"Sometimes, the bloodline feels like a burden."

*************

Max's POV

I placed the carton bag in my hand over the counter and leaned forward, my eyes going to Valerie on the other side of the coffee shop, signaling her to come closer. She reluctantly made her way to my side, standing across the counter from me, and her exaggerated sigh spoke volumes of her annoyance with my presence.

"What do you want?" she asked, her hostility palpable. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at her attitude. Had she forgotten that she slept in my bed last night?

"Hello to you too," I retorted. Another sigh escaped her lips, making it clear that she was in no mood for pleasantries, "Max, we're so busy today, as you can see. I don't have much time," she added, a hint of frustration and tiredness in her voice.

My eyes flickered around the coffee shop, and true to her words, the place was bustling with an influx of customers, a total opposite to last week's incline when a new Starbucks shop opened on campus. Despite the chaos, a smile lifted my lips and I couldn't help but comment, "Well, someone probably complained about Starbucks' employees not following proper hygiene practices when handling food and drinks, and well-" I added with a shrug, "Looks like people found their way back to here instead."

Her eyes narrowed at me suspiciously, "What the hell did you do?"

I feigned innocence, placing a hand over my chest as if shocked by her accusation, "Me?" I replied, "Nothing, I did absolutely nothing."

She didn't buy my act, but wisely decided not to question me further, "Anyways," I said, smoothly changing the subject, "I won't be able to join our tutoring session today, is that okay?"

I couldn't help but notice a fleeting hint of disappointment that flashed in her eyes. It was there for only a second, but I caught it, and I desperately wanted to believe it was because she'd miss having me around, and not just because she was concerned about her studies.

Valerie's expression softened, and she nodded, trying to hide the drop in her mood, "Sure, yeah, it's okay," She replied, putting on a nonchalant facade and pretending to wipe the counter so she wouldn't have to look me in the eyes as she added, "I am always taking your free time, anyway, we can reschedule for when you are available, it's no problem."

"It's just my...uh cousin is here, you saw him," I said and she lifted her eyes up to me, nodding her head in realization, "I just need to talk with him about a thing or two," I added. I was planning to contact him since we got back from Italy but always found excuses not to and since he is here now, the opportunity presented itself and we needed to talk, especially after how things unwrapped the last time we were in the same place.

Valerie nodded her head, a tiny smile lifting her lips, "You don't have to explain it to me," She said softly and I knew that she understood who Nathan was to me by now, "He is your uncle's son, right? That uncle?" She phrased the question in a way that steered from using the father word and for that I was grateful.

I nodded my head and she knew it was better to drop it there. She reached forward across the counter, her hand gently resting on top of mine, "When you're done and all, you can just call me...you know, if you want to," She said, offering me a shoulder to lean into. I hoped it was because she genuinely cared and not because she felt like she owed me after I had stood by her side yesterday.

I nodded my head, my tone turning playful, "Of course, I will, how else do you expect me to sleep now without hearing your voice first," I winked, "I got used to it after you spent two nights in my bed."

That was enough to have her glare and retreat her hand away, "If you call, I am not answering, I changed my mind," She grumbled and I couldn't be happier with her cute annoyed little self.

My gaze flickered to the carton bag and I pushed it forward toward her, "This is for you to eat," I said, knowing very well she hadn't eaten anything since we had breakfast this morning and by the looks of it, she won't have enough time to pick up anything to eat not till after her shift ends.

Her eyebrows pulled closer at my words, a bit taken aback by my gesture; as if I had offered her diamonds and not just a bowl of rice and chicken, "Uh, thanks," She said softly, seeming a bit unsure of how to react. Her eyes darted to the contents inside the bag, and lines etched her forehead as she picked up the single rose resting on the top of the bowl.

"Oh yeah, I picked this one on the way, it reminded me of you," I said with a smile, addressing the distinctive color of the flower, one that ranged between red and orange, unique just like her.

She held the rose in one hand, running one finger over the petals before her eyes flickered to me, the sweet look in her pretty eyes ranging between awe and confusion, "You got me a flower?"

