Nicholas stepped out of his room, the weight of everything he had been facing and would be facing heavy on his shoulders. As he made his way towards the stairs, ready to start the new day with a new challenge which was of course, very inevitable, his phone suddenly started ringing. He paused, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the device. Glancing down at the screen, his brow furrowed as he recognized India's name displayed. He blinked his eyes to confirm if it was truly India. Without hesitation, he answered the call, his voice tinged with trepidation as he wondered what could be the reason for her unexpected contact this time around. It seemed this lady was hell-bent on this divorce thingy. "India," he said, his tone cautious. He was trying to stay as composed as possible. "G... good morning. Why... why are you calling so early this morning? Is there a problem?" Nicholas braced himself, expecting the familiar sound of India's frustration, perhaps even anger, as they continued t
The small, dimly lit room felt stifling, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken worry. Malakai sat on the worn couch, his fingers trembling as he grasped the bottle of red liquid, pouring himself a full cup. Without hesitation, he gulped it down, the fiery alcohol burning his throat, providing a momentary respite from the anguish that consumed him. He wanted more, just more and more. He didn't want to stop. That was the only thing that could relieves him of the pain he was going through. Across from him, the three older men – Wraith, Raven, and Vritt – exchanged concerned glances, their brows furrowed with a mixture of empathy and trepidation. If Malakai finished this bottle of alcohol, that would make it the seven bottle he'd been drinking within an hour. Wraith, his face etched with a solemn expression, leaned forward, his gaze locked with Malakai's. "Malakai, you've been drinking too much. I must advise you to stop now. Those are too much, that's like seven bottle now. You do
Malakai stood frozen, the static crackle of the phone line filling the deafening silence that hung thick in the air around him. Nicholas's voice, once so familiar, now carried a chilling weight that sent a shiver down Malakai's spine. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing with the effort, as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Malakai took a deep, steadying breath, steeling himself before finally breaking the oppressive quiet. "Mr... Loughty, it's nice to hear from you again. Why did you call this time?" He asked, the words came out strained, betraying the turmoil raging within him. He still wanted to sound the old cocky Malakai who wasn't broken by the unexpected disappearance of his son, but he failed. His arrogance flopped. Nicholas's deep chuckle rumbled through the receiver, further unsettling Malakai. "How are you doing, Malakai? It's been a while we talked, so I thought of checking up... That's what friends do, right?" Niçholas kept the casual tone, this time t
Nicholas stared at the phone screen of his phone as he gently brought it away from him ears, the call abruptly ended by Malakai. A chuckle escaped his lips as he slowly turned to face Michos whose hands were still bound with chain to two separate poles. A smirk tugged at the corners of Nicholas' mouth as he regarded the captive. "Did you hear what your father said?" Nicholas asked, amusement lacing his tone. Michos frowned, confusion etched across his features. "No... I didn't. I didn't hear anything, I was expecting you to put the phone on speaker as he spoke with him, but obviously you are not that ballsy. My dad was never wrong about you... but I know my father is coming to save me." Nicholas let out a low chuckle. "I doubt that. You father doesn't have that courage, Michos. Tu padre lleva tanto tiempo escondido detrás de una máscara. So, if he had the courage, he would have shown his face but he can't." "You are very delusional, Niçholas. Sólo espera y mira
Nicholas gently sauntered down the staircase, his face illuminated with a gentle smirk as he approached the front room. The wooden steps creaked softly under his weight, the sound echoing through the dimly lit corridor. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, his gaze immediately fell upon Michos, who sat hunched on a tattered sofa, his battered form shuddering in pain. The young man's bloodied and torn skin had been tended to by the guards - that was Nicholas's order but the physical wounds were merely the surface of his suffering. This wasn't what Niçholas wanted to do, but he really had no choice. Malakai had inflicted pain on so many people and doing so to his foster son wouldn't be considered absurd but something just didn't feel right. He didn't want to feel guilty but he did, despite knowing that Michos wasn't completely guilty on this. He was behind everything happening in that organization. Nicholas approached Michos with measured steps, his eyes narrow
Malakai's response was a burst of laughter, a sound so devoid of empathy that it chilled the blood of those who heard it. This wasn't what they were expecting, "Kill Michos if you must, Nicholas, I don't care anymore and don't even try to think you can pin me down with that little boy," he said, his words dripping with indifference. "His job for the RMI is done, and he's become... useless. Eat him if you want and drink is blood." Michos, who had been sitting in stunned silence, looked up in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. He could scarcely believe the words that had just come from his father's mouth. Did his father just say Nicholas should kill him? Nicholas, sensing the shift in the room, turned to Michos, his expression unreadable. "Malakai, you do realize that Michos can hear everything you're saying, don't you? He is right here in front of me and he heard you saying he's useless." Malakai's laughter echoed through the room once more, "Then give the phone to
Nicholas's gazed at his reflection, scrutinizing every detail. The crisp charcoal suit fit impeccably, the tailoring accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist. His shoes shone with a mirror-like polish, not a scuff in sight. Even his glasses, the frames a sleek onyx, complemented the ensemble perfectly. "India would love this," he said, smiling to himself. He couldn't help but let out a soft giggle as he spritzed on the last few drops of his favorite cologne. Everything had come together seamlessly, and he couldn't wait to see India's reaction. Straightening his tie one final time, Nicholas exited his private chambers, a serene smile gracing his features. As he made his way down the grand staircase, Gnits and Mr. Philips at the same time made their way into the front room. They both exchanged curious glances, ignorant of what was going on. It was rare to see Nicholas this unusually cheerful, his typical stoic demeanor replaced by an almost giddy excitement.
As the limousine pulled up to the grand entrance, two young women in pristine uniforms hurried to greet him, bowing deferentially. "Welcome, Mr. Loughty," one of them said, her tone honeyed. "Your table is ready." She gestured for him to follow, leading him through the luxurious dining room to a secluded corner. Nicholas felt his breath catch in his throat as he laid eyes on the table. It was lavishly decorated, a bottle of fine vintage wine already chilling in a silver bucket. Two elegant place settings waited, the gleaming silverware and delicate crystal reflecting the warm, golden light of the chandeliers overhead. "Please, have a seat," the attendant murmured, pulling out his chair. "Mrs. Loughty should be arriving momentarily." Mrs. Loughty? Wow! That was new. Where did they get that from? That was probably the name India used to book this reservation. Nicholas chuckled. Nicholas nodded gratefully, sinking into the plush cushion. His leg bounced anxiously as he waited, h