Amelia stood by the window of Connor’s apartment, watching the city lights flicker against the night sky. She sipped her tea, her nerves steady despite her impending date with the ‘blond-haired devil, as Jason referred to him. Jason leaned against the kitchen counter, his expression a mix of focus and concern.“They’ve made their first move,” Jason said, breaking the silence. “The people who are helping us with the plan. Everything is in place for the final phase. All that’s left is to get the passcodes to the company accounts on Kent’s laptop.”Amelia set her cup down on the windowsill and turned to face him. “I’ve been able to spy on him a few times while he’s inputting the passcode. I think I’m close to figuring it out. I know for sure that it ends with 2336 and begins with a word that starts with an M, but I’ll try to pry more information out of him at dinner tonight.” Her expression grew grim. “He’s been… more relaxed around me lately.”Jason’s jaw tightened, and concern flashed
The Elysian Syndicate was eerily quiet at night. Amelia stepped out of her car and glanced up at the towering glass building, its imposing façade glinting under the pale moonlight. The parking lot was nearly empty, and the lobby lights cast a sterile glow. She took a deep breath, smoothing her blouse as she approached the doors.Inside, the air was cool and still, with only the faint hum of machinery and the occasional rustle of the watch guards making rounds. She passed by the front desk with a polite nod. The guards barely glanced at her. She worked here, after all—what reason would anyone have to question her presence?Amelia made her way to the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Her pulse quickened as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor.As the elevator doors opened, she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway. The space was deserted, just as she had hoped. All the secretaries had long gone home, and the only sound
Kent lounged back on his expensive leather couch, pouring drinks with a practiced ease. The crystal decanter of bourbon gleamed as he filled two glasses—his and Andrew’s—with the amber liquid. For Roland, he reached for the cheaper bottle from the corner of the bar, its faded label a quiet insult. Roland noticed but said nothing, his jaw tightening. Instead, he picked up the glass and downed the drink in one gulp, his glare fixed on Kent.“Well, gentlemen,” Kent began, a satisfied smirk on his face, “let’s celebrate. On Monday, we will receive our first big payment from the Russians.”Andrew leaned back in his chair, sniffing the air. “I know you like money, Kent, but is that smile just because of the Russians?”Before Kent could reply, Roland interjected, “It’s not. It’s because of a girl.” He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and irritation. “He’s acting like a damn teenager.”Kent raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Amelia’s no girl, Roland. She’s a woman.”Andrew
The next day, Saturday, Kent, Stefan, and Andrew gathered in a quaint cafe. They had managed to secure a private corner. The three men sipped their coffee, their conversation laced with low chuckles and hushed tones.“So, Monday’s the day,” Andrew said, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. “Everything’s falling into place.”His father nodded, stirring his espresso. “Let’s hold our celebrations until the money is in our accounts, son.” he sighed “Don’t call me on Monday. Both of you. When all of this goes down, I need to be seen in public and not in contact with either of you.Andrew felt his heart fall to the bottom of his chest. “You don’t trust that we’ll succeed.”Stefan raised a brow. “Do I have a reason to?”Kent remained quiet as he watched Stefan crush his son’s spirit for the umpteenth time, his gaze darting to the door every now and then. He didn’t like public meetings, especially when discussing Syndicate business, but Stefan had insisted.Stefan leaned forward, focus
Amelia paced the length of her living room, her phone pressed tightly against her ear.“So, Shadow and Connie are agreed, right?” she asked, her voice steady. “Once we log into the accounts, they’ll make their move.”Jason’s voice came through the line, calm and calculated as always. “Exactly. But there are still a few things to work out. Above all, I need you to be very careful and protect yourself on Monday, Amelia. If Kent suspects you, then I don’t even want to imagine what’ll happen.” Jason’s concerned voice came “If at any point before Monday you feel it’s too much, just let me know, and we’ll rework the plan.”Anelia’s heart felt fluttery in her chest at Jason’s concern, but on the outside she rolled her eyes and put on a nonchalant voice. They couldn’t change the plan now. “Jason, I’ve already completed the most dangerous part of the plan. I'll be fine. You sound like my mom, she said in a playful tone.Jason let out a soft chuckle followed by a brief pause on the other end, a
Roland’s head throbbed as consciousness returned. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the dim light of the unfamiliar room. The first thing he noticed was the uncomfortable pressure on his wrists. He tugged instinctively but found them bound to the arms of a chair. Panic surged.The second thing he noticed was the man standing in front of him, a tall, broad figure with an amused smirk on his face.“Where the hell am I?” Roland demanded, his voice raw. “What did you do to me?”Shadow leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. “Calm down, big guy. You’re in Brooklyn.”Roland frowned. “I know I’m in Brooklyn; I drove here.” He glanced around the apartment, disoriented. Shadow chuckled. “So why did you ask?”Roland jerked against the bindings, his anger flaring. “I'm asking why I am in this room and why I am tied up. You better let me go, you thug.Shadow pushed off the wall, his demeanour darkening. “You’re the one who went berserk and attacked someone outside. This? This is
