“What's that?” Alice asked. She moved her focus from the seat to rest on John. John smiled and gestured for her to come over. "Come and look at this," he said, pulling the high-backed chair back. Alice had a curious expression on her face but approached him regardless. John motioned for her to sit, and she took the seat. "What's this about?" Alice inquired. "I know you would have done a great job leading the company. Richard would be proud, but you gave that away. I can see the look in your eyes; you wanted this position," John said. Alice held her silence for a moment. She turned the chair until it faced John. "I may have been able to hold down the fort, but the best decision I've made is to give it up to the rightful owner. I have no doubt you'll do far better than I ever could, and I'll be here by your side if you'll let me," Alice said, locking gazes with John. John moved and sat on the table as a slight smile broke out on his face. "Okay, in that case, I'll be counting on
Richard ignored John's statement and stared into space. His eyes seemed void of any present focus. John felt five long minutes run by this way, he could only flex his fist and grit his teeth to Richard's action because his mom was priority. Gradually, Richard shifted his focus and locked eyes with John. "The Dark Arts was a very ferocious gang back in my early days as a drug lord. The person who led that group was your mother. She was both fearless and ruthless in the pursuit of her goals." The shock widened John's eyes as he swallowed hard. He had imagined many possible situations, but this revelation was beyond what he had expected. Gangsters? His stomach twisted uncomfortably. Richard raised his hand to silence any potential questions and continued, "Back in those days, it was always difficult for the police to keep up with our activities. Some of them were even involved in our operations. But you see, your mother created a vigilante group to fight drugs, human trafficking, and
John had ridden the elevator down in total silence, not that there was anyone with him, he just didn't feel like there was anything outside the mental comfort of his mind. When he came out of the elevator, he moved inattentively through the hospital's bustling environment. Nurses walked by, and some doctors rushed to an unknown emergency. He reached the receptionist, who greeted him with a wide smile. John nodded absently to her and stepped out of the building into the coolness of the night. The air felt refreshing, and he allowed it to soothe the turmoil of his thoughts. He took in a deep breath and exhaled, his mind filled with the last conversation he had with Richard. "John Draken, our son, I hand over everything to you. All that I have is yours, and everything is in your care. You may not be strong enough, but we'll start somewhere. Take care of them, John," Richard had said. At the same time, he'd given John a bear hug. In that moment, John had felt his father's longing and pai
The room Elijah brought them into was luxuriously decorated with golden sofas. On the walls hung a series of paintings framed in gold. Across from the entrance, there was a small shelf displaying thirteen military awards. John took note of the count. Elijah led them to the sofas, his bodyguards stationed at the door, which they closed once the three of them were seated. John scanned the room, searching for any clues or hints about why Elijah had suddenly taken an interest in him. It was unusual for a person of Elijah's status to show such curiosity, but nothing in the room provided any clear leads. Elijah broke the silence, his gaze unwavering on John, who widened his eyes at the mention of his mother, Lisa. Alice sat up straight, ready to react if needed, and John kept his gaze fixed on Elijah, trying to maintain a calm and expressionless demeanor. Reacting aggressively now might worsen the situation. "How did you know that?" John questioned. His father had never mentioned Elijah,
In the hotel room booked by Elijah. John stretched and yawned. There was a persistent beeping sound coming from the door to his hotel room. He found himself under a double blanket in a king-sized bed, the room shrouded in darkness, and two large A.C. units were running at maximum power. On the bedside counter, there was a single lit lamp, an open notepad with visible scribbles, a pen with its cap beside it, and at the far end, a landline telephone. The room was chilled, but underneath the blankets, John felt the warmth trapped by the bedding. He grunted when the beeping started again, determined not to get out of bed. After what felt like ten minutes, the beeping stopped, and John breathed a sigh of relief. He had begun to drift, his eyes heavy with sleep, and he welcomed the comfort that washed over him as he recognized the feeling. Then, the telephone by the bedside started to vibrate and ring. The sound made John sit up on the bed, the chill rushing over him, making his teeth ch
John looked around the almost empty room; it had been his father's office, the CEO's office. He sat in the main chair with his right leg raised on his left leg, observing Gladiator settling comfortably in an opposing seat, facing the room's entrance with his gun resting on his lap. John smiled, noting Alice's entrance, yet remained immersed in deep thought, finalizing his plans. The family was a significant name in both the underworld and the public eye. It was a dual existence, teetering on the edge with expenses in the millions, and he needed to control the volatility or risk being overwhelmed. He harbored no doubt that the Dark Arts were behind the attempted assassination. "Let's leave this place for now," Alice said. "You've made your statement to them, but I doubt they'll make any progress in their investigations." Gladiator stood up, glancing at John, awaiting a response. John nodded, and both of them followed Alice. They bypassed the main entrance, taking a concealed elevator
