The moment I stepped in, my stomach twisted. The wall by the sink had been smashed open, shards of tile and cement scattered like broken teeth across the floor. Amid the debris lay a clear plastic bag, dust clinging to its surface.
Behind me, a hoarse voice cut through the silence.
“Where’s your husband?”
I spun around. My father-in-law stood there, trembling, his skin the color of ash.
“At work,” I said cautiously. “What’s going on?”
He swallowed hard. “It belongs to him. Look for yourself.”
Cold dread spread through me. “He’s… having an affair?” I whispered.
His expression darkened. “No. Worse.”
I crouched, hands shaking as I picked up the bag. It wasn’t jewelry or cash inside. It was cold iron. A gun.
“Oh my God,” I breathed. “This is his?”
My father-in-law’s nod was heavy, burdened with fear.
“Yes. And that’s not the worst of it.”
“Then explain,” I demanded. “Why would he have a gun? What does this mean?”
He sank onto the rim of the tub as if the weight of the truth might crush him.
“He’s drowning in debt. I’ve suspected for a while, but last month a stranger came to me. He said, ‘If your son doesn’t complete the task, your whole family will pay. His wife, his parents, his children — none of you will have peace.’”
A chill gripped my chest.
“What task?” I whispered.
His gaze dropped.
“He’s been forced into something… dangerous. So dangerous I can’t even speak of it. If he refuses, they’ll destroy everything he loves.”
My legs gave out and I sank to the floor.
“But how did they know about this? About the wall?”
“They told me themselves,” he said bitterly. “They know everything — where he hides weapons, where he keeps money, even when you leave the house. They wanted me to understand: nothing is hidden from them.”
Silence fell like a shroud. My heart pounded in my ears.
“So what do we do?” I asked, barely able to move my lips.
His hands clenched into fists.
“We have two choices. Say nothing and let him finish… or risk everything to find another way. But if they suspect us…” He trailed off, eyes haunted. “It’ll be the end of all of us.”
