Pretending to Be an Untouchable Crime Boss-Chapter 76 : Kill or Be Killed.

"This situation is more fucked up than we ever thought it would be." Stephen, the ISB director, said as he leaned back in the leather chair in the Justice Minister's office.

She said nothing in response, just pressed an ice pack against her nose, which was still hurting.

"I mean, what he did to the chief was like something an animal would do…no, that's not even true. At least a tiger kills to eat, but him…it was like he took true joy in it." Stephen stared at the ceiling, replaying the scene in his mind.

"How many times are you going to say the same thing?" Linda asked, glaring at him.

"What?" Stephen leaned forward. "I knew from the beginning this was going to be the worst decision we could make. But no, we thought we could 'control' him. Yeah, control my ass."

Linda remained silent, leaning back in her chair. "The real problem was Rafael's death... and Hans' death." She said, turning to look out the window. "And now, we need to kill that fucker."

Stephen leaned back again, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Maybe he can fall out of a window. Or maybe a car crash. But that's Thomas' kind of work, and he's nowhere to be found either."

"He's actually on vacation." Linda said, putting the ice pack down.

"What the fuck… Is he really out enjoying himself while we're on the brink of death?"

"He said his hands weren't in this mess, so he went somewhere with his family."

Stephen clenched his fists. "No shit, me too! I didn't do anything! You were the one who came up with this fucking idea!" His voice rose in frustration. "Oh my God, why the fuck did I become an agent? I should've just run a damn farm or something. Fuck!"

Linda barely reacted. "Well, too late for regrets now."

Stephen slammed a fist against the desk. "No, you don't get it! James gave us a fucking order. Kill Carter, and he lets us live. If we fail—" His voice trailed off, but they both knew how that sentence ended.

"We don't have a choice."

"Like hell we don't!" Stephen snapped. "Carter isn't just some street thug. He's protected, and if he dies, everyone will know it was us!"

"And if he lives, James will make sure we don't."

Stephen leaned forward again placing his hand onto the table. "You think James will actually let us go? Even if we kill Carter?"

"If he still the maniac he was back then, yes he going to kill us, but there is a chance that he back to his old self."

"I swear, after this shitstorm is over, I'm quitting. Buying a farm. Growing vegetables. Maybe even a fucking goat."

Linda let out a chuckle. "Oh, how rich are you? I thought you only got ten thousand per month."

"Don't fucking look at me like that." He pointed his finger at her. "We all did insider trading and dipped our hands into some extra funds. So don't act like you're any better. We're the same as those motherfuckers screaming at each other in Congress."

Linda leaned back, crossing her arms. "Yeah, but at least they don't have James breathing down their necks, deciding whether they get to see another sunrise."

Stephen let out a bitter laugh. "Fantastic."

"It's the only hope we've got." She said.

Stephen shook his head. "Hope? Hope won't do shit. We need a real plan, because if we fuck this up, we're dead no matter what version of James we're dealing with."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, Linda's eyes lit up with an idea.

"What if we do it like Leopo did?" She asked.

"That's too brutal. If I remember right, seventy civilians died. Children too." He shook his head.

"But the concept is solid, isn't it?" Linda pressed. "We fake a terrorist attack. We just need agents willing to sign their lives away for a few million."

Stephen thinked about it for a moment. "So, let's say ten agents walk into Congress, shooting everyone they see, and then they die. But don't forget, Carter is the vice president. His ass would be evacuated in minutes."

Linda frowned, considering the problem. "Then we make sure he doesn't get the chance."

"It would be easier to just send a hitman or plant a bomb under his car or something." Stephen muttered.

Linda sighed. "You think no one's tried that before? His security is airtight, his routes are unpredictable, and any explosive big enough to guarantee a kill would attract too much attention."

Stephen ran a hand through his hair. "So what, we go all out with this fake terrorist attack?"

Linda nodded. "It's the best way to make it look like something other than a government hit. A chaotic, high casualty event means fingers won't point directly at us. It gives James what he wants without putting a target on our backs, at least, not right away."

"This is insane."

"But thats not good to fuck…" Linda let out a sigh.

"Why?" Stephen asked confused.

"When he beat the shit out of me, he said he never killed innocent people. If we do this and some random guard or bystander dies, James will be furious."

"So we're supposed to stage a massive terrorist attack without killing innocents? That's impossible."

Linda was silent for a moment. "We change the plan."

Stephen eyed her. "To what?"

She let out a slow breath. "We don't go for chaos. We go for precision. If James wants Carter dead and only Carter, then we need a way to make sure he's the only casualty."

"Great. And how do we pull off a clean assassination on the vice president of the country?"

Linda smirked. "We get someone inside."

"Poison?" Stephen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's good too." Linda nodded. "It's clean, leaves no mess, and if done right, it won't even look like an assassination."

"Alright, but how do we get it to him? The guy doesn't just eat random food from strangers."

Linda smirked. "That's why we need someone inside. Someone with direct access to Carter, his staff, security detail, or even his personal doctor."

Stephen thought about it then a brighter idea came.

"Or just kidnap his daughter and tell him he gets her back if he kills himself."

Linda stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "That's risky as hell. Carter might be a politician, but he's not the type to break that easily. He'd rather send the entire military after us than pull the trigger on himself."

"Then we make sure he believes he has no choice. If we get his daughter, we break him. Make him see there's no way out."

"And if he doesn't do it?" She asked.

"You know what? I don't give a fuck anymore, just fucking shoot him." Stephen said standing up. "Like, a sniper or something. A clean hit, and it's done. If they start asking questions, we make up some terrorist group with a fake motive behind the hit. It's the perfect time, everyone's already arguing about bullshit, prices are rising, people can barely afford to eat."

"That might actually work." She said already planning it in her head.

"Of course it will. We find a skilled shooter, set up a clean escape, and plant just enough fake evidence to send the investigation in circles."

"We'll need a fall guy. Someone disposable. If the government doesn't have someone to blame, they'll dig deeper." She said.

Stephen nodded. "Yeah. We'll set up some extremists with a shady past, leave just enough evidence for the authorities to follow. Carter dies, the blame goes elsewhere, and we walk away clean."

"Let do—"

A knock came from the door and the new NSBI Director stepped in.

"Oh, sorry for the interruption."

"No problem." Linda said as he eyed Stephen to not slip before him.

"Can I ask…why James didn't kill you two?"

Stephen swallowed hard. His mind raced for an answer, but nothing good came to him.

Linda on the other hand forced a smile. "Maybe he likes us."

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The director chuckled, stepping closer to the table. "That would be surprising. Because he beat the shit out of you," He gestured toward Linda, "and if that wasn't enough, he butchered the chief right in front of you two."

"Why do you care?" Stephen asked.

The director sat down in one of the chairs. "Because if James spared you, that means he has a reason. And that reason? It makes me very, very curious."