The dimly lit room reeked of smoke and cold snowy fog around him, Kai stood over Mr. Wagner. With a slow, deliberate motion, Kai took a final drag on his cigarette, the ember glowing bright red as he inhaled. He let out a stream of smoke, his eyes looking down at Wagner's battered face.

"I pity you, Mr. Wagner," Kai said, his voice low and menacing. He pressed down on Wagner's already broken ankle, evoke a pained yelp from the man.

Wagner's eyes welled up with tears as he begged, "Please, stop. I'll tell you anything you want to know."

Kai's expression remained unyielding. "You're not telling me anything I don't already know, Mr. Wagner. What I want to know is where you've hidden him."

Wagner's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape. "I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered.

Kai's smile was a thin, cruel line. "Don't play dumb with me, Wagner. I know all about your little secret. The question is, how much pain are you willing to endure before you tell me the truth?"

As Kai applied more pressure to Wagner's ankle, the man's screams echoed through the room, mingling with the smoke and the stench of fear. Kai's eyes never wavered, his gaze piercing as he waited for Wagner to crack.

But Wagner's resolve, though battered, remained unbroken. "You'll never find him," he spat, defiance flickering in his eyes.

Kai's smile grew wider. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

"Alright then, as you wish," Kai said, his voice low and menacing. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed his cigarette onto the ground, the ember dying out with a faint hiss. He didn't bother to watch it roll across the floor.

With a swift motion, Kai picked up the baseball bat leaning against the wall. The wood felt cool and solid in his hands, a reassuring weight that spoke of potential violence. He took a step closer to the man, the bat held menacingly at his side.

The man's eyes followed the bat, his pupils dilating in fear. "Please," he begged, his voice shaking. "I'll tell you anything. Just don't hurt me anymore."

Kai's expression remained impassive, his eyes cold and calculating. "You should have thought of that before," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. With a swift motion, he raised the bat, targeting the man's knees.

The man's eyes widened in terror as he realized the gravity of his situation. He tried to scramble backward, but his broken ankle wouldn't allow him to move quickly.

As the bat hung suspended in mid-air, the man's voice cracked with desperation. "Wait! I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything."

Kai's grip on the bat tightened, his knuckles white with tension. For a moment, he hesitated, the bat poised to strike. Then, slowly, he lowered it, his eyes never leaving the man's face.

"Speak," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

The man took a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I was hired by someone... someone big. They wanted me to keep him hidden, to keep him safe."

Kai's eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. "Who?" he demanded, the bat still clutched tightly in his hand.

The man's eyes darted back and forth, his mind racing. "I don't know," he stammered. "I swear, I don't know. They wore a mask, and they paid me in cash. I never saw their face."

"I didn't know what I was getting myself into," Wagner stammered. "They promised me a large sum of money, and I was desperate. I didn't realize the gravity of the situation until it was too late."

Kai's eyes narrowed, his grip on the baseball bat tightening. "Who paid you?" he demanded, for straight point of the conversation.

Wagner hesitated, his eyes darting around the room once more. "I-I don't know if I should say," he stammered.

Kai's expression turned cold, and he raised the bat, ready to strike. But before he could bring it down, a loud noise echoed through the room. Wagner's body jerked violently, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Kai's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at Wagner's lifeless body. A single bullet wound marred the back of his head, and a pool of blood began to spread across the floor. Kai's gaze snapped toward the door, and he saw a figure standing in the shadows.

Kai's eyes locked onto the man as he approached. The lighting of the alleyway cast long shadows, making it difficult to read the man's expression. But Kai's recognised him as he walked towards them.

"Sir, why did you do that?" Kai asked, his voice firm but controlled. He kept his distance, eyes fixed on the gun.

The man, Andrei, smiled, as if it were joke he heard of. "You really don't sense when someone is lying, or you're just stupid enough to believe someone's story," he replied, his voice dripping with condescension.

Kai's eyes narrowed, his grip on his own gun tightening. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.

Andrei chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Wagner was playing both sides, Kai. He was feeding me information, and I'm sure he would have done the same to you if you'd pressed him hard enough."

Andrei took a step closer, his gun still trained on Kai. "You're not as smart as you think you are, Kai. You're just a pawn in a much larger game."

His words hung in the air, his voice low and menacing. "Do your work as told, you understand?" he repeated, his eyes looked down at him.

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine as he met Andrei's gaze. He towered over him, his imposing figure radiating an authority and power.

