The Almighty God of Law

Stay dead

The car glided through the city streets. Ezekiel sat in the back. His eyes were fixed on the passing lights. Leo's words echoed in his mind.

"You should go back to law school."

If only Leo knew. If only anyone knew.

The car pulled up to a building. Tall. Glass. Modern. Ezekiel stepped out. The driver nodded. Ezekiel walked inside.

The lobby was marble. Gold accents. A concierge in a tailored suit smiled.

"Good evening, Mr. Lawson."

Ezekiel nodded. He walked to the elevator. Private. Key card access. He pressed the button for the top floor.

The elevator rose. Fast. Smooth. The doors opened onto a penthouse. Spacious. Minimalist. Floor-to-ceiling windows. The city sprawled below like a carpet of lights.

Bryan was waiting. He stood by the window. A tablet in his hand. His face was serious.

"Welcome home."

Ezekiel walked in. He didn't look around. He already knew the place. Bryan had sent him photos. Videos. Everything had been arranged.

"Anything new?" Ezekiel asked.

Bryan nodded. He tapped the tablet.

"I've compiled everything. Grace. Eden. Her family. The company. The prison records. The lawyer who set you up. The judge who signed off. Everyone involved."

Ezekiel walked to the window. His reflection stared back at him. Hollow cheeks. Dark eyes. A ghost of who he used to be.

"Tell me."

Bryan cleared his throat.

"Grace and Eden married six months after you went to prison. The wedding was small. Private. Her family attended. His family attended. Luke was the ring bearer."

Ezekiel's jaw tightened.

"Luke. He's nine now. Grace said he's Eden's son. Is that true?"

Bryan paused. He scrolled through the tablet.

"I couldn't find any record of a pregnancy before you went in. No hospital visits. No prenatal care. No birth certificate under your name. It's possible Luke was born before you met Grace. Or..."

"Or what?"

"Or he was adopted. There's no record of Grace giving birth to any child. Ever. Not before you. Not after."

Ezekiel turned from the window. His face was unreadable.

"So Luke could be anyone's child. Or no one's."

Bryan nodded.

"Eden Palmer had a girlfriend before Grace. Her name is Vanessa. She disappeared around the time Luke was born. No records. No traces. It's possible she gave birth and Grace took the child."

Ezekiel's hands clenched. His knuckles turned white.

"Grace lied about everything. The marriage. The son. The lawyer. The accident."

"Yes."

Ezekiel walked to the sofa. He sat down. His body was tired. His mind was racing.

"Her father's company. What's the status?"

Bryan sat across from him. He pulled up a file.

"Palmer Industries is thriving. Your father-in-law, Richard Williams, is still the CEO. Eden is the CFO. Grace is a board member. They've expanded. Made deals. Lots of money."

"They got rich while I rotted in prison."

"Very rich."

Ezekiel leaned back. His eyes stared at the ceiling.

"I was a fool. I gave up everything for her. My career. My legacy. My parents. I abandoned Phil. I abandoned Leo. I abandoned myself."

Bryan stayed silent. He knew Ezekiel needed to speak.

Ezekiel continued.

"I was the God of Law. I had power. Influence. Respect. I could have taken on any case. Any enemy. Any challenge. But I threw it all away because I thought I was in love."

He laughed. Bitter. Hollow.

"Love. What a joke."

Bryan leaned forward.

"You can get it all back. Everything they took. The power. The influence. The respect. We can rebuild."

Ezekiel looked at him. His eyes were cold.

"I don't want to rebuild. I want to destroy."

Bryan blinked.

"What?"

Ezekiel stood up. He walked back to the window. The city lights blinked below him. So many people. So many lives. So many secrets.

"Grace thought she could use me. Eden thought he could steal my life. Her family thought they could throw me away like garbage. They all thought I was nothing."

He turned. His face was hard. His voice was ice.

"They don't know who they're dealing with. They don't know what I'm capable of. They think I'm a broken man. A loser. A has-been."

He walked toward Bryan. Each step deliberate. Controlled.

"I'm going to take everything from them. The company. The money. The status. The respect. I'm going to expose every lie. Every secret. Every betrayal. And when I'm done, they'll have nothing."

Bryan stared at him. His eyes were wide.

"That's... that's a lot of work."

Ezekiel smiled. It was cold.

"I have time. I have patience. And now I have you."

Bryan nodded slowly.

"What's the first move?"

Ezekiel walked to the table. He picked up a folder. Inside was a photograph. A man. Mid-fifties. Expensive suit. Smug smile.

"Richard Williams. My father-in-law. The man who orchestrated everything. He replaced my name on the marriage certificate. He paid off the lawyer. He made sure I stayed inside."

Ezekiel tossed the folder back on the table.

"I want to know everything about him. His business deals. His secrets. His weaknesses. Every skeleton in his closet."

Bryan nodded. He made a note.

"Give me a week."

Ezekiel walked toward the bedroom. He stopped at the door. He turned back.

"And Bryan. Don't tell anyone I'm back. Not yet. The God of Law needs to stay dead for now."

"Why?"

Ezekiel smiled. A dangerous smile.

"Because dead men can't be traced. And I plan to move in the shadows."

Bryan watched him go. The door closed.

He looked at the tablet. At the names. The files. The evidence. The betrayal.

The God of Law was back. But no one knew it yet.

And when they found out, it would be too late.