When Mr. Hester heard his front door open, he walked into the hallway and saw a group of Drak men approaching him, and he beamed at them.The look of doubt on their faces turned into all smiles as they talked over each other excitedly."Seriously, Sensei is here, out of prison?!""And Nina too?!""But how?""When did this happen?"They kept throwing questions at the old man, and Mr. Hester raised his hand which brought order to their chaos."Yes, Zane is here with Nina. The two were dropped off by the Bulls family." Mr. Hester said."Wait. Who?" One of the guys asked, and the others seemed like they all had the same question."The Bulls are the most influential families in the country when it comes to Military power and prestige," Mr. Hester explained. "The Bull Family has connections with the white house and international power that is even stronger than most politicians in the State. Their family is also very powerful in the political, economic, and social aspects since the Bulls h
The moment Drak heard his door open, he turned his head to the doorway to see Ethan, entering with Nina and the others, Mr. Hester by their side."Am I dreaming?" He mumbled, rubbing his eyes twice and staring wide-eyed at them. "That was our same reaction at first. But no, Sensei is out of prison." One of the guys said.Seeing Drak wrapped up in a bunch of bandages like some mummy had Nina filled with guilt and tears as she said, "I am sorry. I shouldn't have-""Nina, it's really you! So that means, Ethan, you got out." Drak said, trying to force himself to sit up, but Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down gently, and said, "You need to rest." The sight of Drak laying there, his body bandaged up had Ethan feeling mad at not only Charles but himself. Yet he tried to hide it, knowing getting all worked up would help no one."But how? How did you get out? I could hear that bastard Charles taunt Nina and forcing her to be with him... refusing to let you out and even t
Looking over Ethan's shoulder, Avan stared into the shop and said, "Is it forbidden to let others inside?" Seeing the jovial look on Avan's face, Ethan frowned slightly, and then he shook his head, saying, "No. It's just that I am in the middle of something important and is not ready for visitors.""I see. My grandfather wants to see you." Avan said.Ethan just stood there, dumbfounded, as he blinked at him. After a few seconds, he shook his head and asked, "Why does he want to see me?""I don't know. The old man barely explains himself and treats me like his errand boy." Avan said, scratching his head. "All I know is that he wants me to pick you up and take you to see him."Then his eyes traveled past Ethan, and he gave a faint smile, making Ethan turn to look back, his gaze resting on Nina."Hey," She said softly, stopping beside Ethan as she hugged her arm and returned a smile at him, and Avan nodded at her."So I take it that the General wants to see me now," Ethan said."That'
As the Rider family sat around the dining table, it was silent as a graveyard while they ate their breakfast.Madam Rider kept eyeing her husband since his demeanor had been off lately, but he remained steadfast in his silence and refused to make eye contact with anyone besides his food. Suddenly, the silence was broken when Bobby walked in, and Madam Rider scowled at the sight of him because he brought back memories of Ethan."Why are you ruining our appetite with your face? Get out now!" She lashed out, glaring at him.Bobby's gaze dropped to the floor, and he announced, "Ethan is here, Sir, and he's asking to speak with you."Immediately, Madam Rider stood to her feet, but Mr. Rider suddenly commanded, "Sit down."His demands embarrassed her, and she huffed but did so anyway.Looking at Bobby, who dared not to lift his head, Mr. Rider ordered, "Let him in.""Father!""Honey!""Dad!"Both Madam Rider, Savannah, and Tyler shouted in rage, glaring at Mr. Rider as he stared impassiv
When her doorbell rang, Ms Coral dried her wet hand on her apron and then headed out of the kitchen. When she got to the door, she asked, "Who is it?"No one answered, and she sighed, opening the door, and then a look of shock crossed her face before a big grin overtook her features."Ethan! Son!" Ms. Coral cried, throwing herself at him in a hug which he returned with enthusiasm, holding onto her tightly. "My son.""Mom," Ethan said, pulling away from the hug, but keeping his arms locked around her shoulders as he gazed down at her. She gave him a beaming grin and stepped back, giving him a quick once over, and then she looked behind him, smiling faintly at Nina, saying, "Oh dear, Come here."A feeling of relief washed over Nina as she approached Ms. Coral, and she felt like melting right into Ms. Coral's embrace when the older woman hugged her in return, giving her another warm squeeze that Nina never wanted to end.Ms. Coral pulled away first, stroking Nina gently on the cheek, th
Two years Later... On the day of deployment Homecoming, the sun rose on the scene of soldiers getting ready to go home to their families, and the base was in an uproar. The chow hall was crowded with men and women chatting over the first meal of the day, and then it all went dead silent as the atmosphere changed, and everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway. "PSST," A soldier whispered to his friend. "It's Deathstroke and his guys... Why is he eating here again?" "I think he's humble." One of the squad members said with a smile on her face, and he rolled his eyes at her. "Close your mouth. You are drooling." "I ain't simping for him. Also, he is married. I just think it's admirable that even after ranking E-5 in just three years, he still sits and eats in the chow hall with his subordinate, although he's now a sergeant." Nodding in agreement with her, the other squad member forced his food down his throat and said, "The dude is a beast. Rumors have it he's mad and had not turne
