll do it."
The room froze.
Lucas stared. "Are you crazy?"
Victor: "You'll end up dead, man."
Damon: "Bro — that's not a fight. That's a grave."
Leon: "You're the best, but this ain't about skill. It's about not melting."
Ren:"Vernon… you sure? I know you're a weirdo, but I still like you as a big bro."
Then — a small, cold smile.
"I knew it."
Kai leaned forward slightly.
"You can go tomorrow."
A pause.
"But before you go — tell me. What do you want in reward?"
Vernon didn't answer right away.
His gaze drifted — slow, deliberate — to the marble statue behind Kai.
The one with arms lifted high, palms up, throat and chest exposed.
Ira's red satin lace bra still draped across her breasts — soft crimson against cold white stone.
Vernon looked back at Kai.
His voice came out quiet. Calm. Steady.
"I want that bra."
The room went dead silent.
Lucas blinked. "What the fuck?"
Victor: "A bra? In exchange for a suicide mission?"
Damon laughed once — shocked. "You serious?"
Leon: "Why the hell do you want that bra?"
Ren stared — wide-eyed, curious.
Kai's smile faded.
He stared at Vernon — long, searching.
For the first time in years, Kai saw something flicker in his eyes.
Rebellion.
Vernon held his gaze.
Quiet.
Calm.
Kai asked — his voice cold , lethal.
" Why do you want that ?"
Vernon didn't break eye contact.
"Because I liked it."
No explanation.
No shame.
Just fact.
Kai's fingers drummed once on his thigh.
Then he nodded — once.
"Done. You can leave."
Vernon stood.
Walked to the elevator.
The doors closed behind him.
The room stayed quiet for a long time.
Lucas finally muttered, "What the fuck is wrong with him?"
No one answered.
Kai stared at the closed doors.
To be continued....