Chapter 254 New Era I
The thick scent of tobacco wafted into the room before Boss even stepped through the doorway. His silhouette was outlined against the warm light behind him, the burning ember of the cigar in his mouth glowing faintly. He walked in with the same unbothered swagger he always carried, dressed in his long black robe, its crimson lining barely brushing the tiled floor. His single visible eye scanned the luxurious lounge with detached indifference, while the eyepatch covering the other added to his menacing, enigmatic presence.
Chief Josh was already waiting.
He was tense. Very tense.
And it wasn’t just because of Boss’s surprise invitation. It was the unpredictability of it all. They hadn’t made contact in nearly a year, an agreement that had kept both of their positions stable and relatively undisturbed. For Boss to summon him now, and with no advance warning, meant something serious was brewing.
So the moment Boss entered, Josh exploded.
"What the fuck is this, Boss?!" Josh barked, standing up and shrugging the woman’s hands off his shoulders. His drink nearly spilled from the sudden movement. "We had a deal. No sudden meetings, no exposure. You wanna burn everything down now? You trying to get me killed or what?"
Boss didn’t even blink. He let out a lazy puff of smoke, letting the gray cloud drift upward and vanish toward the ceiling. "Sit down, Josh. Quit bitching. I’ve got business for you."
Josh glared at him. "Business? What kind of business justifies breaking the one fucking rule that’s kept our alliance from blowing up in our faces?"
Boss took another drag from his cigar before answering. "I know you’ve been getting heat from your people. The murders. The chaos. All those crime scenes painted in blood. The name."
Josh’s eyes narrowed. "What name?"
"The Nightcrawler."