The house that was once so quiet was now echoing with the sound of footsteps, and Ms. Coral couldn't help beaming at her son when he walked through the kitchen door."Good morning, Mom." Ethan greeted her."Morning, son." Ms. Coral said. "I should get started with breakfast now that you guys are awake.""Leave it. You don't have to stress yourself. Remember. You are sick.""B-ut.""We will grab something to eat on our way back." His words left no room for argument, so Ms. Coral sighed in defeat and nodded. "Have you seen Mr. Hester?" Ethan asked."He left for the store." Ms. Coral informed him. As he turned to leave the room, he said, "Thanks, Mom.""Are you guys going somewhere?""I need a new suit, so yeah. I will be out with Drak and Nina for a while."*******Within the two years, Mr. Hester had upgraded from the shop to the two stories store, dedicated to making fancy clothing, and he had acquired himself a lot of very elite clients over the years, and the store was busy as al
A couple of maids soon stopped in the hallway as Avan walked towards them, and they greeted in unison, “Good morning, sir Avan.”“Morning, ladies!” He said with a wink as he walked off, leaving them blushing at his backside. When he got into his kitchen, he was shocked at the sight of a lady in there, wearing his t-shirt, and. making scrambled eggs on his stove.“Am I still hallucinating from the hangover or what?” Avan thought, squeezing his eyelids as he watched her.When she turned to look at him, a flashback from last night's party hit his head like a ton of bricks – a million tiny little needles stabbing into his brain, all trying to make him remember her.“Morning sleepyhead,” She whispered as she took the frying pan down.Then she walked over to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him.“Hmmm, Good morning, gorgeous.” Avan hummed against her lips before pulling away.He had this weird look that made her slightly frown, and then she asked, “Are we still going?”“Hu
When Nina slapped Ethan's face, his eyes opened wide, and then he blinked back the sleep, feeling the weight of her hand on his face.Slowly, he lifted her hand off his nose and mouth and rested it on the bed, watching her as she slept peacefully.A smile crept slowly onto his lips, and he stared at her for a moment longer before turning away, and standing up from bed.Silently, he moved across the room, the morning chill making goosebumps rise on his skin. Shirtless, he glanced out of the window, the sight of the sun rising in the distance bringing a sense of calm and purpose. Then with a deep breath, he retrieved his phone and dialed Avan’s number."I need a favor," Ethan said the moment Avan picked up on the second ring.After yawning in his ear, Avan's voice, tinged with a hint of curiosity, responded on the other end, "It's pretty early for favors, brother. What do you need?"For a moment, Ethan hesitated considering his words carefully before he spoke. "I need someone to keep Do
The sleek black Uber came to a smooth stop, its engine purring softly as Drak gracefully emerged from the vehicle. Tracy, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, stood there, her expression a medley of disapproval and impatience. As her eyes fell upon Drak, stepping out with an air of confidence, her features contorted, forming a scowl that threatened to unleash her wrath upon him."You're early!" Tracy's voice rang out, laced with irritation, as she scrutinized him with disapproving eyes.Drak paused before her, his gaze locked with hers, unfazed by the displeasure radiating from her every pore. "You say that like it's a bad thing," he retorted.The muscles on Tracy's face clenched, preparing to release the storm of her fury upon him for his audacity. However, her eyes drifted to the bandage wrapped tightly around Drak's head, and a wave of unexpected anxiety washed over her. In that moment, she couldn't help but take a deep breath, her anger shortly diffused."The only job I could
Darting his eyes to the right, Ethan noticed three guys, coming towards them with menacing intentions etched on their faces. They moved with purpose, their strides purposeful and confident. With a quick flick of his gaze to the left, he saw another four dudes, equally as intimidating, closing in on them. The air grew thick with tension as their aggressive energy filled the bar, suffocating the peace that had previously lingered in the place.Turning away from the bartender, Ethan locked his gaze straight ahead, assessing the remaining six men, who were inching closer with every passing second. At that moment, Ethan's adrenaline surged through his veins, heightening his senses and sharpening his focus. His training had taught him to remain calm in the face of danger, to assess the situation, and to plan his next move. With a steely determination, he locked his gaze straight ahead, refusing to show any sign of fear or vulnerability.The remaining six men closed in, their footsteps ech
