TWO DAYS LATER,CENTRAL CITY. Zacks eyes darted around like he was trying to memorize every inch of the place. "This is your place?" Zack asked, almost as if he didn't believe it. Maximus shrugged his shoulders slightly, "yep..." Zack turned in a slow circle, taking in everything— the massive estate, the pristine landscaping, every single thing... "Bro, I knew you were doing well, but this?" He let out a low whistle. "This is next level" "Why didn't you invite me since?" Maximus smirked, "Never came up..." Zack shook his head, still looking around in awe. "I was gonna ask after we bought Obsidian, but you've been away for three days! You live in a gaddam palace, Maximus".Maximus shrugged again, "it's just a house..." Zack groaned and clenched his jaw. "I swear, you are the worst kind of rich person..." Maximus chuckled. "Come on. We need to check on the resort site today, see if the order of building materials I paid for has come in." Zack let out a breath, rubbing the bac

The heavy bass of the music pulsed through the club as Dressa stepped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. She was used to places like this. Dimly lit, filled with people who thought they were important, all trying to prove something. She had no patience for that. With a breath of confidence, she strode through the mass of bodies, effortlessly maneuvering past drunken dancers and groups of men who looked at her a little too long. She wasn't here to party. Dressed in a fitted black leather jacket, cropped just above her waist, Dressa exuded an effortless cool. Underneath, a deep red top clung to her form, complimenting her toned physique. Paired with high waisted jeans that hugged her hips and sleek black boots that clicked against the floor, she looked every bit the runner she was— untouchable, fearless and always ready to take to the tracks. As she walked by, a couple heads turned. Some recognized her, murmuring her name, but she abruptly ignored them. She wasn't here for

The night air buzzed with the low hum of chatter, the scent of popcorn danced in the air around the race track. The race was set along a long, winding stretch that ran from the start of the track and around the center field of the stadium. It wasn't a simple drag race. This track had obstacle courses and hurdles to pass through in other to advance and get to the finish line. It wasn't just about speed, it was about precision, endurance and intelligence. The first half was a long straight path, giving the runners a chance to push their bodies to their speed limits, gaining the upper hand. But then came the obstacle courses, sharp curves, retrieval of flags, wooden hurdles to jump, racks to climb and slippery surfaces. The last stretch was was deceptive, appearing smooth at first, but hiding small inclines and dips that could throw off an unprepared runner. At the very end, just before the finish line, the track split into two choices — one slightly shorter but riddled with bumps

The living room was awfully quiet, except fot the occasional rustling of pages and the distant hum of the refrigerator.The house, once filled with warmth and laughter, was an empty shell of its past. The lights were dim, and the air was heavy with an unspoken sorrow that had settled in over the past month.Maximus’s mother, Rosetta, sat by the small table near the window, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of a ceramic cup.She was a beautiful woman, though the years had started to show in the fine lines around her dee set eyes.The light from the television flickered across her face, but she wasn’t watching it, her gaze was fixed on the window as she was emersly lost in thought.It had been a long time since she had last seen her son, way too long that she couldn’t possibly know what he looked like or the type of man he had become.On the large couch in the center of the living room, maximus’s father, Jamal, lay with a book drooped over his face.He had fallen asleep that way, his

Maximus turned and walked past her, leaving her there in the hallway.Making his way back to the living room, where his parents were waiting.His mother sat on the couch, hands clasped together on her lap, her fingers twisting nervously.His father sat in his usual chair, the same book from earlier that night now resting on the table beside him.Neither of them said a word as Maximus entered, but the tension in the air was undeniable.Maximus exhaled through his nose and crossed his arms. “Alright,” he said with a steady voice. “Lets talk.”His mother looked up at him, her eyes peering deep into his face. “Max…” she started, not hesitated.She had been trying her best all night, mindful of the words that escaped her lips, afraid of saying the wrong thing.His father on the other hand was less mindful, “You actually came back.” Maximus met his gaze, unflinching. “Yeah,”Then a stretch of silence bath the room like a water fall.“We weren't sure if you'd ever return Maximus,” his fathe