Raghav steadied his aim, his gun trained on his primary target, and fired with unerring precision, not a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. He cast a sharp glance at his second-in-command, his eyes glinting with intensity, silently questioning him about the warehouse.
"All clear," Antonio nodded.
Raghav tucked his gun back into his trousers, his cold gaze fixed on Rivero, a gang member involved in trafficking women and children across the country. He felt no regret for putting a bullet in this man; in fact, Rivero deserved a painful end. However, Raghav was a busy man and had no desire to dirty his hands with someone so insignificant.
"Let's head back to-" Antonio began, turning his back to head out of the warehouse, yet he halted when he heard footsteps.
"Boss," one of Raghav's men called out, halting in his steps when his boss was in the vision. "There's a child in the basement."
Raghav stepped forward, casting a quick glance at Antonio, "Re-check the warehouse and then head over to the car."
"I'll join-"
"No," Raghav commanded firmly. "Follow the instructions given."
"Yes, Boss," Antonio said with a hint of mockery as he stepped out of the room. He recognized that Raghav was more than capable of managing the situation, but the way he issued orders often made Antonio feel the urge to strangle his own childhood best friend.
Raghav dismissed the sarcasm in Antonio's voice and headed over to the basement, yanking the door open, where his gaze fell on a petite boy, who was bound by shackles around his left ankle.
Raghav descended the two steps, his cold gaze assessing the room with a predatory gaze, and realisation seemed to click in his mind. He looked back at the boy, who sat curled up with his legs drawn tightly against his chest, his face obscured by his knees. "Vishal?"
Vishal raised his head slightly, peeking at the unknown individual, it was rare for anyone to address him by his name.
Raghav let out a deep sigh as he reflected on the information he had received from one of his employees. It appeared to be true: Rivero had not even spared his own son. How could a father act so cruelly towards his own flesh and blood? Raghav pondered this, but he had grown accustomed to the harsh realities of the world. He had learned that not everyone possessed a heart of gold.
Vishal shifted, pushing himself against the wall, his eyes examining the man closely for any signs of threat. "Why are you here?"
Raghav's gaze flickered to Vishal, momentarily taken aback by the blunt question, yet he didn't let it show on his face. He walked a few steps before commanding, "Close your eyes and move your left foot to the side."
Vishal gulped, his gaze flickering to the door before he glanced at Raghav. "If my father finds you here-"
Vishal knew he was bluffing, but he wasn't ready for another beating today, his body was bruised and sore, and the idea of using his 'father' as an excuse to escape this situation seemed stupid but giving it a try wouldn't hurt.
"Do as you're told, kid." Raghav's voice commanded anything but disrespect.
"Why," Vishal sassed, his hand flying to his mouth. He cursed his mouth silently, it was a factor that mostly got him in trouble all the time.
Raghav's piercing gaze didn't waver from Vishal's honey-brown eyes as he pulled out his gun and shot at the chain unblinkingly, causing the child to flinch. "Next time listen to me at once. I don't like to repeat myself."
Vishal stared wide-eyed at Raghav, scrambling to move out of his reach but he was already leaning against the wall. "Y-You can't s-scare me, Mr giraffe."

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𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐝 ~ 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬
Short StoryThe One-shots revolve around the journey of a devoted single father navigating the complexities of parenthood and his deepening bond with his sons. Each story highlights the unique challenges and heartwarming moments they share, capturing the essenc...