There was this hesitant look in Tracy's eyes as she gazed at Drak, his bloodstained face and hand, and the blood dripping from his hair. Her gaze shifted from his face to his shoulder and then settled on the bottle beside him. "You swear on your mother's life that if I get you this job, you wouldn't report this incident and pretend like I never knew you?" She asked, her eyes boring into his.Stunned for a second, Drak nodded, his heart racing with hope. "I swear," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.Tracy sighed, her eyes softening. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. But you better not mess this up, or I'll make sure you regret it.""I promise," Drak said.With a sigh, she reached into her bag. "Wait for my call tomorrow, and get yourself fixed before showing your face." She let out, and then took out her hand, tossing a few bucks on the floor. "Use that."Looking at the floor and the money scattered about, Drak's eyes darkened, but he didn't dare raise his head as he fought to c
Ethan's heart raced as he took one last glance at Nina. He knew he had to leave her out of all of these things because of her safety, but the thought of keeping things from her made his chest ache. With a heavy sigh, he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the empty hallway.Drak stood in front of him, his expression unreadable. They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders. Finally, Ethan broke the silence."What about London Hale?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Drak's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "Ah, yes, Hale. The last time we spoke, you needed a way into his facility, and information on the bone marrow he stole from you..."The name alone sent shivers down Ethan’s spine. The last time they crossed paths, he had barely escaped with his life.He then nodded, his mind racing with memories of the painful procedure he had endured at Hale's hands.Drak's eyes flickered with
The moment Mr. Rider walked into the dining room, it grew silent, no one daring to look up. He dragged out a chair and sat down heavily. His eyes immediately fell upon his Savannah, and she felt his gaze on her, but she didn't dare look up from the plate of food in front of her. "Savannah, I need all your car keys and your credit cards, and you should stay away from public eyes for the time being." Mr. Rider said with this unsettling calmness. Anger bubbled inside Savannah as she heard him address her like a child, and she tried not to lash out, saying, "Seriously! You are grounding me! Father, I am not a kid anymore. You can't-" "You live under my roof and earn from my money, you abide by the rules." Mr. Rider interrupted his voice hard. The rest of the family looked up at him, but before they could utter a word, he added, "If anyone thinks that I am being unfair, you can join her in her punishment." A pin drop could make a loud sound once those words left his lips, and for a
Holding her eyes captive in his calm gaze, Ethan watched her, his lips slightly twitching and yet no words leaving them, causing Madam Rider to command, “Answer me!” Not a spark of fear showed in Ethan's eyes, and Madam Rider knew he wasn't the same... he wasn't the boy who showed up at their mansion desperate for a job, the boy that trembled at the sound of her voice, that took the insults, the abuse, and he definitely wasn't just a bastard and a servant... Something had changed about his aura, how he carried himself, the confidence that he held in her presence, and the way he looked, and talked. How his eyes were clear and steady, his face expressionless, his tone indifferent. It was so unlike the Ethan she knew... "How?" Ethan finally said. "What?" Madam Rider replied. Lowering his eyelids slightly, he held his silence, causing a look of frustration to flicker in her eyes. "Explain to me how I could make all of this happen," Ethan said, an expression finally showing on his
10:00The party had grown even more lively, classical music still playing in the background, and everyone was enjoying themselves without a care in the world.There were so many familiar faces there that Ethan remembered from his and Nina’s wedding ceremony, and the way they were side-eyeing them now and whispering took him back to that day, and he clutched his fist tightly.10:10The ballroom suddenly grew this immediate tense energy as more guests started entering the hall one after the other, catching the attention of the others.It was a bunch of guys, young, and handsome, all walking into the room, and Nina stared after them, wondering who they were because she had been in the elite circle in the past, for a long while, and none of these faces, she could recognize.But her confusion soon faded when she stared up at Ethan, and saw the way he looked at these men with such a strange glint in his eyes.“Who are they?” Nina asked, not understanding why he was staring, but knowing that
As he stared at Ethan, Mr. Rider felt cornered, knowing that denying him would only lead to an explanation and more questions, and he didn't want to ruin the perfect image he had portrayed to the Hallow. He needed his reputation to stay faultless, and Ethan had the power to ruin so much. "Son, Nina, you guys are finally back. Two years have treated you two well, it seems." Mr. Rider said as he smiled weakly. "How about we catch up more tomorrow? As you can see, it's your sister's engagement ceremony, and tonight, it should be all about her and her fiance. Won't you agree?" It was clear what Mr. Rider was doing with his words, and Ethan could read the threat that lingered in his stares. "Of course, tonight is all about my beautiful sister. She is the true star of the show." Ethan answered, smiling at him as he saw the slight twitch in his eye. As the waiter was passing by him, he reached into the tray, grabbed a glass of champagne, and took a sip, ignoring the way Mr. Rider tried