John adjusted his tie, glancing over at Joe with a grin as they stood in front of the full-length mirror in Joe’s room. "How do I look?" he asked, smoothing down the front of his suit. Joe took a step back, nodding approvingly. "You look amazing," he said, giving his cousin a confident smile. "Thanks," John replied, flashing a thumbs-up before they both turned and made their way downstairs. As they reached the table by the door, Joe’s eyes landed on a bouquet of flowers he’d picked out earlier. He reached for them but hesitated, glancing down at the bouquet in his hands. Just as he was about to put them back, John gave him a questioning look. "Why are you putting them back?" John asked, arching an eyebrow. "Aren't they for Hannah?" Joe shrugged, his hesitation clear. "I don’t know... Do you think she’ll even like them? I feel like maybe I’m doing too much. It’s just a launch of her event and not a date.” John shook his head, chuckling softly. "Joe, you’re not doing too much.
Joe tried to pull his gaze away from Aaron, the last person he wanted to see, but it was too late. Aaron had already locked eyes with him. Within seconds, Aaron moved in his direction with a smirk, pulling at his lips. "Hi, Joe," Aaron said, with his voice filled with sarcasm. Joe rolled his eyes, ignoring him. "Oh, so you're just going to pretend you don’t know me?" Aaron challenged, crossing his arms with a mocking grin. "Because I don’t," Joe replied coolly. "I don’t know lowlives like you." Aaron scoffed, his smirk widening. "You’d be surprised to know that I’m more than just some ‘lowlife.’ In fact, I’ve always been far more than that, Joe. I’ve never known what it’s like to be poor or wretched." Joe’s eyes narrowed. "I remember you vividly, Aaron. And I also remember what happened to you the last time we spoke." Aaron’s smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "I remember too, Joe. That’s why I’m here—to give you a bit of advice or, in this case, to warn
"What are you doing here?"Timothy grinned, then stepped aside to reveal the auburn-haired woman at his side. "Came with a date," he replied, nodding toward her. "This is Leah."Leah extended a hand. She was wearing a warm smile that seemed almost contagious."Hi, I’m Leah, head of Green Corporation.""She makes green tea!" Timothy added, chuckling. "Isn’t she fun?"Joe nodded politely, reaching out to shake her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”At that moment, Timothy grabbed a spare chair for himself and Leah and slid it next to Joe and John. Once everyone was seated, Timothy spoke up."So, Joe,” he began, giving him a pointed look, “how does it feel to be here supporting your woman?""She’s not my woman," Joe replied, rolling his eyes.Timothy laughed, turning to Leah. "That’s what he tells everyone, but we all know there’s something between these two."Leah raised her eyebrows in curiosity, looking between Joe and Timothy. Timothy then turned to John. "What do you think, John? Don’t
Joe and Hannah strolled down the quiet street under the dim glow of streetlights. Joe chuckled, glancing at her with mocking eyes. “So, be honest. Are you trying to kidnap me?” Hannah let out a laugh, playful and full of energy. “If I wanted to kidnap you, I’d do it with a lot more style. Ground style, you know?” “Mind sharing what you mean by ground style?” Hannah stared at Joe for a while and then suddenly took off running, with laughter ringing through the night. Joe was startled by this gesture as he watched her move in a zigzag manner, her hands sliding against the lamppost she walked past. Hey, where are you going?” John called out as he picked up his steps. He saw Hannah glance over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of him. “Keep up, Whitmore!” she called over her shoulder. Joe tried to keep up with her, their footsteps echoing down the empty street. Just as he was about to ask again where she was leading him, Hannah came to a halt, breathing heavily as they reached a
Joe’s mind was still a whirl of thoughts as he and Hannah continued to walk side by side down the sandy path, heading back the way they’d come. Just as he began to get lost in his thoughts again, Hannah’s voice broke the silence. “Look up,” she said. Joe noticed that her eyes turned to the sky, pointing to a cluster of stars. “Do you see that pattern over there?” Joe followed her gaze, spotting a group of stars that former “W” shape. “Yeah, what about it?” “That’s Cassiopeia,” she explained, her voice soft. If he weren’t standing close to her, he wouldn’t have bests a word. “According to the myth, she was a queen who bragged that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs. The gods punished her by placing her in the sky, but she’s upside down half the time.” Joe raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “So, she’s forced to sit in the sky forever, upside down half the time, just because she was confident?” Hannah laughed. “Well, I suppose that’s one way t
Joe’s gaze flickered from his watch to the office door; his impatience was increasing as he waited for Jeremy to bring in his unexpected guest. A soft knock finally interrupted the silence, and Joe straightened himself. “Come in,” he called out, wondering who would appear. As the door opened, Joe’s eyes widened in surprise. Standing before him was Lady Penelope. He immediately rose to his feet. “Lady Penelope,” Joe said with a shocked tone. “What are you doing here?” Lady Penelope gave him a gentle smile, though her eyes held a seriousness that Joe didn’t miss. “I have something important to discuss with you, Joe.” Joe glanced over at Jeremy, gesturing for him to leave. As the door clicked shut behind Jeremy, Joe turned back to her. “You could have just called, you know, or sent Timothy,” he said, forcing a lightness he didn’t quite feel. Lady Penelope shook her head. “This isn’t something that should be discussed over the phone.” She took a seat opposite him, her gaze pie
