The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly as the sleek, black Toyota glided into the sprawling parking lot of Sam and Reas the largest and most luxurious mall in Orange County. The polished chrome rims gleamed under the harsh light, cutting a sharp contrast against the dark, matte body of the car. Jayden flicked his wrist, killing the engine as the car hissed to a stop. Leo, stepped out first, rolling his neck as if shaking off the remnants of his old, disciplined self.
"Shopping?" Leo smirked, eyeing the towering glass structure before them. "Never pegged you for the type, Serg."
Jayden adjusted the black leather gloves on his hands, his eyes narrowing as he took in the bustling entrance of the mall. "Can't walk into the lion's den looking like a ghost from the trenches," he replied, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "Besides, Orange County is a different beast. We blend in, then we strike."
They stepped through the automatic glass doors, the cool, air conditioned breeze washing over them, carrying the faint, intoxicating scents of expensive cologne, fresh leather, and fine champagne. The polished marble floors reflected their every step, the overhead lights casting long shadows behind them as they moved.
They navigated through the maze of high end boutiques and designer stores, gucci, louis vittone, Amani exetra Jayden's eyes constantly scanning, his every move calculated. They hit the men's section of a renowned luxury store Tom Ford, its shelves lined with crisp suits, hand stitched jackets, and shoes polished to a mirror sheen. Jayden grabbed a few pieces tailored black blazers, deep navy shirts, and slim fit pants, each one screaming power and control.
Leo whistled as Jayden tossed a few items into his arms. "Damn, Serg, planning to turn some heads?"
Jayden didn't bother replying, his mind already moving several steps ahead. He approached the counter, a tall, elegant woman with dark eyes and a professional smile greeting him.
"Will this be all, sir?" she asked, her eyes lingering on the scar running along his jawline, a mark that added a dangerous edge to his already commanding presence.
"For now," Jayden replied, his tone dismissive as he handed over the clothes.
As they finished up, Leo disappeared for a moment, returning with two steaming cups of coffee. Jayden took his without a word, the bitter aroma of cafaine cutting through the sterile air of the mall. They continued to the checkout, their steps confident, each one a silent declaration of dominance.
But just as they approached the counter, a sharp, irritated voice cut through the soft murmur of the store.
"Watch where you're going, you clumsy fool!"
Jayden felt a warm splash against his wrist, the sudden heat of spilled coffee soaking through his glove. He looked down, his gaze catching the wide, horrified eyes of a woman in an extravagant white dress, the fabric now stained a deep, spreading brown where the coffee had splattered.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jayden said, his voice calm, almost bored, but sincerely sorry as he shook the excess liquid from his hand. "Didn't see you there."
The woman's face twisted in outrage, her perfectly painted lips pulling back into a snarl. "Sorry? Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? Peasants like you should be banned from places like this!"
Leo stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a dangerous spark, but Jayden held up a gloved hand, stopping him in his tracks.
"Two million!" pay it quickly and for ruining my precious time u deserve a beating.
The woman raised her skinny hand and put enough power she could master behind it as she quickly aimed to slap jayden but as if he anticipated it, he quickly pushed her hand away." Now now kind miss we wouldnt want to get that far now do we. am sorry about yr dress i trully am but that amount is outrageous for a lousy dress."the woman spat, her voice rising. "That's what this dress is worth. You think you can just walk away after ruining it? You'll pay for this I swear it!"
She whipped out her i phone, her manicured fingers moving rapidly over the screen. Within seconds, the line on the other end picked up.
"Victor, darling," she cooed, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "Some filthy lowlife just ruined my dress. Yes, two million. Get some of your men here they need a lesson in respect."
Jayden's eyes remained fixed on her, his expression unreadable, the faintest hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He had faced down armies, brought entire cities to their knees and now this woman thought she could shake him?
Within minutes, the store's glass doors slid open, and a small squad of muscular men in tailored suits and dark sunglasses entered, their movements sharp and aggressive. They fanned out around Jayden and Leo, their leader, a thick necked brute with a jagged scar across his cheek, stepping forward.
"Boss says you owe his wife two million," the man growled, his eyes narrowing as he cracked his knuckles. "You pay, or you bleed."
Jayden's eyes flashed, his pulse slowing, his body shifting into that familiar, lethal calm. He handed Leo his cup. "Hold this."
Leo's grin widened, his teeth flashing white. "Been a while since we had a proper warm up."
Jayden took a slow step forward, the polished floors beneath his boots reflecting the dark, dangerous intent in his eyes.
"Gentlemen," he said, his voice dropping to a low, lethal whisper. "I don't pay. I collect."
The first punch was a blur, a fist like iron smashing into the leader's jaw, the crack echoing off the marble walls like a gunshot. The man staggered back, blood spraying from his split lips as he crashed into a display of silk ties, the expensive fabric tumbling around him like fallen banners.
Jayden moved like a shadow, each strike precise, each blow calculated to shatter bone and crush muscle. The second man swung a thick, meaty arm at him, but Jayden ducked under it, driving his elbow into the man's ribs with a sickening crunch, the air exploding from his lungs in a strangled wheeze.
Leo stepped in, his movements a graceful dance of violence, his fist connecting with another goon's jaw, teeth shattering like glass under the force. In less than a minute, the floor was littered with broken bodies, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sharp, bitter scent of fear.
