Carlos sat at his desk, the cursor blinking on his monitor, staring back at him like a challenge. His focus was slipping; the constant murmur of the office, the quiet judgment he felt pressing in from all sides, was enough to distract anyone. The soft tap tap of fingers on keyboards, the low hum of printers, and the occasional sharp ring of a phone echoed through the hallways. He ran his hand over his face, feeling the weight of it all, as he rose from his chair.Without hesitation, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, draped it over his arm, and exited his office. The familiar anxiety of walking through the hallways where eyes trailed his every movement crept back in. He could feel the whispers again— like tiny daggers of judgment, though none dared speak up in his presence. His heart pounded faster with each step as he made his way to Toby's office.Carlos reached Toby’s door and knocked lightly before opening it. Toby was seated, typing away, but when he noticed Carlos
Carlos then glanced at the bartender who stood a few feet away, wiping down the counter and paying them no mind. His attention returned to the ring in his hand, the glimmer of it catching the dim light of the bar. It wasn’t flashy, but it had a timeless elegance, something that symbolized love, endurance, and the passage of time. Something that, hopefully, would mean just as much to Abby as it had to his parents. "Still can’t believe you’re about to do this, man," Toby said, leaning back on his bar stool, swirling his glass and taking a sip of his drink. "I mean, Abby’s amazing, don’t get me wrong. But I just can’t picture you settling down. You? The same guy who swore marriage was a trap?"Carlos let out a low chuckle, slipping the ring back into his pocket. "Yeah, well, life has a funny way of proving you wrong." He looked around the bar, taking in the low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft background music. "I wasn’t planning any of this. But with Abby... i
Carlos squinted as sunlight crept through the thin curtains of his room, the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance blending with the mechanical hum of his alarm clock. His phone buzzed beside him, vibrating incessantly until it stirred him from the depths of his half-awake state. Groggily, he reached over to silence it, his fingers brushing across the smooth surface of the screen before the buzzing stopped. His body sank back into the mattress, the familiar warmth of the sheets urging him to close his eyes for just a little longer.But then his phone buzzed again—a WhatsApp notification this time. His brows furrowed slightly as he brought the phone closer to his face, squinting at the bright screen. It was a message from Toby, reminding him about the evening’s job.“Don’t forget tonight. Might leave town for a bit. Not sure where yet. Will update you once I know.”Carlos stared at the message, the reality of what was to come slowly settling into his consciousness. He let out a
Toby’s cousin, Mark, stepped out from the shadows, followed closely by his associate Gazan. Their arrival was abrupt, making the air feel heavier. Toby, already on edge, couldn’t help but blurt out, “Damn, Mark, you scared the hell out of me!”Mark smirked, his eyes flickering between Toby and Carlos, before he spoke in a calm but measured tone, “You’ve gotten jumpy, cousin. Didn’t mean to spook you.”Toby quickly recovered and turned to Carlos, gesturing towards Mark. “Carlos, this is Mark, my cousin. Mark, this is Carlos, the friend I’ve been telling you about.”Carlos and Mark exchanged a quick handshake, firm and deliberate. Mark’s grip was strong, the handshake feeling like a subtle test. He peered at Carlos for a second longer before saying, “So, you’re the one looking for extra cash on the side, huh?”Carlos met his gaze squarely, giving a small nod. “Yeah, that’s me.”Mark nodded approvingly, a slight grin playing at the corners of his mouth. “Good. Nice to meet you, Carlos. I
'AT THE DROP SITE'Toby's boots crunched against the gravel as he hopped out of the truck, his body still tense from the ambush hours before. His eyes scanned the forest around the glass penthouse as the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the trees. The air smelled fresh, but the tension between him and the others was palpable. He glanced at Carlos, who had a blank look on his face, clearly deep in thought. Mark and Gazan were already moving, their movements deliberate as they barked orders at the men unloading the cargo.The sleek penthouse stood as a sharp contrast to the chaos of the night— a modern marvel of glass and steel hidden away in the middle of nowhere. Toby took a long breath, watching as the other men carried the heavy crates into an underground store below the building. The place was quiet, too quiet for Toby’s liking after the gunfire that still echoed in his ears."Can you believe that shit?" Toby finally broke the silence, his voice bitter. "My head almo
The trees whipped by as they hurried down the narrow, winding path, their boots crunching against the dirt with every step. The sun had climbed a little higher, casting long shadows across the ground, but the quiet of the woods remained unsettling. Carlos could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. His mind was running a marathon, filled with thoughts of how he would explain his absence, how he would make up for the lost time, and most importantly, how he would keep his life from spiraling any further out of control."Hey, we better pick up the pace," Toby urged, glancing back at Carlos. "The nearest station isn’t exactly around the corner, and you’re cutting it real close."Carlos glanced at his watch again, gritting his teeth. "I know, man. But running? After all that? My legs feel like bricks."Toby stopped walking, turning back to face him. "Do you want to make it back or not? We can either keep up this pace and you risk losing your job, or we hustle and at least ha
Stepping into his office, Carlos felt the weight of the morning bearing down on him. His shirt clung to his back, still damp with sweat from the mad dash he'd made to the office. He could feel his pulse in his throat, the remnants of adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His breathing was heavy, but what greeted him inside made his chest tighten even further.Alisha and Tommy stood by his desk, their faces tight with impatience. Alisha’s arms were crossed, her eyes boring into him, while Tommy leaned casually against the desk, but his relaxed posture didn’t fool Carlos. His gaze was sharp, waiting.Carlos felt the walls closing in. The air in the office suddenly felt stifling, suffocating. He swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile as he tried to ease the tension.“Morning,” he said awkwardly, running a hand through his damp hair. "What brings you two in here so early?"He knew exactly why they were here. He could see it in their faces, feel it in the way the atmosphere bristled wi
Carlos's heart pounded as Derek uttered the name, "Alisons." His breath hitched slightly, hoping this was enough to save them both.Alisha's sharp eyes darted from Carlos to Derek. She didn't blink, didn't move for a second, and the silence felt unbearable. The entire room was tense— like a tightrope stretched to its limit. Tommy stood by, arms crossed, watching the entire scene unfold. His expression was unreadable, but it was clear that he was calculating his next move. He wasn’t one to get involved unless absolutely necessary, but when he did, it usually meant the situation had escalated beyond repair."Alisons?" Alisha repeated slowly, letting the word hang in the air. She had this dangerous habit of playing with her prey before striking.Derek shifted uncomfortably, and Carlos could feel the weight of his gaze. He prayed Derek would stay firm, that they’d get through this together. But Alisha wasn’t done. She leaned in closer to Carlos, her perfectly manicured nails tapping rhyth