Exactly an hour later, when Roland was somewhere between regretting his actions and being outright disgusted with himself, the door creaked open. Roland glanced up, expecting to see Amelia, or worse, Shadow and Connie. Irritation etched across his face when he remembered the duo. But his expectations weren’t even close, and his eyes widened in disbelief as Jason stepped inside, casually closing the door behind him.Roland blinked. “You?” Roland breathed, attempting to rise from his chair, but the ropes stopped his ascent. “How are you…he searched his mind for a word to say instead of ‘alive’ “…here?”Jason’s lips curled into a smug smirk. “Surprised to see me alive?”Fear flickered in Roland’s gaze, but he scoffed, his hands instinctively gripped the edge of his chair. “No, I'm…Surprised to see you out of prison.”Jason laughed, the sound low and sharp. “You’re a terrible liar, Roland. I know you and your little band of bandits tried to get me killed in there. But it turns out I’m tou
It was the morning of Sunday, and Roland hadn’t left the room since Jason untied him the previous day. He sat by the window, unmoving, the breakfast Amelia had brought earlier untouched on the desk. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, but his thoughts churned endlessly, far removed from the peaceful view outside.Amelia was with him in the room, partially because she didn’t want him to leave and not agree to help them but mostly because, as much as she hated to admit it, a part of her felt sorry for him.Jason was sitting in the living room of the apartment; the documents Amelia had given him were sprawled across the table in front of him, and his ear was to his cell phone as Dario updated him on his search for Reuben. “Well, the bad news is that we haven’t found him, but the good news is that we haven’t found him.”“What?” Jason asked.“It’s good news because we haven’t found his lifeless body. So at least for now we’re sure he’s not dead. Dario replied; he spoke of death so casually
“Jason…” Abigail’s voice trembled as she took a tentative step forward. “Oh my...”Jason's head started to hammer, and his entire body felt numb, and he was certain it wasn’t because of the drug. It was because of the woman standing in front of him and the undeniable fact that she was his mother. She had aged, but he could still tell it was her. Unless his mother had a twin he never knew about that looked strikingly similar to her. With the insane series of events that was his life, he wasn’t sure that that was out of the realm of possibility.But he knew that couldn’t be it.This was his mother.His mother, who was supposed to be dead, was standing in front of him with a quivering lip and tears brimming from her eyes.He thought he was prepared for whatever he’d see when he walked into the house, but he clearly wasn’t.Jason’s mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. His heart pounded in his chest. Nothing could have prepared him for the whirlwind of emotions crashing through hi
“Reuben?” Jason’s voice cracked with disbelief.The man at the door blinked twice; his face was coloured with shock for a second before a grin spread across it. “Jason? Holy shit, Jason!”“Reuben!” Jason stepped forward, his arms outstretched.“Jason!” Reuben stepped out fully, and they embraced fiercely. Jason clutched his friend like he might disappear again.Amelia, who had been standing a few inches back, gasped. “Reuben! Oh my god, it’s really you!”Reuben turned, grinning as Jason released him. “Amelia?”Amelia surged forward and hugged him tightly. “You idiot! You had us thinking you were dead!”Reuben winced playfully. “You’ve got a strong grip, Amelia. I’m already half broken; don’t finish me off.”They laughed through their tears, overwhelmed by the moment.Even though a storm was brewing in Jason’s mind he could stay calm for a little while. Because Reuben was here in front of him and alive.***Inside, they settled into the cozy but modest living room. Jason couldn’t stop
A few hours later, Jason and Amelia were at Saranac Lake.Jason stepped out of the taxi, his breath catching in the icy air. The small house from his memories, the same one he had come to when he first visited, stood in front of him. Amelia trailed behind him, quiet but watchful. She hadn’t pressed him for details, sensing the weight of whatever Jason was carrying.“Jason,” she said softly as they reached the door, “are you sure you want to do this alone?”Jason glanced at her, his jaw tight. “I need to,” he said, pushing the door open. “Stay here.”He entered the house and hit with a wave of nostalgia with the force of a bus. The house triggered more memories to spill into his mind. All of them contained his mother—mostly looking worried and afraid.There was no time to stand still and take all the memories in, though. Following the guide of his memory, he went up the stairs and into the small bedroom on the right. It was a long shot that the box would still be in the same spot aft
