The Ultimate Return of Carlos

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Carlos took a deep breath and glanced at the envelope in his hand before slowly extending it toward Deon. But just as Deon’s fingers grazed the envelope, Carlos pulled it back slightly. "Actually, Deon, how about this?" Carlos’s voice was calm but tense. "You get paid after the job’s done. That way, we know you’ll deliver as promised."

For a second, the warehouse felt even more silent than before, as if the very air had paused in anticipation. Deon’s eyes slowly narrowed, his smirk fading into a look of cold disbelief. His fingers, which had been poised to grab the envelope, curled into a fist at his side.

"Are you serious right now?" Deon’s voice dropped low, a dangerous undertone rippling through it. He took a step forward, towering over Carlos.

Carlos swallowed hard, feeling the shift in the atmosphere. Olivia and Jon exchanged uneasy glances, both sensing the storm brewing. Jon’s hand twitched slightly at his side, as if he was debating whether to reach for something – anything –