Top Assassins Call Me The Lady Boss-Chapter 196: "Why now?"

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Six

Cole

The police station smelled of sweat. That smell alone was enough to pull him back to so many years ago.

The first time they dragged him into a place like this, he’d been barely fourteen. The officers had stared at him like he was lying about his age. He’d been tall, scarred, hard-eyed already. Nothing about him had looked like a boy who should still be worrying about homework or games.

He hadn’t had that kind of life.

While other kids his age played football or ran home before dark, he’d learned how to run from things. How to take a hit. How to throw a fist. How to stay quiet. How to survive.

It hadn’t been the last time either.

Stations like this had seen him more than once, handcuffed, questioned, and released before he even turned fourteen. Each time, a little older. A little colder. Until the day he was taken to Marco’s Villa and everything changed. All he had to do was show a card and he was bowed to and asked to go. A few asking him to recommend them to his bosses.

Cole tightened his jaw and pushed the memories down.

This wasn’t the time.

His eyes lowered but listening. To Daniel’s forced irritation beside him. To the officers moving in and out like this was just another day.

The plan had worked too well.

The police had been waiting long before their car arrived. Cole had played his part perfectly; slow reactions, make the wrong turns, make harmless excuses enough to delay them. Enough to make sure they were caught.

Asli had wanted that.

What she’d promised, though, was a call when it was over.

His phone was still in his pocket when they’d been dragged in. He’d checked it once. Nothing. Checked again. Still nothing.

That was when the unease started.

Asli never forgot to check in. Never.

When the officer finally demanded their phones, Cole hesitated just half a second too long before handing it over. His chest tightened as it disappeared onto the table with the rest of their belongings.

Interrogation dragged. Questions looped. Accusations that went nowhere.

Cole answered calmly, cooperatively, and too calmly.

All the while, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Call me. Just call me.

He didn’t care about being arrested. Didn’t care about charges that would dissolve the moment he wanted them to. He only cared that time was passing and Asli was silent.

That was wrong.

Finally, he’d had enough.

"This is pointless," Cole said evenly. He reached into his jacket, slow and deliberate, and pulled out a slim black card.

The card was heavy when it left his fingers.

Laminated black. His name was engraved cleanly at the top. His photograph beneath it. It had no slogans or unnecessary markings. Just enough to say who he was to anyone who mattered.

The moment it slid across the table, the chief stiffened. Recognition flickered across his face and his posture changed instantly. He didn’t need to ask anymore questions. The card was their law outside the Villa and was renewed every year.

"I’ll need a moment," the chief said, already standing.

Five minutes later, apologies followed. Doors opened. Cuffs came off.

"You’re free to go," the chief said stiffly.

Cole didn’t respond. He grabbed his phone the second it was returned and was already walking as he checked it.

His phone was off. "Damn you. What if Asli was calling and it was off?" He asked himself. Knowing her, she would’ve left a message.

He turned it on and waited impatiently. When the screen lit up, he checked. There was nothing.

He stepped outside and called her. Once. Twice. Again. She didn’t answer.

A curse slipped under his breath as he dialed Markus. He picked up.

"Asli?" Cole asked immediately.

There was a pause. "She left," Markus said. "She was fine when she did. Hey, you know as long as Ahmet and I are here, Asli would always be safe."

Cole exhaled slowly, forcing his shoulders to drop. He knew Markus was telling the truth. As long as they were there, she’d be safe.

Still... the feeling didn’t go away.

Demir had been there too. If she wasn’t calling him or anything, she was probably in trouble. What if Demir did something to her on their way back? How did the fight neutralize? He couldn’t stop the troubling questions even if he wanted to.

Cole ended the call and waved his men over. "The battle’s done. Head back to the Villa."

They nodded and moved out without question. He heard Daniel doing the same but he didn’t pay much attention to him.

Cole turned toward his car, slipping a hand into his pockets. There was nothing in them. His steps slowed. He turned back toward the station entrance, already irritated with himself.

That was when he saw Daniel, leaning casually against the wall. One shoulder relaxed with his head tilted.

In his hand was Cole’s keys. The wallet dangled between his fingers and the smile on Daniel’s face wasn’t just smug. It was cold and dangerous. The kind that meant he’d been waiting.

Cole stepped forward and reached for them, but Daniel pulled his hand back just in time.

"Give them back," Cole snapped, his voice rougher than he intended. He didn’t have the patience for this. Not when Asli wasn’t answering her phone.

Daniel tilted his head slightly. "You really thought I wouldn’t figure it out? The police showing up before we even arrived? That was you. You and your little boss."

Cole’s jaw tightened. "Give me the keys."

"I could’ve shown my card too," Daniel continued calmly. "But I didn’t. I wanted to see how far you’d go. So tell me... why did you finally show yours?"

Cole’s eyes flickered. "Demir got you one?" The question slipped out before he could stop it. Was Daniel that important to him?

Daniel’s smile widened, but there was no humor in it. "What? You thought you were the only one who mattered?"

"I don’t have time for this," Cole said sharply. "You’ve avoided me for years. Why now?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Daniel’s expression snapped.

"Avoided you?" he shot back. "Don’t twist this. You’re the one who walked around like you were above me. Like I didn’t exist. After you left me."

Cole stared at him. "Left you?"

"You think I didn’t know?" Daniel’s voice rose, years of resentment spilling out. "You walked away. You left me there. You thought I’d die, didn’t you?"

"That’s not true," Cole said, anger and disbelief mixing in his chest. "You don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything I did was to save you."

Daniel let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"Save me?" he repeated. "Tell me, Cole... how exactly did anything you did save me?"