“Don’t tell me you believe him?” Joe leaned forward. He had had enough of Timothy’s lies and couldn’t bear to listen. Lady Penelope turned to look at Joe. “I’m sorry, but he won me over with his story.” At the sound of her words, Timothy smirked, and Joe shook his head continuously. “He’s lying,” Joe said with a bold tone. “Hannah and I are not an item neither are we counting the days to our anniversary.” “He’s only saying this because he’s shy, Mom,” Timothy said, and Joe rolled his eyes. “You don’t ever give up.” He said with a feral tone. “This isn’t about giving up. I’m just saying what I believe it’s true and know it’s true,” Timothy said, lifting his hands in defense. “And besides, I know you are going to admit that I’m right sooner or later.” “In your dreams,” Joe said, and Timothy was about to respond when Lady Penelope stood on their feet. “It’s time for me to head back to the estate for my afternoon nap.” She said with a voice that sounded like she was looking forw
Joe sat back in his bed, the letter from his father still clutched in his hand. He couldn’t believe what he just read and just had to read it again. "P.S. If ever my son is found, let him know there’s a letter addressed to him in my study, in the safe. The password to the safe is 9220. Please let him know about this. It’s very important." The words echoed in Joe’s mind, and a shiver ran down his spine. What could be so important? What was his father hiding or preparing for him? The questions multiplied in his head. He couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to find that letter. Without a second thought, Joe grabbed the letter and rushed out of his room. His steps quickened as he made his way down the corridor toward his father’s study. He had been in that room a hundred times before, but tonight, it felt different—charged with an energy he couldn’t explain. When Joe reached the study door, he pushed it open and scanned the room. His father’s desk sat in the middle of the room,
“You’re going to be our eyes and ears,” John said flatly, as he flickered his gun about. “You’ll let us know every move the Sanchez gang makes before they make it. Got it?” The man’s eyes widened in panic. “I can’t do that! If they find out—if they even suspect—I’m dead! My family’s dead!” John didn’t flinch. He lowered the gun slightly, only to press it firmly against the man’s chest. “If you don’t do what I’m telling you, you’ll be dead a lot sooner.” The man froze, trembling under the cold weight of John’s words. “It’s better you just kill me now,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking. John sighed, the frustration was very clear in his voice. “You’re not thinking straight. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about your family and your life.”The man didn’t say a thing, and John leaned forward. “Don’t you get it! We are offering you an opportunity here.”“That doesn’t sound like an opportunity.” The man said in a flat tone. “Just kill me like I said before.”“For the lo
The car rolled to a quiet stop, its headlights cutting through the darkness of the neighborhood. Rusty buildings lined the empty streets. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional shuffle of rats scurrying through the debris. Joe sat in the passenger seat, his brows furrowed as he stared out at the scene in front of him. “This doesn’t look safe,” Joe muttered under his breath. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” John, sitting behind the wheel, didn’t look half as worried. He leaned back in his seat, a small smirk playing on his lips. “What, are you scared?” he teased. Joe shot him an annoyed look. “I feel like I’ve walked into the lion’s den. Don’t you think we’re being a little reckless?” John waved off the concern with a hand. “Relax, Joe. Nothing’s going to happen. Besides, if you’re scared, you can stay in the car. Hide out here while I do all the work.” Joe narrowed his eyes. “I’m not staying in the car. That’s not happening.” John chuckled
Joe stared at the screen, as his hands moved swiftly across his screen. Once the message was sent he turned to John. “Done!” John smiled. “Good!” “What do we do now?” Joe asked. “We wait for his reply.” John said, in a low tone. John sighed, staring at the open sky. Him and John didn’t say anything, for what felt like minutes until John decided to break the silence. “Any messages?” Joe pulled out his phone which he had kept in his pocket. The dim light from his phone screen illuminated his face as he stared at the message he had sent to Victor minutes ago. Victor hadn’t replied the text and Joe informed John about it. “We would just have to wait a little.” John said. Minutes passed. Then half an hour. Still no reply. Joe sighed and tossed his phone into his pocket , rubbing his temples. “Any word yet?” John’s voice rose. Joe shook his head, glancing up at him. “No. Nothing.” John folded his arms, leaning forward , before speaking. “Well, you texted him. That’s a fir