Alice's gaze chilled as she glanced at the men holding Jones at gunpoint. She observed the cars and the men surrounding them with a cool intensity. There was something in her eyes that cut Viper's laughter short.Viper felt there was more to the lady standing in front of him. He watched her assess them like a pack of lost wolf puppies. In his line of work, ladies didn't give that stare; he preferred his ladies screaming. He took a moment to glance at the guy behind her, John. He looked familiar, but that was it—a familiar John Doe. He ran his free hand through his balding head and turned the gun towards Alice. He left his boys to hold down Jones, trusting they'd shoot if he tried anything funny. He was aware of Vanessa now sobbing on the floor, but he wanted this one, the one with cold eyes, wanted her at his feet so bad he felt his throat dry."I think the pretty lady and her boyfriend don't understand the situation they're in," Viper half-laughed to himself, yet he received the same
The cars pulled out of the driveway in an orderly fashion. Shadow, who sat within the comfort of the shadow cast by the windows of his own car, looked pale. Sweat drops gathered on his eyebrow as he peered ahead at the Maserati leading the parade. His car blended with the rest of the gang's, riding behind him. He wondered if this was how they felt when being led around by him. He took three deep breaths to calm himself; with Alice's reputation for killing at first offense, he wouldn't put it past her to have them guarded. To pass the time, he turned to a men's magazine featuring sexy ladies in lingerie.John vibed to the music, nodding to the cool wind on his bald head. He instructed Alice to take a series of turns that led them deeper into the slum. They reached an old gray building with three supporting pillars, but only two were in good condition. The house seemed to sway to onlookers. In
"Rick, tell me how you got here." Jones asked. Rick managed to get himself to walk by putting one hand around Jones's neck. "At this point, it doesn't really matter how I got here. We have to get out of here before they find us.“Why? ” Jones frowned. "Why do we need to leave? We thought you would be banging and flexing your ladies.”"Believe me, if I had the choice, by this time I would be in bed, but I am here being supported by an ugly stinking man." Jones chuckled and handed Rick his gun. "Do you still know how to use one of these, or is a lesson required?" Rick grabbed it with laugther. "Yes, if I get to shoot off one of your toes!" “Passed successfully. I do not need to show you how to hang yourself with a rope. John thinks Alice murdered you."“No! She actually saved my life. There is a lot going on, and the Drakens are in greater danger this time, with John as the target. "What exactly do you mean?" "You and I both know that underneath all of that, John is still very so
John jolted against the chains that held him to the metal chair and shivered as the cold splash of water ran down his body. His hand rattled and buckled against the tight chain that kept his hands locked behind the chair. He blinked and attempted to make out the shape of his surroundings, but all he could see were blurry figures and a moving light above him. There were two large windows on either side, and he could feel the breeze on his skin. Cold and unforgiving.It made his teeth chatter, and he hissed instinctively. The face above him was blurry, and he had to squint his eyes to see the figure. "Did you miss me?" Melissa smiled down at him. She patted his hair and gripped it hard enough to hurt. “We have a lot to catch up on dear John.” John chuckled and shook his head. “Am I in heaven ? Did Xavier send his bitch on his little errand? "Oh, I am so scared..."“Y-You...” Melissa's face distorted into a frown, and she punched John hard. He chuckled and stared at her, telling her
The rate at which the wind blew across the scene made everything appear too small and insignificant. Jones, however, was unwilling to take chances.The hideout itself stood alone in the shadow of its surroundings. Pale, plain, and the type you will walk past without looking twice. To the untrained eye, it appears completely lifeless. Jones, who was pressed to the ground in hiding, raised his head to survey the surroundings once more. It appeared vacant. It appeared empty. However, his experience in the Mafia had taught him that nothing is as it seems. "Why would they have brought John here?" Jones said to himself. He reached into his waistband and pulled out a revolver. The handy fella had always been his go to in difficult situations. The location was on the body of one of the diseased men he had buried. He came here without expectation but thank God. He exhaled. The car he was driving was parked a long distance away; even now, he praised his quick thinking for walking the re