"I understand," Kai replied, his voice firm despite the unease growing within him.

His expression remained unreadable, but a hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes. "Good," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I expect nothing but obedience from my employees. You will do as you're told, without question or hesitation."

Kai's jaw clenched, his mind racing with resentment. He didn't like being talked down to, but he knew that he had to keep his cool.

Andrei walked inside the mansion, leaving Kai standing alone in the driveway. The sound of the door closing behind him echoed through the night air.

Kai looked around, taking in the dark shadows and the faint scent of blooming flowers. The mansion loomed above him, its windows like empty eyes staring back.

"Come, let's head back," one of the other bodyguards said to Kai, nodding towards the door. Kai followed him, along with the other staff members, out of the main area of the mansion and into the section designated for the staff.

As they walked, Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. It had been a long day, and he was looking forward to getting some rest.

The staff quarters were a far cry from the opulent decor of the main mansion, but they were comfortable and well-appointed. Kai's room was small, but it had everything he needed: a bed, a desk, and a closet for his belongings.

As he changed into more comfortable clothes, Kai's mind began to wander. He thought about his own past, and the events that had led him to this place.

He had always been drawn to work that involved protection and security, and he had honed his skills over the years to become one of the best in the business.

As he lay down on the bed, Kai closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He knew that he had to be sharp, that he had to be ready for anything.

Kai drifted off to sleep, the mansion around him grew quiet. The staff members retired to their quarters, and the bodyguards took up their positions, watching and waiting.

Andrei stood in the balcony of his room, the cold breezes of the night air rustling his hair as he gazed out upon the city. He held a glass of luxury wine in his hand, the brand a favorite of his, and sipped it slowly as he took in the view.

The city lights twinkled below him, and the sound of the traffic drifted up to him like a distant hum. Andrei felt a sense of power and control as he stood there, looking out over the city that he had grown up in.

He decided to walk down the hall, the soft carpet muffling his footsteps as he made his way through the darkened corridors. The mansion was quiet, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath his feet.

He turned a corner, and the hallway stretched out before him, lined with portraits of his ancestors.

As he approached the stairs, he saw a figure standing at the bottom, looking up at him. Andrei's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the figure as Kai.

"What are you doing up?" Andrei asked, his voice low and even.

Kai looked up, at him . "I couldn't sleep," he replied, his voice neutral.

Andrei walked up to Kai, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Want to have a drink then?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

Kai hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he replied, "But, sir—"

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Come on, Kai. It's not like you can't have drink just because I'm heir of Andreyev, is it?, he added, a hint of menace lurking beneath the surface.

Kai's expression remained cautious, but he nodded slowly. "Okay, sir. But just one drink."

He grinned, leading Kai to a small bar in the corner of the room. He poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to Kai.

"What do you think of my brother?" Andrei asked, his voice low and smooth as he leaned back in his chair.

He hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "You've been here since our teenage years," Andrei added, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his face.

Kai's mind flashed back to his time working for the Andreyev family. He had never seen his brother and him together grow but he thought maybe he had also became a rebellious teenager into a powerful and calculating young man somewhere.

"I think your brother might be a complex person," Kai replied finally, choosing his words carefully.

Andrei expression didn't change, but Kai sensed a flicker of emotion behind his eyes. "Go on," he said, his voice neutral.

He look directly towards Kai, his gaze piercing. "And what do you think of me?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

Kai's heart skipped a beat as he met Andrei's gaze. "I think you're a very intelligent and resourceful person, sir," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kai's skin prickled with unease as he wondered what Andrei was really asking. Was he testing him, or was he genuinely interested in Kai's opinion?

"Hm" Andrei gave him a small reply, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his face.

Kai felt a sense of uncertainty wash over him. Had he said something wrong? Was he displeased with his response?

The silence between them stretched out, the only sound the soft ticking of the clock on the mantle. Kai shifted uncomfortably in his seat, wondering what he should do next.

Finally, Andrei spoke up, his voice low and smooth. "I think we've talked enough for tonight, Kai," he said. "You can go now."

Kai nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He stood up and said, "I shall leave then, sir." He slightly bowed down, his eyes cast downward in respect.

Andrei watched through narrowed eyes as he walked away, his broad shoulders and confident stride a testament to the man's strength and authority.

As Kai disappeared from view, he turned back to the window, his eyes scanning the gardens below. The moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist in the darkness.