>Inside was…
My hands trembled as I opened the bag.
It wasn’t jewelry or cash. It was heavy iron. A weapon.
“Oh my God,” I breathed. “Is this… your son’s?”
My father-in-law nodded, worry etched into his face. “Yes.
And that’s not the worst of it.”
“Explain,” I demanded. “Why would he have a gun? What does this mean?”
He drew a long breath and sat on the tub’s rim as if he’d run out of strength.
“He’s in deep debt. I’ve suspected for a while he’s been hiding trouble from us. Then, a month ago, a stranger came to me and said plainly, ‘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 cold dread washed over me. “What task?” I whispered. He dropped his gaze.
“He was forced to do a job for these people. It’s so serious I can’t even say the details. If he refuses, they’ll ruin everything he cares about.”
I sat down on the floor, stunned.
“How did they even know it was hidden in the wall?” I asked. My father-in-law met my eyes, exhausted. “Because they told me.
They knew everything — where he keeps weapons, where he hides money, even when you go shopping. They showed me deliberately so I would understand: nothing is hidden from them.”
Silence spread through the room. I felt everything collapsing.
“So what do we do?” I asked, barely moving my lips. He clenched his hands. “We have two choices.
Stay silent and let him finish it… or try to find a way out ourselves. But remember: if they suspect anything, it’ll be the end of all of us.”