I shrugged and scratched the back of my neck, "Anyway, uh, eat your food before it gets cold," I said, changing the subject and taking a step backward, "Also, uhm, we can make a double session tomorrow...you know," I cleared my throat, "To...compensate for today," I said, unable to form coherent sentences for some reason.

Valerie nodded her head in return, the tender smile still on her lips and I gave her one last nod before I turned around and headed outside the shop, more like ran away as I felt something so weird climb at my insides; a very hot feeling inflamed the skin of my neck and face.

I rushed a hand over my face, trying to shake myself back in. Am I freaking...blushing? What the actual hell?

I need to get laid soon. This...this is not healthy at all.

I paused to a stop when I reached Nathan, who was waiting for me outside by the shop's entrance, "Sorry for that," I mumbled, addressing the fact that I made him wait, "Just had to give Valerie something," I added, trying to recover from whatever the hell came over me.

He shrugged it off with a small smile, "No problem," He answered.

We set off after, with me leading the way. My steps led us toward the parking lot and when Nathan noticed that, he gave me a puzzled look, probably wondering why we weren't sticking around on campus, "There is a really nice place near here," I explained, my gaze flickering to the sun as it began its descent; the timing was perfect for a visit, "We can hang out there," I suggested, needing a serene place away from people to sit and talk in peace.

Nathan nodded his head, seeming a bit unsure and his eyes drifted to his watch, subtly checking the time. It was plausible that he didn't fully trust me, not that he thought I would hurt him or anything. I understood his hesitation thought. Truth is, he doesn't really know me; I didn't give him the chance to know me anyway.

I am just hoping to change that today.

We had started off on the wrong foot and I wanted to fix that. He is just a kid, and I feel that I had flipped his life upside down just like my life got turned off track since that unfortunate day.

We tossed our bags into the backseat before we got in and I steered the car forward. Though the ride was brief, a hint of tension lingered still, prompting me to initiate a conversation, "Ever heard of Mulholland Scenic Overlook?" I asked and he shook his head, "It's usually a calm and not crowded area," I explained as we drew nearer to our destination, "If you ever find yourself considering this college, it's a nice spot to unwind, keep it in mind," I added.

He nodded, his gaze wandering as he absorbed the surroundings.

A few minutes later, I parked the car nearby and picked up two bottles of Beck's Blue from the backseat before we both stepped out onto the solid ground. The air was crisper here as we headed forward and I gestured toward the overlook, showing him the expanse of the cityscape sprawling beneath us.

I guided Nathan to a secluded bench nestled amidst the tranquility of the site. We sat down and his eyes scanned the panorama before him, the skepticism of earlier slowly got replaced by a sense of calmness as he sunk into the wonder of our surroundings.

I placed the bottles on the edge of the bench and applied pressure, causing the cap to crack open. I handed him one and he accepted it with a low thank you. He held it up with one hand, his eyes reading the label and a small smile lifted his lips, "Non-alcoholic beer."

I nodded my head and took my first sip, "Exactly, you're young still," I explained my choice of beverage ever so seriously and his smile was amused as he took his first sip.

The tension from earlier seemed to slowly melt away and I backed into my seat, "So, did you figure out which major you're going to pick?" I asked, my gaze flickering to him beside me. He lowered the bottle down, his eyes still assessing the landscapes as he shook his head, "Not exactly," He turned his head to me, the lost look in his eyes somehow reminded me of my current self, "Haven't made a decision yet."

"Was it easy for you to pick your major?" He asked, a bit curious and I nodded.

"A bit of a cliché answer but yeah," I shrugged, "I knew I wanted to be a surgeon since I was a kid."

Confused lines etched his forehead, trying to figure out how it could be so easy for me and not that simple for him, "Still, take your time, and don't stress yourself over it," I advised, "You will figure it out eventually and don't worry about making the wrong choice," I added, "Even if the path still seems kind of unclear now, trust in the journey and believe me, you will find your way in the end."

He gave me a small nod, absorbing each of my words before his gaze flickered away and down to his lap, his fingers anxiously picking on the bottle's label and I couldn't stop my gaze from flickering all over his features, assessing them and searching for something...

