Chapter 67: John's Call with the Organization Leader

In a dark, smoke-filled room, John sat anxiously behind his luxurious desk. His phone rang with an irritating tone—it was the leader of the organization, and it was clear this call would not be ordinary. John took a deep breath before answering, trying to maintain his composure.

John (angrily, trying to keep control):
"What did you do? This wasn’t our agreement. The target was Aboud, not kidnapping Aurora!"

On the other end of the phone, the leader of the organization responded with a calm, merciless voice, as if he was entirely in control of the situation.

Organization Leader (mockingly):
"I think you’ve forgotten, John. You’re not the one who makes the rules here. I’m the one running this game."

John could feel something dangerous was about to happen. He tried to regain control, but he realized the situation was getting more complicated.

John (angrily):
"Our deal was Aboud, not Aurora. You’ve crossed the line!"

The leader chuckled lightly, as if he had expected this reaction from John.

Organization Leader (coldly):
"Oh, John… Let’s speak clearly. You’re in this game because of us, not the other way around. Let me remind you of something: you’re here because you killed Gregor."

John froze in place, as if he had been slapped unexpectedly. He didn’t think this would come up so quickly.

John (in a trembling, low voice):
"What are you saying?"

Organization Leader (mockingly):
"Don’t pretend to be innocent, John. We know everything. You killed Gregor and took over his assets, even claiming the company was your effort. But we know the truth. We have the evidence… and if you don’t shut up and follow my orders, I’ll expose everything."

Drops of sweat started to form on John’s forehead. He never imagined the leader knew all these details. He thought he had been careful enough to hide his crime, but now he realized he was wrong.

John (in a broken voice):
"Are you threatening me?"

Organization Leader (calmly, ominously):
"Exactly, John. Everything will fall apart for you if you don’t do as I say. You need to stay silent and follow the plan. We need the code from Aboud, and he knows it. Aurora? She’s just leverage, that’s all."

John could no longer pretend to be calm. His heart pounded as he absorbed what had been said. Gregor, the man who was supposed to be his partner, had been killed by his hands, and now the leader of the organization was using that crime to control him.

John (voice filled with fear):
"If you reveal this, everything will end for me."

The leader laughed again, as if the whole situation was a game to him.

Organization Leader (calm, menacing):
"Exactly. You’ll lose everything—your company, Aurora, your reputation... and even your life if necessary. So, my advice to you: follow my orders and don’t try to play with fire."

John (trying to regain control):
"And what about Aboud? What do you want from him exactly?"

Organization Leader (firmly):
"Aboud holds the key, the tattoo on his back is the code. We have the wallet, but we need the code to unlock it. If you want to save your life and Aurora’s, you’ll make Aboud give us the code. Do that, and consider everything over."

The leader ended the call, leaving John sitting in the dark, feeling as if his world was starting to collapse around him. Everything he had built over the years could crumble if the leader exposed the truth. He knew he didn’t have many options.

John (whispering to himself):
"Everything is my fault... Gregor... Aurora... Aboud."

The pressure was mounting on John, and now he knew he had to choose between sacrificing himself to save Aurora or handing Aboud over to the organization.

After the shocking call with the organization leader, John sat alone in his office, contemplating the limited choices before him. The more he thought about Aurora and what might happen to her if he didn’t follow the leader’s orders, the more he felt the crushing weight of the situation. He didn’t want to betray Aboud, but he felt like he had no other choice.

John (thinking to himself):
"I don’t have a choice... if I don’t hand over Aboud, they’ll expose me, and I’ll lose everything. Aurora could pay the ultimate price."

After a long hesitation, John decided he would take Aboud to the organization in exchange for Aurora’s release. It was the hardest decision of his life, but he believed it was the only way to keep them all alive.

John met the organization leader in a dark, quiet place, far from prying eyes. The air was tense, but John knew he had to appear calm.

John (speaking firmly):
"I’ll bring you Aboud, but you must let Aurora go. I’ll hand him over to you, but I need to see that she’s safe first."

Organization Leader (coldly):
"Aurora is safe, and she will remain so if you stick to the plan. Hand over Aboud, and everything will go as it should."

John (sternly):
"Don’t go near Aurora again. If I find out you hurt her, I won’t care what you do to me."

The leader laughed quietly but agreed.

Organization Leader:
"Aboud for Aurora, that’s the deal. Don’t try to be a hero."

After making the agreement with the leader, John went to meet Aboud in the hospital. The atmosphere was tense, as Aboud didn’t know what John had planned.

John (calmly):
"Aboud, I’ve found where Aurora is. But we need to make a serious move to get her back."

Aboud (worriedly):
"Where is she? What have they done to her?"

John (hesitantly):
"She’s safe, but they want something from you. They want the code hidden in your tattoo. If you give them the code, they’ll release Aurora."

Aboud stood for a moment, considering his limited options. He knew the organization was dangerous, and giving them the code meant handing them the power they had been seeking. But he was willing to sacrifice anything to save Aurora.

Aboud (calmly, with determination):
"I’ll do it. I’ll go with them if it means getting Aurora back."

John (surprised by Aboud’s quick acceptance):
"Are you sure? This won’t be easy. Things might not go in our favor after you hand over the code."

Aboud (with a sad smile):
"I know that. But I can’t stand by while Aurora’s in danger."

The next day, John and Aboud prepared to meet the organization. There was a heavy tension in the air, with John feeling the guilt of betraying Aboud, while Aboud knew that this might be the last time he walked away from something like this. Both tried to hide their emotions, but the tension was palpable.

Aboud (while getting dressed):
"Are you sure Aurora will be okay?"

John (quietly):
"Yes, I’ve made sure of it. They’ll release her once we hand you over."

Aboud (calmly):
"Then let’s do this. I’ll face them, but you need to be ready for anything."

John and Aboud arrived at the designated location, an old warehouse far from the city. The darkness enveloped the place, and a sense of danger loomed in every corner. As they entered the warehouse, the organization was waiting for them. The leader stood in the middle, flanked by his armed men.

Organization Leader (with a cold smile):
"Finally... Aboud."

Aboud (calmly):

"I’m here. Let Aurora go."

The leader gestured to one of his men, who brought Aurora into the room. She looked exhausted and worn out, but there were no signs of violence.

Aurora (softly):
"Aboud... don’t do this."

Aboud (with a reassuring smile):
He took off his shirt and said, "Here’s the code, photograph it, and let us go."

The leader stepped closer to Aboud, eyeing the tattoo on his back.

Organization Leader:
"You know what I want. The hidden code... not just the tattoo."