CHAPTER 1

1 year ago

Standing on the balcony, he overlooked everyone that was dancing and grinding against each other in a mix of alcohol and sweat. He never understood what people found pleasurable with such. Maybe it was because he grew up watching it or maybe it was because he found people annoying and troublesome. He sighed. He had business to attend to and he couldn't postpone it any longer. Turning around he saw his right hand man, Damien punching their old time friend, Shaw. His heart was heavy with what he was about to do but he was not about to let him go unpunished, even if he was his best friend. He heaved out another sigh trying to get his bearings.

"so, what excuse are we using this time?" he asked as he walked towards them.

Damien wiped his hands on the cloth he kept on the table as he turned to face Cassian.

"Mom's sick", he said simply. Cassian could feel annoyance build in great magnitudes. He was annoyed that someone so close dared to condone the thought of stealing from him. He understood the need to want what you don't have especially when he thought of that ebony haired fellow that keeps avoiding him and disregarding his wooing attempts. He shook his head slightly to clear his mind. That was not the time for wandering thoughts.

Cassian approached Shaw and crouched in front of him. "I won't bother asking anything, so just explain to me what was going through your mind to do this?", he asked softly yet audibly. He was holding himself back from acting irrationally but that didn't mean Shaw was free from judgement. It just so happened that he caught on a day where his mood was particularly prickly. He was turned down for the umpteenth time and was not in a good mood. He needed a release. And lucky or not, Shaw offered himself in a silver platter.

"M...M-Mom" was all Shaw could get out as he struggled to take a breath. Cassian sighed as he stood up. "she's sick, I-I n-n-needed the m-money, Cass" he pleaded. Cassian walked back the window and looked out at the club filled with even more people than before.

"Do you know why I don't like to mix with the people down there even though it's a VIP lounge?" he asked but his voice was a little distant, like he wasn't talking to the occupants of the room. His thoughts were wandering again. He turned to Shaw with a smile. Warm and friendly. But the look in his eyes, disgust and annoyance was clear as day. "I was with your mom yesterday, and guess what Connelly? She was just fine!" he spat angrily. He never got angry while dealing with scum like these, it was always fun to mess with them but this time it was different. It was someone he knew, someone he trusted. "FUCKING HELL SHAW" his voice boomed as he felt his anger rise to its peak, like a volcano on the verge of exploding. This was his friend from high school. And yet he stole from him. All he had to do was ask. Why couldn't he just ask him to lend him the money? Why did he have to steal?

"Cass...I-I'm s-so s-sorry" Shaw started to beg. He had witnessed enough of these situations to know his turn had arrived. "please!" he begged. Cassian looked at him, analysing. Was it worth it? He wanted to ask, because he couldn't find a reasonable explanation as to why Shaw would steal millions from him. He closed his eyes to block out the flashbacks of their time together.

"sorry won't change a thing" Cassian said as his eyes turned icy cold, just like they did when he looked at worthless scum, the warmth they once carried for his best friend was nowhere to be seen, as if he was looking at a stranger who had rubbed him the wrong way, disgust, annoyance and anger flashing in his eyes like a mini storm. He still remembered the pain of betrayal he felt when he first found out Shaw was two-timing him with another mafia. He took Damien's gun and shot Shaw in the head without the slightest of hesitation.

"clean this up" he spat to no one in particular as he strode out of the room. He needed a breather, it wasn't everyday you kill your years long best friend for betraying you without a second thought.