I observed him keenly from his side profile. My hair, a light shade akin to my mother's, contrasted with his slightly darker locks, reminiscent of his...father's. Yet, it was his eyes that held me captivated the most. A vivid blue, light as the cloudless sky and mirroring his own mother's in every way possible. They exuded a profound purity, a stark contrast to the turmoil and chaos swirling within my very own green ones. Despite his youthful face, I couldn't help but notice the subtle signs of maturity etching over his features with every passing day.

My scrutiny paused, a quest to find something similar left unfulfilled. I sought to discover a shared feature, a single thread that could bind us in a way but I found none. We were just too different, in every way possible. Not going to lie, it left me relieved, content with the fact that the echoes of our shared bloodline hid somewhere deep and invisible to the eyes.

The negative energy vibrating off him pushed me to speak out, "How are you doing?" I asked, breaking the calm silence, "Considering all that had happened," I added, making my question more specific.

My words grabbed his gaze and attention back to me, "Better," He answered with a light shrug, "My wound is healing and-"

"I didn't mean physically," I interrupted.

"Oh," He said, his lips twitching slightly, "You mean...that."

I nodded, "Yeah, that."

The muscles of his jaw worked and he looked back at the scene sprawled across from us. The city's twinkling lights below painted a mesmerizing canvas, an urban symphony harmonizing with the whispers of the breeze, but all of that wasn't enough to calm down our distressed nerves.

Nathan's fingers were still fidgeting with the bottle's label, ripping the thin paper off the glass. His foot resumed its nervous tapping over the ground as the redness crept up and coated the skin of his neck. Words and thoughts he kept locked inside climbed and scratched over his inner walls, shifting his expression and altering his body language.

He looked angry, but also sad, like he wanted to scream but also wanted to cry...

I rested my drink aside and brought my hand forward to his shoulder, urging him to face me and when he did, he immediately spoke, clearing his throat and trying to shake himself out of it, "Sorry, I just...Uh, I try not to think about it," He mumbled, excusing the sudden shift in his mood.

"I know, which is exactly why I wanted to talk to you," I clarified, applying a gentle squeeze over his shoulder, "Keeping it all locked up inside, well, it has a way of creeping up on you at the wrong time," I said, "Believe me, I'd know."

"So, you can talk to me about it, if you want to, of course," I added as I retreated my hand back, making sure he'd talk only if he felt comfortable to, "I feel like it's a thing that we kind of...share in a way." Even though our situations and positions are different and a bit opposing, I still think it's still one and the same.

I had lost my belief in myself and he...well, he apparently had lost his belief in that one person closest to him. It's almost the same thing.

I could see his walls breaking down, willing to trust me and open up about what was troubling him. His head shook with a sense of helplessness, and his words spilled forth, heavy and painful, as if they had been held captive for too long, "I can't even look him in the eyes anymore," He mumbled over a hoarse whisper. His jaw tightened, "And I want to be angry, and I want to scream, and I want to fight, but I know I can't, at least not now," He shook his head, the heavy weight of the truth sinking his shoulders now, "Not when everything around us is still so messed up."

"So, I keep my mouth shut and carry on like nothing had happened but...but I don't understand it, and I don't want to understand it, I don't," He shook his head, "I don't want to accept that such a version of him existed, and I don't want to know, and-" He shook his head, his pain and frustration taking over his voice. Emotions gathered behind his eyes as they looked at me ever so brokenly, "He is...he is my father, Max," He said it in a way that was meant to explain everything, "He was always my hero, the one I believed in, the one I trusted and looked up to," He couldn't hold it in and those broken emotions spilled out, one or two trickled down his cheek, "And now, all of that is just gone and I don't know what to do."

His jaw clenched and he brought his hand to his eyes, now realizing how the emotions overwhelmed him and exposed his vulnerability, "God, I am sorry," He mumbled, apologizing for crying and  attempting to hide the tears. My chest tightened till I felt it crushing my lungs and blocking my airways. A torrent of pain flooded over me, making it hard to breathe as I watched him clearly suffering due to this.

