All the policemen stood alert and saluted their superior, who seemed caught off guard by the picture before him. Behind him were three more people who made Mr. De’Luka’s face form deep furrows as his intestines turned into knots of ice.Ana, Liya, and Mr. Jonathan were shocked to find Mr. De’Luka inside the room.“At ease!” The superior said, still scanning his subordinates one by one with unrequited questions.“What is this man doing in here in the interrogation room?” He added.All the officers looked down with guilt and barren mouths.“I wanted to add something about criminals that slipped out of my mind when I was reporting this social crime.” Mr. De’Luka thought it wise to save the situation. The new guy seemed to be hardcore. Not the type that would bend easily.“Really? Is that why the camera for this room is turned off? Just because you wanted to add something you had forgotten to tell the police?” The officer asked again.He was the same officer who had rescued Jordan a week a
Mr. De’Luka felt defeated. Officer Adamson was so gross to him. He was not like those other police officers he was able to buy with just a few notes. This one seemed like he would blow his head off if he made the mistake of proposing such a deal. He was torn between letting the matter go and accepting defeat, dealing with Jordan his own way, or maintaining his stand. But he was sure if he chose the latter, the investigation would pin him down, and this officer didn’t look like he had the word pardon in his vocabulary. Glaring at Jordan, Mr. De’Luka counted the man so lucky. He had managed to turn his own daughter against him, earning the trust of the entire neighborhood in no time, and now he was finding favor in the eyes of the police, who Mr. De’Luka thought would help him crash the man. ‘Such a lucky son of a witch. But I am far from done. I just need to restrategize my plan without pressure.’ He thought inwardly as he fixed the nothingness on his suit. “I have zero tolerance for
Officer Adamson stared at Jordan for a while. He might have fallen for Jordan’s cover-up lie, but something about Jordan was baffling him. There was some disorienting aura that Jordan excluded, and the officer could not crack what it was.“Yes, officer? You wanted to talk to me?” Jordan spoke first. The way the officer was gawking at him with assorted sentiments was baffling him. He could not exactly tell whether his instincts were right or wrong, but he had a hunch that the officer was wary of him somehow.“Would you like to add something on top of what you just said a while ago? I am not saying you lied. I mean, we have witnessed a lot of these cases where wealthy people force their children to intermarry with icons of the same pedigree. But, aside from that, is there any other reason why Mr. De’Luka would be on your neck like this?” The officer asked calmly and was friendly.Jordan shook his head after a conscientious mental deliberation. His fight with Mr. De’Luka was far from ove
Jordan wandered through the corridors of the station, engrossed in thoughts. The officer’s words were banging on his head and clouding his mind like a dark cloud. He did not understand why the officer said that to him. He already had Mr. De’Luka on his ass. He did not want to have a corpse on his trail either.“Jordan? Did all go well?” He was startled by Ana’s voice.They had been waiting for him in the waiting area near the gate. Jordan had not even realized he had walked that long to reach the gate. He looked around for that old fool, but he was nowhere to be found.“Yes. All is well. Are you okay?” Jordan asked Ana. He thought she must have been regretting going against her father.“I am fine. What did the officer say? Did he buy your lie?” Ana asked. She did not seem worried at all,, contrary to Jordan’s prior thoughts.“Yes. Shall we go now?” Jordan asked. He did not want to worry them with what the officer said. That was between him and the officer.“Sure. The car is waiting ou
“It is for your own good, ex-father! Stop going after us, or I will forget everything you have done for me and reveal everything about this whole saga to the police. I know you are used to buying your way out, but that will be hard now that you have aroused suspicions about you. I still respect you and appreciate what you have done for me, but here is where I draw the limit. Leave us alone, or you will bear the consequences.” Ana warned, and everyone on her side admired her boldness. Even Liya loved the girl’s courage.“I cannot believe this. My own daughter, the girl I picked from the streets and cleaned up, is not only willing to rant me out to the police but also blackmail me. Fantastic!” Mr. De’Luka said between gritted teeth.“I learned from the best teacher, Mr. De’Luka, and you know it. I was not a De’Luka for all these years, all for nothing. You raised me this way, dad. Dad, it is only fair that I put what you and your wife taught me all these years into practice. Even if it
“Everything is alright. Nothing to worry about.” Jordan said, his eyes escorting the officer as he drove off.People broke the ring of the circle they had created to shield Jordan when the officer disappeared from their sight. Only then did they relax and believe that the officer was not there for Jordan.“Are you sure, Jordan? I don’t trust that officer guy. Why exactly did he follow you here? These people are very cunning.” Mr. Mario spoke on behalf of the people.“I also have a bad feeling about this. It seems like they are still not off your neck, Jordan.” Liya stated.“It is nothing, guys. I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Maybe he just really wanted to make sure that we didn’t run into any trouble on the way here.” Jordan tried to convince someone about something he himself was not so convinced about.He didn’t know the officer would go through all that trouble escorting them home as if they were that important. Then the officer’s words resonated in Jordan’s head: ‘