Jason sat slouched on the couch in his apartment, his head —which felt ten pounds heavier—rested on the cushions. His body ached from the drug Rose had administered earlier. The memories it had unearthed churned in his mind like a storm, each one crashing into the next. His motherThat forestHis fearHis Uncle’s arms around his neck, snuffing the life out of him.His uncle’s voice. The fog in his mind had cleared and he was now able to place why the voice sounded so familiar. It sounded like Connor’s voice. And his uncle beared a resemblance to Connor as well.Jason didn’t know what to believe. According to Timothy, his uncle was dead. He decided to just try and rest this night so the effects of the drug could wear off fully and by tomorrow he’d get to the bottom of all the unanswered questions his memory had unlocked. One thing was for sure though; Connor and by association Serena, no longer had any of Jason’s trust.Amelia sat beside him, her posture stiff but attentive.Rose’s
Jason lay on the recliner in Rose’s office, his eyes closed but his face strained. Rose sat nearby, watching him carefully, a clipboard in hand. It had been four days since they started their sessions. One session a day. And Jason hadn't unlocked a single memory.He had seen glimpses though, like his mother’s face, Serena’s voice, and his grandfather’s angry voice. The last one made him want to end the sessions out of annoyance, but he decided against it.“This process takes time, Jason,” Rose reminded him softly. “You can’t force the memories. The mind reveals what it’s ready to.”Jason’s jaw clenched. “I don’t have time, Rose.” His wedding was approaching, and he needed answers about Sereba and Connor before then.Rose hesitated, then glanced at the file on her desk. “There is…another method,” she began carefully. “It involves using a drug to enhance memory recall. But it’s not without risks.”Jason opened his eyes and sat up slightly. “What risks?”Rose sighed. “The drug makes mem
Jason sat at his desk in the Elysian Syndicate, his laptop open to a real estate website. Apartment listings filled the screen, but his mind was far from focused. He scrolled mindlessly, barely registering the sleek interiors and city views displayed in the images. Across from him, Amelia paced the office, briefing him on company updates.“So, I was thinking we should move forward on expansion into companies in Southeast Asia. What do you think?” Amelia waited for several beats, but Jason’s response didn’t come. “Jason? What do you think?”Jason didn’t look up, mumbling absentmindedly, “Sure.”Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”“Yeah,” he replied, eyes still glued to the screen.Amelia stopped pacing and crossed her arms. “Okay, let’s test that. Kiss, marry, kill: Annette Sinclair, Kent, or my secretary?”Jason gave a vague grunt.Amelia raised her voice. “Jason!”He blinked, finally snapping out of his daze. “Huh? Sorry, what?”Amelia smirked. “You’re not listening to me. I ju
“We’re getting married in a week, Connor! Can you believe it? One week!”Serena’s voice rang out in excitement, her words tumbling over each other as she spoke into the phone. On the other end of the line, Connor leaned back in his chair, his tone calm and amused. “Wow, congratulations. I didn’t think my dear nephew would come around this quickly. You must’ve done something special to convince him.”Serena giggled, pacing the room. “Oh, Connor, he was so understanding. He literally asked me what the best arrangement would be, and at first, I thought about playing it humble, you know? Saying something like, ‘I just want all three of us to be together as a family.’ But then I decided, why waste time? I went straight to the point and told him we should get married.” She clapped her hands together. “And guess what? He agreed!”Connor chuckled softly, but the sound had little humor. “Yes, you mentioned that already,” his voice had an edge to it now. “What happened after he agreed? He swep
Jason sat still, shock carving lines into his face. He couldn’t believe what Serena had just said. A child? His child? He turned to Serena, still trying to process, his lips parting to speak.But Serena held up her hand, her voice firm, “If what you’re about to ask has anything to do with whether or not I’ve had other partners or if this baby is yours, then let me stop you right there. I wouldn’t come here so confidently and confront you with a test if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure.” Her gaze hardened. “I haven’t been with anyone else since the two of us have been together. And I wasn’t with anyone a long while before that.”Jason ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “Serena, I hope you can understand that this is… It’s hard to grasp. I don’t even know what to say.”Serena’s expression wavered, her voice rising with frustration. “And how do you think I feel, Jason? I’m the one carrying a child I never expected, especially at this point in my life or my career. Do you think t
Diana had changed so much since Jason saw her in front of the prison a month ago.That was the first thing Jason noticed. Unlike the dishevelled woman who had stood outside the prison a month ago, Diana now carried a semblance of her former glow. Her skin had regained some of its radiance, her hair neatly kept. She looked better. Or so he’d thought till he looked into her eyes. If they were supposed to be the windows to the soul, then Diana’s spirit still bore the scars of everything her father and brother had done. All of their crimes. And the awful last words her father spoke to her.Jason had run into Diana a few times over the last month, mostly at the police station. Both had been there to give statements regarding Andrew, Stefan, or Kent. They would exchange polite words that often danced around the enormity of their shared history. Their conversations were about nothing, yet those fleeting moments meant more to Jason than he cared to admit. He wondered if they meant as much to