I edged closer, my hand gently resting on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly as I drew him nearer. "Hey, it's okay," I whispered softly, my other hand finding its way to the back of his neck, gripping it tightly, "It's okay," I mumbled again. His forehead pressed into my shoulder, and he allowed himself to fall weak, to relinquish his strength, because he needed to or these feelings would've eaten him alive and consumed him whole.

He shouldn't have had to bear this burden. I should have kept my mouth shut. While the truth itself wasn't my fault, revealing it to him was. My dad's words echoed in my mind again — some truths are better left shrouded in darkness, unknown. He was right. I wished I didn't know all of this. I wished it had remained hidden, locked away forever from the both of us.

I slowly retreated back to look at him. Nathan brought his hand to his face, rubbing at his eyes and wiping underneath them before he allowed his gaze to meet mine, "Look, Nathan, I know it's gonna be so hard to accept this and to move on from it," I spoke, "But, as you said, he is your father, and he still is, he is still the same man you knew since you were born, and you need to believe in that man," It's true I hated his father with everything in me but this kid was innocent and he needed something to believe in and I needed to help him whichever way I can.

"Look, we don't know the past, we don't know what happened and maybe it's better if we never know," I added, explaining to him and he intently listened, needing someone to lead him toward the right path, "We don't how our parents got here, we didn't live their lives so we will never fully understand them and the actions they took, every single one of them," I said, my grip tightening over the side of his neck, "And we can not keep dwelling over that past."

"Deep down you know that he is not that man anymore, you've lived with him every day, you've seen him, you've learned from him, you know who your father really is, don't you," I couldn't believe the damn words leaving my mouth but if Nathan could believe them, then I don't care for the rest, "You should've seen him when you were hurt," I added, I am not going to question that man's love for his son, at least he got one thing right, "You are his whole world just like he used to be yours," I added.

He nodded his head in understatement, trying to think of ways he could make his peace with the past version of him, "Just focus on the present, Nathan, focus on what you've known all these years and on what you saw," I advised and he gave me another nod, hoping he'd be able to, "And if you want to be angry, then be angry, if you want to scream, then go ahead and do it, and if you want to hear the truth from him, then go and demand it but believe me, that's not going to help anyone, not you and not him."

His gaze dropped down and he nodded, "I know," He mumbled before his eyes met mine again, his head tilting to the side in worry, "But what about you?"

My eyebrows pulled together, "What about me?"

"Maybe with time, I will accept this truth and just move on," He explained, "But you, will you ever be able to do that?" He referred to how more connected to all of this I am.

I edged backward slightly and nodded my head, "I will, maybe not now, but with time, I know that I will," I answered with a small smile, "I just need time, don't worry about me."

Time is one wondrous thing, it reminds you that life is a continuous flow, and it encourages you to flow along with it, eventually finding solace and healing in the embrace of its constant motion. Time is what helped my dad forgive his brother. Time is what helped my mother become the strongest best version of herself. Time is what helped that man and gave him the opportunity to start a family of his own. Time is miraculous.

Nathan believed in my words and the corner of his lip lifted up just slightly, "Thank you," He said, "For listening," He added, "I really needed to let it out in a way."

I shook my head gently, reassuringly. "It's nothing," I said, "You have my number, anytime –and I mean it, anytime you want to talk about this or anything at all, just call me," I meant every word; the kid was growing on me in ways I both liked and didn't like, both surprising and endearing, "I know that we started off on the wrong foot before but I am hoping we can change that."

He nodded his head and then he smiled, a soft appreciative one. "You are so much like Uncle Alex," He commented, an observation, "He is pretty awesome and so are you."

His words, in a way, had a calming effect on my racing heart, allowing me to breathe more freely.

I gave him a proud look and winked, "Yeah, I get that a lot."

We spent the next hour catching up about each other's whereabouts, delving into details, bridging the gap, and gaining a deeper understanding of one another.

"It's getting late," Nathan checked his watch, "It's better if I get home, Dad has this habit of getting paranoid these days if I am late."

