“Sir, look ahead. There’s a massive group of reporters blocking the gates to the mansion. Should I take a side turn?”The driver spoke with a composed voice, watching Nelson through the rearview mirror. John turned to look at Nelson, sensing the fear—or perhaps the crushing uncertainty—etched into his features.“Nelson, we can't keep running from these guys,” John said softly. “We have to face them eventually. They only want answers to a few questions, even if those questions are really hurt.”Nelson’s eyes remained locked on the crowd ahead. “Keep driving. Do not stop.”As the car pulled closer, the reporters crowded, covering the vehicle from every angle and blocking out the evening sunlight. The interior of the car turned dark instantly. Their muffled voices drifted through the glass, sounding like they were trying to break into his very soul.“Sir! What do you have to say about the goods you hid?”Nelson’s eyebrows shot up. Those words hit him with the force of a physical punch. A

Nelson sat in the interrogation room, the air thick and stifling. His mind raced, replaying the seconds of his downfall. Above him, a flickering fluorescent light hummed, burning into his skin like a silent judge. Each passing second sharpened the ache in his head; his vision blurred bit by bit under the harsh glare.A dark figure standing behind the light finally spoke. His voice was as hard as stone. He stepped toward the table and dropped a file wrapped in brown paper. The thud echoed through the empty room, cranking the tension in Nelson’s chest another notch.The figure slowly dragged a chair across the floor. The screech of metal on concrete was enough to shatter a his psyche.“Well, well. If it isn't the great Nelson Reeds,” the man mocked. “The man who thought he owned the city, now sitting in my cage.” He laughed, the sound cold and rasp. He slid the file toward Nelson. “Karlus was right,” the detective sneered. “You thought you were too big to fail. You thought the ‘Reeds’ n

The sound of iron filled the gym, mixing with the smooth, cool jazz playing over the speakers.Nelson gripped the bar, the metal cold and biting against his palms. The weight he was carrying felt as heavy as the tension sitting in his heart. Every lift became more difficult, his muscles screaming under the pressure as he pushed for one more rep. This time, his arms failed him. He dropped the weights to the floor, the heavy thud echoing loudly through the nearly empty room.A lady dressed in white athletic gear walked toward him quickly, her footsteps light on the rubber mats.“Are you okay, sir?” she asked, her voice soft but clear.Nelson raised his head, wiping sweat from his brow. He looked at the woman in front of him; she was striking, with a confident posture and an athletic build that showed she spent as much time here as he did.He was quiet for a few seconds, trying to catch his breath before he finally found his words. “Yeah... I’m fine. Just felt a little strain. I had to

Nelson stepped inside slowly.The room swallowed him the moment he crossed the threshold the kind of thick, undisturbed silence that only comes from a place that hasn’t seen a living person in years. The air was heavy with dust and something older than dust. Something that felt almost sacred. He moved carefully, eyes adjusting to the dim light, taking in everything and nothing at the same time shelves lined with old books, boxes stacked against the wall, furniture draped in white sheets that had long since turned grey.Then his foot caught something on the floor.A small sound broke the silence.Nelson froze.He looked down slowly at a doll. It was Small, worn at the edges; one button eye slightly loose. He stared at it for a long second before bending down and picking it up.The moment his fingers wrapped around it, something hit him square in the chest.He knew this doll.His mind went back fast and without warning like a door swinging open on its own. He was six years old again.

Emily sat in the dark. The only light in the room was coming from her phone screen, throwing a pale glow across her face. She hadn’t moved in a while. Nelson pushed the door open slowly, trying not to make noise. He stopped when he saw her sitting up on the bed, still awake. “You’re still up.” His voice was low. Emily looked at him. She took a breath before she spoke. “Nelson I’m sorry about earlier. I was being overprotective and it was foolish of me to think that way.” Nelson walked to the bed slowly, a light smile on his face. “I know you care. But we have to be smart about how our enemies operate. They look for ways to get between us and that’s exactly what almost happened tonight.” Emily tightened the bedsheet between her fingers. “So do you forgive me?” Nelson smiled properly this time, wide enough for her to see it clearly. That look in Emily’s eyes the one he could never stay upset at settled something in him. “I already forgave you the moment I walked out of the