Jayden straightened his jacket, brushing a fleck of blood from his sleeve before stepping back to the counter. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek, black premium card and dropping it onto the counter.
The woman's eyes widened, her outrage melting into stunned silence. There were only five of those cards in all of Orange County each one rumored to hold billions.
"Keep the change," Jayden said, his voice a cold whisper as he turned on his heel, Leo tossing the empty coffee cup into a trash bin as they strode towards the exit."Hehe show off.you had to pay with that card, you should have used the other one if you wanted them to litteraly bend their knees serg." "Says the lebron copycat. you had to shoot that cup dint you"
They reached the entrance just as the first gunshot cracked through the air. Outside, a black Mercedes exploded, flames roaring skyward as armored SUVs screeched to a halt around it. Men in tactical gear swarmed the scene, weapons drawn as the burning vehicle's door burst open, and a fierce, bloodied woman stumbled out, a small girl clinging to her side.
The woman's eyes met Jayden's, her breath coming in harsh, desperate gasps. "Help us… please."
Jayden cracked his neck, a dark smile spreading across his lips. "Leo," he said, his tone cold and final. "Warm up's over."
The air outside the Sam and Reas mall crackled with chaos. Flames surged from the twisted remains of the black Mercedes, black smoke curling into the sky like the breath of a wounded beast. The sharp tang of burning rubber and gasoline clung to the air, mixing with the bitter scent of blood as panicked screams cut through the thick, acrid haze.
Jayden's breath slowed, his pulse settling into a deadly rhythm as he stepped out into the madness. His gloved fingers flexed, each digit a weapon in its own right. Beside him, Leo's eyes gleamed with barely restrained fury, his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.
"Leo," Jayden said, his voice a razor's edge. "No mercy."
Leo's grin stretched wide, a savage flash of teeth that promised only pain. Without another word, they moved, boots crunching over shattered glass and splintered concrete, their silhouettes sharp against the fiery backdrop.
The first wave hit like a storm. Men in tactical gear surged from the surrounding SUVs, their dark visors reflecting the flicker of flames as they fanned out, rifles raised and laser sights slicing through the smoke. They moved with the precision of professional killers, their movements sharp and mechanical, their boots pounding in a synchronized rhythm.
The first gunshot cracked the air, a sharp, echoing bark that sent pigeons scattering from the nearby awnings. Jayden moved like a phantom, his body twisting as the bullet tore through the space where his head had been a heartbeat before. He closed the distance in a single, fluid stride, his gloved hand flashing out to catch the wrist of the nearest gunman. Bones snapped like dry twigs, the rifle clattering to the ground as the man screamed, his arm bent at an impossible angle.
Jayden didn't pause. He ripped the weapon free, his body a whirl of controlled violence as he spun, the rifle's stock smashing into another attacker's jaw with a sickening crunch. Teeth and blood sprayed across the marble tiles, painting them in fresh crimson as the man dropped, his legs folding beneath him.
Leo was a force of nature beside him, his movements sharp and vicious. He ducked under a wild swing, his fist driving into an attacker's ribs with a sound like a sledgehammer meeting wet clay. The man crumpled, his breath exploding from his lungs as Leo twisted, his elbow connecting with another's temple in a brutal arc that sent the man spinning into a shattered glass display.
"Pin them down!" one of the attackers shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he gestured for his men to spread out. Bullets whined through the air, shattering glass, ripping through metal, and biting into concrete. The high pitched ricochet filled the air, a chaotic symphony of violence.
Jayden's eyes narrowed, his pulse slowing to a steady, controlled beat as he surveyed the battlefield. He sidestepped another burst of gunfire, his hand flashing out to grab a discarded rifle from the ground. He moved with the precision of a master marksman, his shots snapping off in rapid succession, each one finding its mark with deadly accuracy. Heads snapped back, bodies crumpled, and the marble floor grew slick with fresh blood.
A scream cut through the chaos, sharp and desperate. Jayden's head whipped around, his eyes locking onto the woman from the burning Mercedes, her face streaked with soot and fear as she clutched her daughter to her chest, her wide, terrified eyes fixed on the advancing gunmen.
"Leo!" Jayden barked, his voice sharp as a blade. "Cover me."
Leo's response was a guttural roar as he charged forward, his fists swinging in brutal arcs that shattered jaws and cracked skulls. Jayden moved in behind him, his boots slipping on the blood-slick floor as he closed the distance to the woman, his eyes never leaving the terrified child clinging to her mother's leg.
"Get up," he growled, grabbing the woman by the arm and hauling her to her feet. She stumbled, her eyes wide with terror, but Jayden's grip was unrelenting. "Move or die."
He shoved her toward the shattered glass doors of the mall, his body a wall of muscle and fury as he blocked the hail of bullets that rained down around them. He felt the heat of a bullet graze his shoulder, the sharp, white hot pain barely registering in the chaos of the moment.
They reached the cover of a massive marble pillar, Jayden shoving the woman behind it before turning back to the battlefield, his eyes narrowing as he watched Leo tear through the remaining attackers with ruthless precision.
"Stay here," Jayden growled, his tone leaving no room for argument as he turned back to the chaos, his gloved hands clenching into fists as he stepped back into the fire.
He had been a commander once a master of chaos, a dealer of death and today, the ghost had come to collect.