I nodded my head and got up to my feet, "Okay, come on, I will drop you off."

He looked slightly taken aback by my suggestion, "Oh no, there is no need," He said, "I will just call Dad to pick me up or just take a cab-"

I shook my head, "There is no need for all of that, come on, I will take you."

He hesitated still and I clarified, "It's okay, Nathan," I said, understanding his unwillingness to place me in an uncomfortable situation, "I am kind of used to his presence by now." Lies, I am still not, it still makes my skin crawl every time we are in the same place, but I am gonna have to learn to tolerate it one way or another.

My words served their purpose and Nathan finally accepted it and got into my car. I went inside as well and roared the engine to life. I asked him for the address and typed it into the car's navigation system before I steered us toward the main road. Right then, Valeries's name flashed into the car's mini screen and the sound of the phone ringing echoed inside the car.

I pressed the answer button and spoke first, "Hey gingy, be aware, you are on speaker so don't start dirty talking about what you are going to do to me tonight," I said and Nathan beside me chuckled lowly in amusement.

While Valerie, totally not amused sighed frustratingly, "Max!" She hissed, realizing that we had an audience.

"Yes babe," I answered and her groan reflected that she was already regretting calling me.

"I was going to thank you for the food but now I changed my mind," She said with an unfazed tone.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," I answered and she decided to ignore my nicknames for the time being.

"Anyway, I also wanted you to know that I solved all of last chapter's questions by myself and they all turned out to be correct," She added, proudly and I smiled, happy that she was happy, "Yeah, all thanks to your awesome tutor of course."

"Yeah, of course, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I am smart and a hard worker," She added ever so sarcastically.

"Yes, of course it doesn't," I went on with her joke.

She sighed, "Okay whatever, I am hanging up now," She said, "Bye," She grumbled before the line went dead, not giving me the chance to bid my goodbyes. No manners on this girl or whatsoever.

Curious, Nathan couldn't help but ask, "Is Valerie your girlfriend?"

I nodded my head as I faced him, "Yes, but she just doesn't know it yet."

He smiled, amused and I asked back, "What about you?" I said, "You've got someone?"

He shrugged, "There was this girl, we used to hang out before, you know, before all of this happened," He explained, "I haven't seen her since, but yeah, I think there was something there."

I nodded, "Cool, if you need help, I am all ready, as you can clearly see, I am a total expert at the whole relationship thing," I added sarcastically and he smiled, "Definitely, you are a pro."

The remainder of our drive passed swiftly and smoothly, a stark contrast to our initial encounter, and for that, I was immensely relieved. As we approached their house, Nathan pointed out which one belonged to them. I parked the car nearby, turned off the engine, and stepped out.

Nathan retrieved his backpack from the backseat, and I couldn't resist the urge to look around and take into our surroundings. When Nathan's gaze met mine, I inquired, "Is your father home?"

He tilted his head, scanning the area before he nodded, "Yeah, that's his car," He pointed out.

I nodded and rounded my car, joining Nathan as he walked across the lawn toward the front door, "I need to talk to him about something," I explained why I was accompanying him.

Without asking for details, Nathan simply nodded in understanding and ushered me forward. "Come on," he said before ringing the doorbell.

Shortly after, the door swung open, and even before I saw him, I heard as he spoke to his son, his tone kind of strict, "You're late."

Nathan met his father's gaze and nodded in acknowledgment, "I was with Max," he explained, his words trailing off as he noticed his father's gaze shift to me.

Shock swept across his features, evident not only from my unexpected presence outside his house but also from the insinuation that I had been with Nathan. He tried to recover from it rather fast and before either of us could speak, a very soft voice emerged from inside, "Is it Nathan? Is Nathan back-" Her baby voice paused when her eyes fell on her brother and she rushed toward him, jumping up in excitement.

Nathan bent down, gently scooping up his little sister in his arms. She eagerly wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek. He chuckled lowly at her affectionate gesture, and he returned her love with a tender kiss atop her head. As her gaze shifted from her brother to me, I found myself captivated by everything she was. Her lips curved into a precious smile, and she greeted me with a simple, "Hi."

