CARNAL

XXVI

Mijako had cautioned Siraj that visiting Dorian's Warehouse carried inherent risks; what he didn't anticipate was being ambushed by a small army of Nirotti soldiers. They emerged from obscurity, outnumbering Matteo's crew by ten to six.

The cacophony of gunfire filled the air—each shot resounding like thunder through the eerie passageways. His false allies cried out as they were gunned down mercilessly by the Nirotti assailants. Swallowing hard and clenching his jaw tightly, Siraj mustered every ounce of courage to risk a glance around the wall of crates that concealed him.

There she stood—Mijako—her face ghostly pale but her resolve unwavering as she wielded her weapon against their enemies. Siraj realized that there was no other option; he had to defend her.

Inhaling deeply and gathering his courage, Siraj burst from his hidden position. As he dashed toward Mijako like a fierce gust of wind, a hostile thug appeared from behind a nearby pallet. With a swift and seamless action, Siraj raised his pistol and discharged two bullets into the assailant's torso.

Within moments, he was by Mijako's side, grasping her arm and guiding her behind another cluster of crates for protection.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded in a fierce whisper, gunfire erupting around them. "I warned you it was perilous!"

"I refuse to abandon you!" Siraj hollered above the deafening sound of gunshots.

A fleeting glance of rage flashed across Mijako's eyes before a projectile narrowly grazed her shoulder. She grimaced in pain but relentlessly continued firing.

As their odds of survival dwindled, Don Nirotti himself materialized before them, his face etched with fury and agony. His piercing gaze met Siraj's, and for an instant, time seemed to freeze.

"Mijako," he snarled menacingly, "fall back."

Mijako hesitated, her finger still tense on the trigger. "But, Father—"

"Now!"

Don Nirotti fixed his gaze upon Siraj like a formidable predator assessing its quarry. His voice was as icy as winter itself. "If you ever contemplate causing harm to my daughter, I will ensure it is the final act of your existence."

Despite being engulfed by the surrounding pandemonium, Siraj managed to summon his voice. "I would never bring harm upon Mijako," he proclaimed with unwavering determination.

Don Nirotti studied him intently, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. After a tense moment, he finally nodded in agreement. "Alright then," he said resolutely, "let's make our escape from this wretched place."

With adrenaline pumping, they battled their way through the remaining hostiles, cutting a path towards the far-off exit of the warehouse. Stumbling into the moonlight's gentle caress, they emerged bloodied and bruised but triumphantly alive. Siraj couldn't shake the feeling that this victory might be fleeting, a mere precursor to a never-ending war neither side could afford to win or lose.

Mijako anxiously shifted her gaze between Siraj and her father, feeling the crackling tension within the car's front seat akin to dancing flames on the verge of an explosion. She had never witnessed her father in such a state, and it unnerved her deeply. Desperation oozed from each word he spoke, clouding the windows with an oppressive layer of disquiet. As they raced down the road, the engine's somber hum provided a haunting accompaniment to their intense disagreement.

"Dad, how could you possibly do that to Siraj?!" Mijako stammered in disbelief, her voice quivering with emotion.

Her father's grip around the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning a ghostly shade of white in the dim light. "Mijako, you fail to comprehend. I took the necessary action to safeguard our family."

"Protect us?! By issuing a death threat toward him?" Mijako's voice shattered as she motioned toward Siraj, who sat mute in the passenger seat, his eyes fixated on his intertwined hands resting on his lap.

"You're aware of what's on the line here," her father murmured ominously. "Siraj's involvement in a perilous situation had the potential to bring us all crashing down! I had no choice but to ensure he was utterly aware of the severe consequences."

Mijako's eyes darted back and forth between Siraj and her father before settling on him. "Dad, if you genuinely believed that Siraj would deliberately put our family in danger, he wouldn't be occupying this seat right now. Your actions... they were callous."

With a heavy heart, Siraj mustered the courage to speak, his voice cracking yet firm. "I understand your reasons, but it doesn't alter the sensation of having one's existence dangle by a mere thread, all for the sake of someone's harsh lesson."

Her father's jaw tensed as he exhaled deeply before responding: "Siraj, today's events were orchestrated for a single objective – to solidify your unwavering loyalty and devotion to our family. This issue is not to be taken lightly, and I urge you to treat it as a warning and nothing more."

Catching sight of the blazing anger in Siraj's eyes, Mijako confronted her father resolutely: "Father, you must acknowledge that your actions today crossed boundaries. Family members shouldn't torment each others partners so severely to make their point!"

Swallowing hard and facing the bitter truth in Mijako's statement, her father realized the gravity of his actions. Fear of failing had pushed him down this dark path. In a gentle whisper laden with remorse, he admitted, "Mijako, you are right. I apologize, Siraj."

An unsettling quietude enveloped the car as their journey resumed. Mijako rested her head against the cool car door, tears brimming in her eyes as she grappled with the reality of what had transpired and its profound impact on both Siraj and herself.