Nicholas ran his calloused fingers through his sweat-dampened hair as he stepped into the vast, echoing expanse of the gym. The familiar scent of rubber and polished wood filled his nostrils, sparking a sense of nostalgia. It had been far too long since he'd last set foot in this sanctuary of physical discipline. He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the array of gleaming exercise equipment - the heavy punching bags, the sleek treadmills, the gleaming metal racks of free weights. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This was where he came to clear his mind, to channel his energy into something constructive. "It's been a while! I can feel my real self coming back." Niçholas muttered to himself, smiling broadly. Shrugging out of his crisp button-down shirt, Nicholas padded across the polished hardwood floor, the soft soles of his black boxers whispering against the surface. The cool air caressed his bare torso, raising goosebumps on his sun-kissed skin. He flexe

Gnits and Mr. Philips exchanged confused glances as they stood in front of Nicholas, who simply sank into the sofa, his demeanor composed and unwavering. The tension in the air was palpable, the two men uncertain of what to make of their employer's sudden decisiveness. Nicholas wasn't always like this. Gnits cleared his throat, his brow furrowing as he steeled himself to broach the subject. He did not know where to start from, he didn't want to sound rude. He cleared his throats again and began. "Quick question, why would you replace me with Michos in the first place? He doesn't even know how this organization works and boom, you made him the lord!" His voice held a hint of desperation, the weight of his years of loyal service evident in his plea. He just didnt want to go. Nicholas shrugged, his gaze steady and unperturbed. "You are right, he is new to this orgqanization and that is why I will groom Michos to be able to perform all the duties. He has the potential, and I believ

"What are we going to do now?" Nicholas asked, his voice laced with uncertainty. Michos gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he stared intently into the rearview mirror. The pursuit was intensifying, and he needed to act fast. This RMI had a huge plan and they would not relent. Especially, not after they were seriously dealt with by the Loughty's. It was like a big embarrassment for them and if any of their associates find out that all of these happened.. It would be a huge disaster for all of them. Glancing over at Nicholas, who sat composed and serious beside him, Michos spoke up. "I don't know what they are doing anymore. The RMI cars have stopped as well, we pulled over and they pulled over too. I think they're expecting us to keep moving so they can continue tracking us." Nicholas furrowed his brow, his lips pressed into a thin line as he processed the gravity of the situation. "Then we have to find a way to lose them. We can't l

Raylan stood frozen, his heart pounding furiously in his chest as his gaze darted back and forth between the two men before him. Nicholas held a gun firmly in his hand, while Michos - the one Raylan had trusted implicitly - stood there with a self-satisfied smile on his face. A heavy silence blanketed the cramped cottage, the only sound the faint tick of an old clock on the mantel. Raylan's mind raced, desperately searching for a way out, but with Nicholas blocking the doorway, any chance of escape seemed futile. Tears began to well in Raylan's eyes as the overwhelming realization of his predicament sank in."Michos," Raylan's voice wavered, "you... you set me up. I trusted you, and this is what you do?"Michos stepped forward, wiping the blood from a cut on his cheek. "Raylan, you should have been dead a long time ago. I'm the one who has been protecting you all this time."Raylan's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Protecting me?" "When you failed your first tas

The car's tires crunched against the gravel as Michos pressed firmly on the brake, bringing the vehicle to a gradual halt. Raylan's heart pounded in his chest as he leaned forward, peering intently through the windshield towards the towering structure in the distance. "Michos, you should stop the car already, you should move any further," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're almost at Creole, and I can't risk the guards hearing us approach." Michos twisted in his seat, his brow furrowed with concern. "Why, Raylan? What's the problem? You can see there is no building around us," he asked, his gaze shifting anxiously between the road ahead and Raylan's anxious expression. Raylan took a steadying breath. "Yeah, there is no building around and that is just for deceit. If the guards catch wind of our arrival, it could jeopardize everything," he explained. "We need to be as stealthy as possible." "Yeah, I think Raylan is right. We shouldn't alert them,