I couldn't help but smile back at her. Her adorableness and cuteness were undeniable. Unlike her brother, she and I shared the same eyes, the same color, the same shape, and even the same eyelashes. Looking into hers was like glimpsing into a younger, purer reflection of myself.

It made my heart tighten again and it made me want to turn back and run away. But I stopped myself and said back with a small smile of my own, "Hey."

Her gaze went behind and around me, searching for something, "Is Lilly with you?" She asked while tilting her head. The only thing she associated me with was being Lilly's brother. No more, no less.

I shook my head, "She isn't."

Her little shoulders dropped down and she sighed, "Tell her I miss her," She said and I nodded, my heart beating way faster than it should, "I definitely will."

She refocused her attention on Nathan, "Let's go inside, I will show you my new toy, okay?" She suggested, resting her hands over his face.

He smiled at her and nodded his head, "Yes, sure," He said before his gaze flickered to me, offering me a thankful smile, "I will see you around," He said and I nodded, giving him a wink before he carried his sister inside, leaving me alone with his father.

Nikolas's eyes went from his son's retreating back and fell on me. He looked shocked, confused, and unable to comprehend the situation as a whole. My expression shifted back to neutral and I spoke, "Don't look at me like that," I said, "Like I am going to hurt him or something," I added, understanding his wary gaze, "He just needed someone to talk to and I happened to be there," I clarified.

He shook his head, bewildered at the accusation, "I uh didn't-"

"Can we talk?" I interrupted.

He looked even more taken aback but he nodded his head nevertheless, "Yeah, sure," He stepped aside, giving me space to enter but I shook my head, "I am not getting inside your house," I never want to step into there.

"We can talk outside," I suggested, "If it's okay with you."

He nodded his head again and when I took a couple of steps backward, he stepped out of the house and closed the door behind him, leaving it ajar.

I scratched the back of my neck, anxious, because I didn't know how to start this. Asking for a favor from him, well, it wasn't easy. I cleared my throat and finally faced him, looking him in the eyes, "I want your help...in something."

Lines etched between his eyebrows, staring back at me like this was the last thing he ever expected.

"I want to find someone," I added, "Someone I don't know anything about, someone that doesn't want to be found," My jaw tightened as I recalled the message I saw on Valerie's phone. I knew there was no way I could get to him on my own. I don't have the resources, "I have a feeling you are an expert at that, so will you-" I asked, "Will you help me find him?"

He nodded his head, "Of course, tell me what you know and I will see what I can get out of that."

I shook my head because I understood what he meant, "No, I want to be included in the process of finding him," I interjected and his gaze flickered all over my face, assessing my expression and trying to read behind it, attempting to understand who I am looking for and why.

Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, I looked away. Without saying a word, he pulled his phone out, opened his contacts, and dialed someone. My gaze flickered to the screen when he hit the speaker button, scared he'd be dialing Dad but my eyebrows pulled closer when I saw the name Jeremy.

"He can find anything and anyone," Nikolas explained and I nodded.

Jeremy's voice echoed from the phone, "Hello boss," He said and Nikolas asked, "Jeremy, what are you doing?"

Jeremy sighed, "Well, changing diapers at the moment-" Nikolas winced, "I didn't need the details, just meet me at the bunker in fifteen."

The guy let out a whiney sound, "Nikolas, I am sleep-deprived and tired and-"

"Jeremy," Nikolas pointed out in an authoritative tone and the guy sighed, not needing more to be convinced, "Aye, aye captain," He mumbled, "See you in fifteen."

They hung up and Nikolas looked at me, "Wait a second," He said before he turned around and walked into the house. A minute later, he returned back, the car keys in his hands and he ushered me forward toward his car.

I froze in my spot and shook my head, "I will follow you with my car."

He shook his head, "Look, the place we are going to is one that I don't want people to know about, and I am the only one who knows how to drive there unnoticed," His voice was stern and I glared at him and at his nonsense, "So if you want my help, you will get into my car."