“Why are you thinking so much? Am I a burden? Do you think I will weigh you down?” Ana asked with utter concern. Jordan had remained mute for a couple of pretty long moments. The lights in the neighborhood were on, but they were not doing enough justice for Ana to read what was written on Jonathan’s face.He cleared his throat, scraping his head a couple of times. He did not want to leave the girl behind. She had become his responsibility. He did not want to abandon her. But where would he take her? He could not rent her a house because he had used all the advance payment he had taken from Mr. Jonathan. Mr. Jonathan even had to go back to his pockets and add some more dollars. And he did not want to ask for another advance payment.“Well, you see, Ana, I think it will be best if you stay here. Maybe in the meantime. I just don’t have any means of taking care of you right now. And I can’t go with you to Mr. Jonathan’s house.” Jordan explained.He really felt bad, but that was how his s
The neighbors had prepared a lot of food for everyone. The drinks were plentiful, and music was playing in the background.They ate and drank the entire night. Only the children slept. Songs were composed in tribute to Jordan. Everyone sang his praises and prayed to the gods to bless him. It was merry until dawn came, announcing Jordan’s departure.The goodbyes are never easy. Not ever, and that was the case with Jordan.“You haven’t even taught us those cool moves, Jordan. How can you leave so soon?” One guy asked when Jordan thought he had answered all the questions.“Some other time, boys. Like I promised, I will be back, and we can do many more great things. I will teach you martial arts, but next time.” He pleaded with them.“We trust you, sir. And it will be so selfish of us to tie you down after everything you have done for us.” The man saidJordan smiled after reaching an understanding with them. “Aright. And remember all that we agreed upon. Observe cleanliness. Whenever you
Three months later!Anticipation and enthusiasm surrounded the grand opening ceremony as it took place. In addition to officially opening The Rivers Group of Martial Arts' newest location, the ribbon-cutting ceremony signified the end of a journey that had passed through darkness and emerged into the light of mutual empowerment and progress.Jordan stood proudly in front of the assembly and spoke to them. "Our slogan stands true today as it did when we started: The Rivers Group of Martial Arts is not just a school to teach martial arts, but a community for empowerment and growth, both as a community and individually." His statements reverberated with authenticity, capturing the spirit of their group's objective."And so, ladies and gentlemen, here I present to you the last, as of now, branch of The Rivers Group of Martial Arts." Jordan handed the scissors to Ana, symbolizing the transition from the shadows of the past to the bright possibilities of the future. As Ana cut the ribbon, t
The following day, Ana woke up in his old home, the De’luka mansion. Ricotchetting her eyes. Memories lingered—a combo of both good and bad memories. She had slept off there with her entire crew to prepare for the burial.“Are you ready? You can stay back if you want. I will bring the body here.” Jordan said, giving her a morning hug after strolling into her room.Ana sampled everything that Jordan’s body was bleeding on her—the solace, the heat, the comfort. Everything. She appreciated his comfort and his gesture. She then pulled away, and Jordan kept her hands in his. “I appreciate this, Jordan, but I have to do this.”“Are you really sure?” Jordan emphasized."Come on, Jordan! Do I look like I am showing signs of a mental breakdown or something? I am perfect. Besides, you and I know the story behind this man. I'm all good.” She said.Jordan nodded his head. “Alright. I never said that you were about to break down, by the way. I know you are strong. Even more than I am.”‘Yeah, yeah
“I guess so. We can all say that.” The officer affirmed.A few chatters filled the room for a long time. Who would have thought that a once vigilante group could be saluted by the government, huh?Jordan cleared his voice, speaking to the officer, although everyone was keen. “Whether the government recognizes me or not, I don’t care. But I know how much you loved your job. I also know that you like it, and it is my hope that you have no regrets whatsoever for those few days that you and your boys have been members of this family. I want you to know that I cannot hold you back. If they want to give you back your position, please don’t feel obliged to remain with us. You deserve that position.”Officer Adamson looked at Jordan with so much appreciation and gratitude. “Regrets? What is there to regret about being part of this great community, Jordan? I felt honored that I was lucky to have a chance to meet you all and to partake in your just missions. But, like you said, I feel the need
