The Velvet Trap

lipped by, but I didn't move. I just sat there, staring out

did

was exhausted. I poured a drink from that overpriced bottle I kee

ed like

sk. I don't remember pullin

meh – 20

Old blood.

years, but the second I saw it, it

l did I ope

y

it w

t was t

tolen something from me and left somethin

he did. I

e I didn't like straight from the bottle. It

ng my phone even though I told myself I wouldn'

ng the world could wait while he buried himself in numbers an

indow. The city looked so far away from here. Blu

ybe I

one I'd been digging for since I learned ho

and encrypted trash, the same server I had once helped secure back when

e the

e the

my fath

uched me like

as all there

red mill

per

e n

ever fell because

st take the fall

the chain, like the r

ence

s fa

tched the city burn. Should've hit send and let the EFCC, the

I di

osed my eyes, I d

aw

re. Not the compa

ie

re

was trying to say so

wasn't just another c

ade me h

hated

get the message my head h

d've hi

e buried

, I closed

red, N

love m

him

ything so I could br

's all ash, I'll f

ing. No smile. Just walked in like he owned the

g when I saw

say hi.

p your fath

like

sharp. Not angry. Just.

brush. Couldn'

pped f

father did. To h

pened, but I had nothing to gi

sil

know why you're here. Or

ed. My ha

me," he said, so quiet I barely h

turned a

h caught in my throat, not kn

dn't expect

didn't expect to