“Four hours have passed.” Richard grunted while trying to raise himself from the bed he laid. He couldn't believe that the phone he called John on a few hours ago was dead silent and unreachable.“Sir, you need to rest or you'll open your wounds!” A nurse rushed to him and tried to prevent him from sitting up. He shoved her aside and tried to jump down from the bed.More nurses rushed into the room with five male doctors and managed to subdue him long enough to administer an injection that made him drowsy. “I'm sorry, I can't let you leave. If anything happens to you. John would have my head.” The head doctor said with a bow. “Come close,” Richard ordered and whispered a few words into the doctor's ears before succumbing to the darkness that is sleep. The doctor stood straight with a pale face. “Get me my phone!” he ordered the nearest nurse who ran out in haste. Sara, Gladiator and Veronica sat at a table with their heads bent over several spread out images with the criss-cross
Having dismissed Alice and Veronica, John allowed himself to slump into the hospital bed after he confirmed that the door was locked and secured. He raised his dress to reveal where a bullet had grazed him and was currently bleeding. Walking now, he staggered to a first aid box at the corner of the room and threw the contents and the bed, grabbing the neccesary items. Pouring the spirite content on his wound made him hiss and he had to grit his teeth from the sting. His phone flashed and a number displaying Jones names popped up. “Hey, I thought you wouldn't call!” John tried to sound normal and cheerful but having know John for long, Jones could catch the subtle hint in his voice. “What's wrong? What happened?” Jones enquired.“It's nothing serious, just a bullet scratch. Why do you sound so out of breath? Where are you?”“ I've been digging… graves. John you need to see this. It's serious and I'm not sure how to process this.” “Jones, where're you?”“I'm on the outskirt of tow
“Look around you, John.” Xavier shouted. “What do you see?” John looked around the empty factory building he had chosen with a few drops of water rolling off the ceilings and shoved Melissa’s forward. She stumbled forward and fell on her face. It agitated Xavier who raised his gun. John grinned. “You didn’t grace us with your men… I thought you never moved without a guard?” John asked with a grin. “You know what? This is like the first time we met. Now we’re here again in a slightly altered circumstance, making another deal. Isn’t that lovely?” John had bound Melissa’s mouth and the back of her hand. She struggled and tried to rush into Xavier’s arm, but John placed the cold end of his gun on her head. “Did you bring it with you?” John asked.Xavier raised a white nylon bag and brought out a couple of vials.“It’s more than enough and it’ll treat ten people.” “For your sake, let’s hope you’re right. How about we test it?” John asked and brought out a syringe filled with blood. A
At a graveyard in Los Angeles where the sky was moonless and the Earth hardened beneath your feet. Jones slammed the hard edge of the shovel into the earth and threw out dirt. The headstoned above Jones as he bent down, going about the digging, spelled the name “Rick” This was his friend's resting place but he's been having a feeling that all wasn't right and there was something missing. Once he had gotten enough dirt out of the hole he forced open the coffin. A foul stench rocked into Jones so hard he shielded his nose with his elbow, gagging and trying not to throw-up the breakfast he had eaten. But, he had seen what he wanted and he wasn't sure how he was going to handle this news. Whoever was in the coffin was dead, he was very sure about that but it wasn't Rick. “Damn!” Jones groaned and slammed the coffin shut and climbed out the grave. “Alice” he whispered to himself. “What are you after?”The drive back to the Motel he rented was without drama, being an easy ride he showe
“What is it that you're doing?” Melissa asked, crossing her legs and leaning into the driver side of her seat to get comfortable even though John had a gun to her head. “You think I'm here to joke around?” John growled and clicked off the gun's safety.Melissa turned sharply to face him, looking directly into his eyes.“There were cameras when you abducted me and in your famous car at that. Surely, you won't be so foolish as to assume that no one recognized the famous billionaire?” John chuckled. “Did I really kidnap you? I don't think you know much in the way of deception… no one there cares about your whereabouts because to them you're perfectly fine but you may not be if you keep testing my patience.” “I think you'll use the best of your time if you keep your eyes on the road. I won't want to be caught dead with you.” “Shut your mouth or I'll pull the trigger!” Melissa glared at John but otherwise kept silent while John floored the car till he arrived at a hideout west of La's
The echoes of the man's feet as they hurried up the blocks, approaching the room, seemed to dig into his flesh. John could feel the sweat drop gather at the top of his brow, many parts of him felt like leaping out of control and launching savagely at Xavier's evil grin. John shook his head gently and smiled. “And what exactly makes you think I came here alone?” Xavier's brow furrowed and he brought the gun in his hand closer to Richard's head, pressing it firmly while looking out the window at the cars his men parked.“Whatever game you think you're trying to pull off won't work, lower the gun. Alice, take the gun from him.” Xavier yelled. “I can't do that…” she replied. Alice did not make an attempt to move because she was sure that with the cold gaze John directed at her she'll be dead before she can dislodge the gun. “With my men, you're surrounded… surrounded! Drop the gun and I'll give you a quick death.”“You actually believe that I'm surrounded, really look around, who do