Inside the bank, Elena was indeed growing increasingly agitated. "Where the hell is he?" she muttered, glancing at the door for the hundredth time.The lead robber paced nervously, his gun twitching in his hand. "If your buddy double-crossed us, you'll be the first to know," he growled.Elena glared at him. "He wouldn't do that. He's not that kind of person."But as the minutes ticked by, doubt began to creep into her mind. Had Miles really abandoned them? Was this all part of some elaborate plan she wasn't privy to?One of the other robbers spoke up. "Boss, maybe we should cut our losses. Use her as a shield and make a run for it."The leader hesitated, clearly torn. Elena tensed, ready to act if necessary. Just as the situation seemed about to boil over, a voice came over the megaphone outside."This is Nathan Chen, crisis negotiator. I'm coming in to talk. I'm unarmed and alone."The robbers exchanged glances. The leader nodded to one of his men, who cautiously approached the door.
The robber's eyes widened. "How did you-""Let's just say I have connections," Miles interrupted. "Now, shall we?"The head robber nodded to his three accomplices. "You two, grab the money. You, keep an eye on the cop. And you," he said, pointing his gun at Miles, "you're driving."As they made their way to the car, Elena whispered to Miles, "What are you doing? This is insane!"Miles muttered quietly, "Believe me, I have a strategy." The group crammed into the vehicle, Miles at the wheel while the thief's leader sat in the front, holding a gun aimed at Miles. Elena was wedged between two thieves in the rear, while the fourth one sat alongside the money bags. As they pulled away from the bank, police sirens blared to life. The head robber tensed. "Lose them!"Miles navigated the streets with skill, weaving through traffic and taking sharp turns. Elena watched in amazement as he seemed to anticipate every move of their pursuers.After several tense minutes, the sirens began to fade.
The man stumbled back, clutching his wound. "Shit! Fall back! Get inside and call for backup!"As the robbers retreated into the villa, Miles turned to Elena. "We need to move. They think we're still here."Elena nodded, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "The villa door. It's our best shot.""On three," Miles whispered. "One... two... three!"They ran quickly across the empty area, with bullets raising dust behind them. As soon as they got to the door, a barrage of bullets hit the car they had been using for cover. Within the villa, they leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. "Nice shooting, Tex," Elena quipped, nodding towards Miles' gun.Miles smirked. "You ain't seen nothing yet, partner."The sound of approaching footsteps had them both tensing. Miles held up three fingers, counting down silently. As he reached zero, they both spun around the corner, guns blazing.Two robbers went down immediately, caught off guard by the ambush. The third managed to get a shot off, t
Miles opened the front door of his house and guided Elena in. Both of them appeared unkempt, their clothing showing signs of their recent difficult experience. "Feel free to relax," Miles said, pointing towards the living room. "I will get water for both of us." Elena settled into the luxurious sofa, grimacing a bit while extending her arm. "Thanks, Miles. For everything."Miles returned with two glasses of water, handing one to Elena. "Don't mention it. It's what partners do, right?"Elena took a sip, then set the glass down. She stood up, facing Miles. "No, really. I mean it. What you did today... it was incredible. I don't know how to thank you."Before Miles could respond, Elena came up to him and gave him a tight hug. Taken off guard, Miles hesitated briefly before returning the embrace. At that instant, the front door opened again. "Dad, we have returned!" exclaimed a young voice. Miles became motionless, his eyes becoming larger at the sight of his wife Lola entering with t
The stylish black vehicle arrived at the grand entrance of the mansion. Miles paused and took a deep breath before finally placing his hand on the door handle. That was the conclusion. The instant he had both feared and desired his whole life. Upon exiting, a well-dressed elderly gentleman came towards him. "Mr. Creek, welcome. I'm Dorian Dean, the butler."Miles nodded, his throat dry. "Is it true? Is he really here?"Dorian's eyes softened. "Yes, sir. Your father is waiting for you inside."Miles followed Dorian through the grand entrance, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous foyer. They stopped before a heavy oak door.""He's right over here, sir," Dorian mentioned, with his hand on the doorknob. Miles whispered, "Hold on," speaking in barely audible voice. "Is he... is he alright?" Dorian gave a gentle smile. "Why don't you take a look, sir?" The door opened, showing a study illuminated by a cozy lamp. By the fireplace stood a man that Miles recognized from old photos and b
Miles nodded grimly. "I know. But I can't walk away from this. Not now that I know the truth.""Then we'll face it together," Maxwell said, squeezing Miles' shoulder. "Father and son, as it always should have been."As they started talking about their plan, Miles experienced a range of emotions. Feeling frustrated about the time wasted, a sense of comfort in finally learning the truth, worried about what the future holds, and a developing sense of direction. "There is a lot more that you should be aware of," Maxwell mentioned, heading towards a secure hiding place located behind a painting. "Files, recordings, financial records - it's all here. The evidence that will bring them down."As Maxwell laid out document after document, Miles' head spun with the magnitude of what they were up against. However, underneath the surprise and the anxiety, a flame was starting to burn. A resolve to correct the injustices, shield his loved ones, and embrace the purpose destined for him. "We will
He was startled by the ringing of the doorbell. He opened the door and saw Rachael Autumn standing there, her face showing signs of worry. "Rachael? What are you doing here?" Miles asked, ushering her inside.Rachael wrung her hands nervously. "Miles, we need to talk. It's about your family... and mine."Miles' eyes narrowed. "You mean how your family has been lying to me all this time? Using me?"Rachael flinched. "It's not like that, Miles. We didn't have a choice.""There's always a choice, Rachael," Miles spat. "You could have told me the truth.""And you?" Rachael shot back. "You lied too. You said you were single, that you were just Miles Autumn. Was that all a ploy to get close to us, to get information?"Miles stepped back, stunned. "What? No, I... I never said I was single. I just... I didn't mention my family because I was trying to protect them."Rachael's eyes softened. "I believe you, Miles. But you have to understand, we're all caught up in something bigger than ourselv
While embracing each other, both fully conscious of the peril nearby, a faint voice was heard from the staircase. "Mom?" Father? "What's happening?" Miles and Lola looked in the direction Sarah was standing, her worried expression evident on her small face. They shared a glance, aware that their future decisions would impact not only their destiny, but also that of their daughter and the whole city. Miles kneeled and extended his arms towards Sarah. "Sweetheart, please come over here." Mom and Dad have something significant they need to inform you about. While Sarah embraced them, Miles and Lola promised quietly to defend their family and seek retribution against anyone who posed a threat. The larger view was starting to become clear, bringing with it the understanding that their lives were about to change forever. The sudden ringing of the doorbell surprised Miles and Lola, interrupting their quiet chat. Miles cautiously approached the door, looking through the peephole. Surpris