John kicked the door down, his mind running through all the lists Alice had drawn up. The only other person that knew that list was Ricky, if he spilled, they'd have gotten enough time to change hideouts and set up the surprises he met. It made a sinking feeling in his gut. Alice held her earpods for a moment and looked at John, “The other locations,” she whispered. “They're all empty,” The sinking John felt deepened, Alice reached out to him to make him reduce his steps and progress slowly but he brushed away her hands. Moving further up they came upon the first body wearing a Spectre symbol and paused. Alice looked down at the dead man with a frown. John glanced at her and kept on moving. They came upon five more bodies, all wearing the Spectre symbol. “What happened here?” John whispered, training his rifle at the shooting range. Passing eight more bodies added to the tension John felt in his bones. After six more in deadly silence they heard it. Loud and clear. Two gunsho
“Why am I here ? '' John asked the man he had come to know as Mark. The head of the police precinct he sat in. They were in a holding room with two chairs and a table in between them. Mark held a file with a series of gruesome shots of men nailed to walls. “Do you know the buildings each of the men were nailed in were recently bought by your company?” Mark asked. “No, I do not,” John replied.“Mr Draken, I need you to cooperate with me here so we can all go home,” “I can't agree to something I know nothing of. I have countless managers under me and the purchase of little buildings like those wouldn't need my stamp,” John said. “ If I had to be on every stamp I'd die young,” Mark folded the paper, tapping them on the desk. “This isn't funny Mr, Draken,” Mark said. “ Thirteen buildings were purchased in your name and a total of thirty people were killed within those walls.” John's eyes widened. “Thirteen buildings ? Thirty people,” John repeated. Mark frowned, his eyes narrowed a
With no idea of the time passed since he was on his knees with his shoulder heaving with sorrow. John stood up and walked across the room, following the path of the blood that led him into the room his father had advised him. There were blood stains on the sheets, the window by the side was broken, and the dresser overturned with all the contents spilled to the floor. He looked around searching for a body and found none. Both his mom and Dad were gone.John's shoulder slumped, his feet dragged and his eyes were beyond red.Walking out of the room, he located a smaller room which acted as a security room with various screens mounted on the walls that overlooked the lobby. All the screens were static and a single blank monitor was connected. From the cursor blinking on a blank page, John could tell its content was wiped. He thought of Alice crying and slumped into the seat. The state of the system did not bother him, his hands moved nimbly on the keys and within minutes the screen wa
The drive over to the address was not tedious because it wasn't a hidden location, but on the contrary, it was a very large villa that was one of the most prestigious locations in the city of Los Angeles. Many actors from around the world dreamed of being cast at such a location. John stepped out of the car that Sara sent to pick him up after he was sure his mother's condition was stabilized. He looked around admiring the luxurious fountain and pampered flowers. Sara walked out of the house in a black dress that showed her curves with a file of documents. Her dark hair was tied neatly in a ponytail, one look from men would have them lustful. But John's eyes seemed not to pick those details, he looked like one watching a stranger. It made Sara question her looks, for him not to give any attention. She quickly shifted the thoughts aside once she remembered why she called him. “You need to see this,” she said in a business-like manner and shoved the documents into his hands. Looki
“I think this is a very bad idea,” Sara advised. “We can do any other thing but please don't call that man to our hideout.” John turned to see Sara walking down the stairs, she had overheard their conversation. “I'm not going to call him,” John replied. “I'd pay him a visit. With him on board I'd be able to draw in the rest with ease,” “And how do you propose to accomplish that?” Sara asked, folding her arms. Rita and Gladiator watched John close his eyes in silence. The grin on his face deepened when his eyes opened. “Are you ready for some adventure?” John asked Sara. Sara looked at Gladiator and Rita who both shrugged. “I guess so,” Sara responded. “Not like there's anything I'm doing here,” “No,” John said with a smile. “You've done a lot here and I'm sure Alice is proud of you,” The statement brought a smile to Sara's face. “Gladiator, I have an errand for you at Rockbed. Take one of the cars on this property, I'd text you the details. Delete it after you receive. Underst
John is crouched in front of the garage awaiting Sara and Rita. In the background men are carrying the bed Gladiator bought for his Lisa. Lisa herself is in Elijah's arms, cradled like a child and rocked gently. Elijah looked so happy that Jack grinned. A life like that wouldn't be so bad. You and your love. If only that's all there is to it. “None of this is your fault,” Gladiator said, crouching beside him. “Huh? It's that obvious,” John sighed, looking back at Elijah. “I want to be happy but at what cost?” Gladiator shrugged. “I don't know the answer to that but you'd only find the solution by moving forward and daring to be wrong.” John bumped Gladiator’s arm and laughed. “Never knew you could be wise,” “What I'm saying is… I trust your decisions. Go ahead and make them. It doesn't have to be perfect,” “Yeah, I’ll do that, thanks.” John replied. “John,” Elijah called and Sara's car pulled up in front of the garage. John briefly waved at them before he went to Elija
“Sir,” Sara looked at her tablet and called John's attention. They had decided to return in a single car, the men: John and Gladiator in front and the two ladies: Rita and Sara behind. Gladiator was the one driving. “Twelve of the major shareholders are requesting to withdraw their investment by selling their stocks. Our shares are plummeting due to the rumor circling around that you're responsible for those deaths. It's on every news channel,” “Is that so? Let them sell their shares,” John grinned, he looked so unbothered that Sara frowned. Rita sat beside Sara with her palms locked and her head down. She still felt the embarrassment of being dragged around like a dog. She hated it so bad her teeth were gritted.“John, I think we need to do something, we could go bankrupt and lose everything,” Sara voiced her fears. The thought of the Draken falling to rags made Rita smile. But with her head down, no one saw it. John actually chuckled, he'd make them regret abandoning the boat a
“Give me six more bottles!” Tommy Murphy ordered and the bartender, a hot female, fresh from college and serving for the little pay, hurried to fulfill his order. Tommy Murphy grabbed a wad of cash from his wallet and dropped it into her hands after she presented his order. Using his big hands, he lifted all six bottles of beer. “Pay for the bottles and keep the change. Any of these folks try to take it, let me know. I'm in the media,” Without waiting for a response he bounced out with the bottle hoping for an interference, a reason to rage but no one moved. They knew him well enough to stay clear from his path once he drank. No one wanted to wake up in the hospital from the beating of a bull-like bulked male. The only thing of value to him in his car was a picture of two girls with a very bright smile pasted on his dashboard. His car slid into the garage and he jumped off. Proceeding into the kitchen, moving without turning on the lights because he had mastered the layout of his
"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