The group, which had now become a family, pushed itself into the audacious project of opening martial arts schools in the following weeks, their unwavering dedication transforming dreams into concrete accomplishments. With incredible vigor, resolve, and a sense of purpose that permeated each movement they took, Jordan's vision came to life in that brightly illuminated room.Securing a central location for their flagship martial arts school was the crew's initial action. They converted a large warehouse, which had previously served as a symbol of corruption, into a center for empowerment, training, and discipline after extensive reconnaissance and planning sessions. When they held their first courses, the sound of kicks and swishing-trained moves filled the air inside those walls.With her excellent organizational abilities, Sarah oversaw the administrative side, making sure that all licenses, registrations, and marketing campaigns were completed. She proved to be the mainstay of the o
As the soft hues of morning began to seep through the windows, the room, once ablaze with celebration, now held a serene stillness. Jordan and his crew, draped in the comforting shadows of a night well spent, found themselves resting on makeshift seats, their weariness a testament to the battles fought and won.The sunlight painted a gentle tableau, revealing the subtle lines of fatigue etched on each face. Yet, amidst the quietude, a sense of unity prevailed. Jordan, observing the camaraderie that had evolved in the past hours, felt a renewed purpose bubbling within him. This wasn't just a crew; they were a band of individuals who had weathered storms together and emerged stronger.Looking at Major, he knew that he had a question to tackle. They looked somehow confused about what to do next, and he knew he owed them an explanation, at least for the sake of their sanity. He remembered how he and Major’s group became participants. Initially, they were just his hired bodyguards, but ove
‘‘Huuu!” Noises crackled in the house of Jordan as the members heaved out their tiredness, sampled in the aura of victory, and rested their weapons on the tables as they took their seats. It was almost 4 in the morning, but the night echoed with sounds for the next few hours. Their faces were smeared with soot and sweat from the tough battle they had fought and, by God’s grace, won.“This calls for a big celebration!” Jordan spoke, pulling Ana beside him as he rested on his signature seat of authority. “Mariela? Could you make us something delicious for us?”Mariela nodded in agreement. “After emerging triumphant, you all deserve a special treat. I had made arrangements before we left. I will be back in a sec.”They all made sweet sounds of appreciation that sent Mariela off to the kitchen with a smile on her face.Soon enough, she was making hasty back-and-forth tours to and from the kitchen with trays of mouthwatering shawarmas. Then the drinks followed, and everyone wanted nothing
As Jordan and his group crouched in the shadows, staring at the far-off warehouse where the covert conflict had taken place, the night sky hung thick with an oppressive still. An overwhelming feeling of unease permeated the air as they anticipated reaching the pinnacle of their unwavering quest for justice.Abruptly, a menacing gleam illuminated the horizon, illuminating Jordan's team members' features with elongated shadows. From the warehouse, flames shot up, licking the darkness with an abysmal embrace. The blast echoed through the still air like a mighty cry of vengeance.Jordan clinched his hands and tensed his jaw, watching the conflagration with a bleak determination mixed with joy. The warehouse collapsed under the weight of its own secrets; it had previously been a center of corruption and dishonesty. His transgressors were being burned into charred souls. He could imagine them weeping in pain as the wildfire mercilessly devoured them.Jordan whispered, "That's it," his voice
“Names? What names, Jordan?” Mr. Elias asked in confusion.Jordan, with a steely gaze, had no time to waste. He needed to get to the heart of the issue as fast as he could. His voice was firm as he spoke. "The names of your supporters. The high-ranking officials who are protecting."The alliance members exchanged uneasy glances, a palpable scent of impending doom slapping at their nostrils. How could they comply with Jordan's request? Revealing the identities of those wielding formidable power felt like signing their own death warrants. And death was what they were trying to escape by all means. How could they negotiate for survival and sell themselves to the devil in the same way?“Jordan, please understand that we cannot do that. It is too dangerous for us. Besides, why do you want the names?” Mr. Elias replied, attempting to mask the tension in his voice.Jordan's eyes narrowed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I need those names to expose the corruption that is eatin
Jordan looked at Elias and his meanness. He could read through their minds. He knew exactly what they wanted. And he loved their stupidity.Elias gazed at Jordan and spoke with a stern voice without a single tinge of wavering in it. “You are wiser than this, Jordan. I know you know what I mean.”Jordan shook his head and read a memo that said, ‘I know, but I want to hear that crap from your stinking mouth itself’! “No! Please enlighten me, Elias! I might be getting carried away.” Jodan spoke.Elias even managed to smirk, even though he could not tell whether Jordan was toying with his mind or not. He spoke. "Jordan, all I am suggesting is that we can settle this amicably. You don’t have to betray your noble parents by becoming a bloody murderer. Well, if it is revenge that you want, your parents are gone, and you can’t bring them back. Don’t even kill us. I have got something that will surely interest you."Jordan, unmoved, eyed Elias with a steely gaze, his expression portraying no