He headed toward it without waiting for my answer. My jaw ticked and I followed him, getting into the passenger's seat and slamming the door shut with a bang.

"Easy," He commented under his breath, scared for his dear car and I tried to suppress my angry groan. I buckled my seatbelt and crossed my arms over my chest as he pulled the car into the street and drove off.

"You won't tell Dad about this," I pointed out.

"And why not?" he asked and I could feel his eyes on me.

I kept looking ahead, "Because I said so."

"You know you could've gotten the same help from Roman or Emma or anyone else, so why didn't you?"

"Because they all would've told Dad no matter what," I explained my choice, indirectly referring that he is my last choice of course, "And I don't want him to know, he will get worried and overprotective as usual and there is no need for that, not with everything else happening."

"And what makes you think I wouldn't tell him?"

I turned to him, "Because I said so," I stated.

Nikolas's eyebrow raised and he nodded his head, understanding before he focused his gaze back on the road, "Emotional blackmail, nice," He commented, totally not amused.

"What?" I shot out, uncomfortable with his tone or choice of words.

He shook his head, "I am just amused," He explained, his voice neutral, "Because that's more like my thing."

I sighed and shrugged, "Well, the curse of sharing your DNA, I guess."

His jaw clenched, and he stared ahead, his hands steady on the steering wheel as he drove us toward our destination. I thought it best to maintain my silence, diverting my attention to the passing scenery rather than dwelling on the tension between us. As promised, fifteen minutes later, we arrived at our intended location. He parked the car, and we both exited.

I followed him, my eyes scanning the desolate surroundings, struggling to discern what was significant about this place.

"Come on," Nikolas encouraged, striding toward one of the buildings, which appeared to be an abandoned factory of sorts. As I observed our surroundings, I trailed behind him and ventured inside, entering an elevator. We descended underground, and I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.

When the elevator doors slid open, an entirely different world unveiled itself before us. Nikolas entered a code of some kind, and a metallic door glided open. I stepped inside, my gaze filled with curiosity as I took in the sleek and modern surroundings, a stark contrast to the dilapidated exterior.

What the hell is this place?

In the midst of my exploration, I noticed the only other figure occupying this space. Jeremy, I suppose. He lounged on the couches along the wall, his feet casually resting on the small table before him. He stifled a yawn with his hand, indicating his apparent weariness.

Nikolas strode forward toward him and I followed. The man's eyes fell on us and he straightened himself, his gaze going from Nikolas to me, confused lines etching his forehead at the foreign presence. Nikolas went for a quick introduction, "Jeremy," he pointed at me, "This is Max."

My name alone had the man's eyes widen and he jumped to his feet. He smiled, all boyish, "Hey, I am Jeremy, nice to meet you, Max," He introduced and I nodded my head back in acknowledgment.

His curious gaze went back to Nikolas, probably questioning my presence here and Nikolas shook his head, dismissing it.

"I need you to find someone," Nikolas got right into business and Jeremy was already pulling his laptop from its bag, "Sure, hit me with it."

Nikolas turned to me, asking for details and I shook my head, "I only know his first name though," I admitted.

"Well, thanks, that narrows it down," Jeremy said sarcastically and Nikolas shot him a glare and ever so subtly kicked his feet to shut him up. Jeremy winced and gave Nikolas a very unsatisfied look.

"Uh, I know a girl that he could've been associated with before, maybe that will help you narrow it down," I suggested and Jeremy nodded his head, "And now we are talking business," he said.

"His name is David," I informed.

"And the girl?" Jeremey asked.

My throat bobbed, "Valerie," I mumbled, giving him her full name, "Valerie Rowan."

"Okeyto, give me a couple of minutes and I will see what I can find," Jeremy said and I nodded as he went on typing something over the keyboard.

Nikolas's eyes were just on me, trying to figure out who Valerie or David were and what was their relation to me. Before he could ask, I spoke, "Is there a bathroom around here?" I asked, nervously scratching the back of my neck.

He nodded and pointed ahead, "Down the hallway, last door to the left."