“So, where exactly are we going?” Joe asked, in a firm tone John kept his eyes on the road, gripping the wheel confidently. “You’ll see.” Joe frowned slightly, shifting in his seat. “You’ve been driving for almost an hour, John. You took the wheel like you had somewhere specific in mind.” John smirked faintly but didn’t look at him. “I do.” “And where is that?” Joe pressed, turning his head toward him. John’s jaw twitched as though he was mulling over his response. “Just wait and see how.” Joe let out a small, tired laugh. “I don’t think I have that patient.” “Well, too bad,” John said firmly. “It looks like you’re going to have to acquire a bit of patience today.” Joe shook his head, staring back out the window. “This is worse than standing in line for ice-cream.” “What a nice way to describe this moment,” John said in a corky tone and Joe wasn’t buying his corkiness in fact he didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything. The car kept rolling, and it felt like they were dri
When Joe rounded the corner, the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. Mr. Adam was there, sleeves rolled up, fists bloodied. Two men—beaten to a pulp—were slumped against the wall, barely conscious. Mr. Adam’s face was a storm of fury as he grabbed one of them by the collar and hoisted him up, delivering another brutal punch to his ribs. The man cried out, while his companion looked on with fear in his eyes. “Mr. Adam!” Joe shouted, stepping forward. “That’s enough!” Mr. Adam didn’t look up, his chest heaving as he pinned the man against the wall with one arm. “Stay out of this, Joe,” he growled. “I’m not done.” Joe, undeterred, moved closer. “I said enough!Look at them! They’re done. You’re going to kill them if you keep this up.” Mr. Adam finally turned his head toward Joe. “Maybe that’s what they deserve.” Joe stood his ground, his voice was firm as he spoke. “They’re just pawns, Adam. This isn’t going to solve anything.” Mr. Adam released the man, who dropp
The days leading up to the launch party for Joe’s new corporation were filled with relentless work, late nights, and endless planning. The fact that things had been stable contributed to making Joe’s planning easier. There were no threats, no near misses, and no weird messages. Life, for a brief moment, felt… calm. This made Joe feel relaxed. A day before the launch, Joe and John drove to the new corp’s headquarters to finalize preparations. The building itself was modern and striking—sleek lines of glass and steel that gleamed in the sunlight. As Joe stepped out of the car, his gaze swept across the building, and a rare smile tugged at his lips. John stood beside him, hands in his pockets, and observed Joe’s quiet pride. “You know,” John began, breaking the silence, “your father would be proud.” Joe turned to him, a small laugh escaping. “You think so?” “Yeah,” John said sincerely. “Not just proud, Joe—he’d be impressed. You’re doing something he never could. You’re tur
The day of John’s mother’s remembrance was quiet and intimate, just as John had wanted. The house was transformed into a warm and welcoming space with simple decorations—a few family photographs, candles, and flowers placed strategically around the living room. Lady Penelope was among the first to arrive, dressed elegantly in a navy blue dress. She greeted John with a tight hug, expressing her condolences. “I told you she was the best of the best.” Lady Penelope said after freeing John from her hug. Her eyes were on Joe, who immediately understood what she was talking about. “Madeline did a good job.” He said. “I’m really happy that things turned out well.” John looked between the two. “I’m lost here.” “Lady Penelope had referred me to the event planner who decorated the house.” Joe said. Without hesitation John thanked Lady Penelope, who waved off his thanks letting him know she was just helping. When John and lady Penelope stepped inside, Joe stood at the entrance, ensurin
Joe wandered aimlessly through the house the next day each room feeling more suffocating than the last. He shuffled through the house, aimlessly moving from one room to the next. He felt restless, like he couldn't find a place where he could sit still. His thoughts kept circling back to everything that had happened—his father, the gang, Hannah, the endless pressure. The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on him. As he walked into the study, something caught his eye. Tucked in the corner of the room, almost hidden beneath a pile of books, was a scarf. It was a soft, pale blue fabric. He recognized it immediately as Hannah’s. His heart lurched in his chest. He stood there for a moment, staring at it, and then the weight of it seemed to drop on him. His mind flashed back to all the time they spent together, the conversations, the moments that seemed to matter. But that was over now. He had to let go. "Roland!" Joe called out, his voice rough. Roland appeared almos
The day started like any other for Joe, with him arriving at the office early to tackle a packed schedule. He greeted Jeremy, and moved through the lobby, his focus already on the list of meetings he had ahead. But as he approached his office, his steps slowed. Something was out of place—a box sat on the floor right in front of his door. Joe frowned. Packages weren’t unusual, but this one was different. It was unmarked, plain brown, with no indication of where it came from. His instincts kicked in, a chill creeping down his spine. "Jeremy!" he called out in a sharp voice. Jeremy appeared almost instantly, confusion etched on his face. "Yes, Mr. Whitmore?" "What is this?" Joe pointed at the box. Jeremy looked at it, puzzled. "I don’t know. It wasn’t there when I got here." Joe’s unease deepened. "Has anyone checked this? Who delivered it?" "I’ll check with security," Jeremy said quickly, already pulling out his phone. Joe debated waiting but decided against it. He cr