— 80 —
Author: C. Sygil
last update2025-08-06 14:22:10

Maxwell's home gym occupied the entire lower level of the house, complete with high-grade equipment. North whistled with approval while looking around.

"Ironic, isn't it?All this expensive equipment, and you never bothered to learn how to actually defend yourself," Michael said, watching as they tied Maxwell to his own rowing machine using zip ties and climbing rope.

Maxwell struggled against the restraints, but North has rigged the rowing machine so that any movement created increasing tension on the cables attached to his arms and legs. The more he fought, the tighter they became.

"This is kidnapping. You can't just break into someone's house and tie them up," Maxwell said, his voice shaking with a mixture of fear and outrage.

"Funny," Michael replied as he settled into a chair that North had positioned directly in front of the rowing machine. "That's exactly what I was thinking when you grabbed Alexis off the street."

"That's different. That was business," Maxwell said.

"Business?
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  • — 83 —

    The glass doors of Sullivan Solutions Tech gleamed in the morning sun as Michael reviewed security footage from the previous night on his tablet. Alexis sat across from him at the conference table, her red hair catching the light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was explaining something about the new clients when the receptionist's voice crackled through the intercom: "Mr. Sullivan, you have visitors. It's Phillip Medici and his...lawyer."Michael felt his jaw tighten. Then he said, "Send them to Conference Room B. And ask Marcus and Tony to join us there."Alexis raised an eyebrow and said, "This should be interesting."Michael straightened his suit jacket, another gift from Alexis that cost more than most people's monthly rent. The expensive fabric felt like armor as he walked down the hallway, his confidence growing with each step. Marcus Thompson and Tony Rivera fell into step behind him, their presence subtle but unmistakable. Both men wore perfectly fitted bus

  • — 82 —

    The Sullivan Solutions office was brimming with energy as Michael adjusted his tie for the third time. The company's first major public presentation was about to begin, and folding chairs were arranged in neat rows facing a small stage with a projector screen, while a catering table offered coffee and pastries that Alexis had insisted were absolutely important for making the "right impression.""Stop fidgeting," Lizzy whispered, smoothing a wrinkle from her navy blue dress."I'm not fidgeting," Michael muttered, then immediately adjusted his tie again."You're totally fidgeting. Relax, darling. You know this material better than anyone," Alexis appeared beside them, looking effortlessly elegant in a turquoise suit and black stilettos. "It's not the presentation I'm worried about. It's everything else," Michael nodded toward the entrance where three well-dressed men from North's crew stood casually by the door, looking like professional security rather than reformed criminals. The pr

  • — 81 —

    Michael sat in the corner booth of a quiet Italian restaurant three blocks from Sullivan Solutions' new office. He'd chosen this spot specifically because it had multiple exits and a clear view of the street. These days, he never ate anywhere without checking the exits first. Brother North's training had drilled that into him.The waitress refilled his coffee for the third time, shooting him concerned looks. He'd been nursing the same sandwich for forty minutes, checking his phone every few seconds. The text had been simple: "Meet me at Romano's. I have information about your android. Come alone. - D.R."Diego Reyes. The name made Michael's jaw clench. Wagner's man who'd helped with Ava's upgrade, who'd watched silently as Wagner activated that Phoenix protocol, who'd stood by while Michael lost the only... the only friend he'd ever had who truly understood him.The bell above the restaurant door chimed. Michael looked up to see Diego enter. His eyes scanned the room with before spott

  • — 80 —

    Maxwell's home gym occupied the entire lower level of the house, complete with high-grade equipment. North whistled with approval while looking around."Ironic, isn't it?All this expensive equipment, and you never bothered to learn how to actually defend yourself," Michael said, watching as they tied Maxwell to his own rowing machine using zip ties and climbing rope. Maxwell struggled against the restraints, but North has rigged the rowing machine so that any movement created increasing tension on the cables attached to his arms and legs. The more he fought, the tighter they became."This is kidnapping. You can't just break into someone's house and tie them up," Maxwell said, his voice shaking with a mixture of fear and outrage."Funny," Michael replied as he settled into a chair that North had positioned directly in front of the rowing machine. "That's exactly what I was thinking when you grabbed Alexis off the street.""That's different. That was business," Maxwell said."Business?

  • — 79 —

    The van was parked deep in the woods, tucked behind some overgrown trees that kept it out of sight from Maxwell's fancy estate. Michael tugged at the bulletproof vest North insisted he wear. It felt stiff and clunky over his button-down shirt. A pair of borrowed night-vision goggles rested crooked on his head, making him feel like he was in a video game."All teams check in," North's voice crackled through the radio headset."Salvatore's boys are posted out front," someone replied."We're creeping around back now," came another voice, one of North’s crew, moving through the woods."Backup team is ready to rumble," Esteban's hechman reported from somewhere in the darkness.Michael adjusted his earpiece and tried to calm his racing heart. Through the van's tinted windows, he could see nothing but black forest, but he knew that right now, armed men were moving through those trees quietly."Remember," North's voice came through clearly, "we just knock out the guards first. Nobody gets hur

  • — 78 —

    The warehouse felt different with all the players assembled. What had started as North's informal headquarters now looked like something out of a military thriller. Maps covered every available surface, laptops displayed building schematics and satellite imagery, and enough communication equipment to run a small army was scattered across makeshift tables. Michael sat at the center of it all, watching as Brother North and Salvatore Russo coordinated with their respective organizations. It was like watching two different species of predator work together toward a common goal. "Esteban, you there?" North called toward one of the laptops, where a secure video connection showed a scarred man in his fifties sitting in what looked like a fortified compound. "I'm here, hermano," Esteban Martinez replied in accented English. "Heard you got problems with some rich boy." "Not problems," Salvatore corrected smoothly. "Opportunities. Michael's brother decided to escalate things. We're going

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