I nodded and spun around, heading there and running off. I used the space and time to look around and figure out what type of place is this. Randomly, I opened one of the doors and stepped inside. It quickly became apparent that this was no ordinary facility. The room I entered seemed to blend aspects of a gym and a combat training center. The equipment was tailored for rigorous physical preparation and close-quarters combat, revealing the true nature of this place as something far more complex than initially met the eye.

Continuing my exploration, I ventured through another door at the end of the room. As it swung open, I was met with a scene that confirmed the multifaceted nature of this secretive place. It appeared to be an office, perhaps the central hub of operations around here.

One wall held an impressive display cabinet showcasing an array of firearms, meticulously polished to perfection. The intricate design of the cabinet itself spoke of craftsmanship and an appreciation for weaponry.

In a far corner of the room, a bookshelf stood, its shelves crammed with an assortment of books and files. The nature of the contents appeared to be cryptic, undoubtedly holding coded secrets that unveiled the true identity and purpose of this place.

At the opposite end of the room, a stately mahogany desk took center stage. My curiosity got the better of me, forcing me to approach and scrutinize its contents. What lay before me was surprisingly ordinary, with monitors, a lamp, and a stack of files organized haphazardly atop one another.

My attention, however, was diverted by a seemingly out-of-place coffee cup perched on the desk's edge. Bold, cursive letters etched onto the cup caught my eye, and I furrowed my brows as I read the inscription, "Big boss mafia." The hell?

My eyes resumed their discovery, falling into the framed picture positioned by one of the monitors, the one with no doubt contained a younger version of his wife, Natalie, hugging a furry white cat. On the other side, another framed picture was positioned.  I couldn't resist picking it up, revealing a much younger Nathan cradling his infant sister, who appeared to be only a few months old in the image. A genuine smile tugged at my lips before I gently returned the picture to its designated spot.

So, this is his office, or maybe it was his before...

Deciding it was wiser to get back to them, I made my way out of the office, ensuring the door clicked shut behind me. However, rather than retracing my steps as I had planned, my path was redirected by faint shuffling noises emanating from my left. Following the sound, I resumed my discovery through this labyrinthine location. It was like a complex puzzle where every room led to yet another, and I felt increasingly lost in this enigmatic space.

My steps echoed softly in the eerie silence, and as I ventured further, I came to an abrupt halt, my eyes widening in disbelief at what lay before me. It was now clear that we weren't the only people around here.

Directly ahead of me stood what resembled a prison cell, its door composed of an unyielding lattice of iron bars that formed an unforgiving grid-like structure. This design allowed for unrestricted visibility of the person confined within. And I could see him clearly.

Seated on a modest bed against the cold, sterile wall, he had his legs drawn up, a notebook resting on his lap, and a pen clutched tightly in his hand. He moved the pen diligently across the paper, meticulously jotting down something of importance. Sensing the presence of another intruder, his gaze lifted from the paper and locked onto me. Those very hazel eyes that had once gazed deeply into mine as he thrust the knife, not once, but twice, bore into my soul.

My sight made him smile and he dropped his pen and papers away, getting off the bed and heading toward the door, drawing nearer and nearer until only cold, unyielding metal bars separated us.

An uncomfortable sensation prickled at my insides, a throbbing reminder of the wounds that still festered beneath the surface. The heat seemed to envelop me from all sides, and my clenched hand at my side trembled as my anger and frustration surged.

"Well, well, look who is here."

He said and I knew this might be my long-awaited opportunity to release the pent-up emotions that had been festering within me since that fateful accident.

I took an enraged step forward, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment," I grated out, trying to figure out how will I break into the cell so I can break his face.

"Aww, you sound just like your daddy," He commented, tilting his head to the side as he gazed at me, "You also look a lot like him, did anyone tell you that before?"

Oh, he is going to die on my hands tonight.

********************************

Hey!

I felt like I haven't updated this book in a very long while so it felt logical to start writing this book before going on with the others.

Also, it's better to point out that the timeline of the events of this story matches the events of Blue Ribbon. Which you probably noticed in how Nathan is captured here too.

Anyways, see ya soon!