The Stillness Before the Turning

John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“I can get you out of this, Everett.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(Eyes widened)
Shocked, But as the words sank in, he leaned forward, voice low and strained.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“John… you don’t mean you’re planning to take my place, right? You will not walk into the same hell I’m drowning in... I will not give my company in the first place...Tell me that’s not your idea—”( got cut off)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(cuts in with a dry, bitter laugh): “Seriously? You really think I’d look at your chaos and see a throne? You think I see your problem as a power grab?”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(stepped closer, eyes locked.)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“If I ever wanted your empire, Everett, I’d have made a move long ago. But I never did. You know why? Because I don’t take things with hateful tricks. I earn what I can build — on my own damn terms.”
John smirks, walks to the study cabinet, pulls out a first aid kit, and tosses his head toward the couch.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“Sit down. You’re bleeding more from inside than out.”
Everett — too tired to argue — drops onto the couch. John kneels, cleaning his wounds, his voice steady, sharp, honest.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“Your past won’t just disappear, Everett. And you know damn well that the stain of ‘murderer’ and ‘gun runner’ isn’t something soap can wash off.”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(Pauses, locking eyes.)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“People don’t fear us just because we know criminals... they fear us because the bullets that kill them are ours — and often the built hit the innocents''
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(look down, jaw clenched)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“But maybe... we can shift that fear. Not erase it. Just… redirect it — to protect the ones who deserve it.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“How?” (snaps)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“By not just being suppliers. We have to become manufacturer too" (calmly, like dropping a chess piece)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(yanked his hand away mid-bandage.)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“Are you out of your mind? I’m trying to leave this mess, and you’re pushing me deeper?” (growls)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“If you're gonna keep cutting me off, maybe you asked the wrong man for help. I don’t talk to people who interrupt and then drown in their own delusions.” (dead serious, voice flat)
Everett gulps, falls silent. He sits back, listening.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“First, we tighten the circle. No more outsourcing to random cartels. Our name stays off every record. You and I both know who’s making our guns... let’s bring it home — keep it clean, efficient, and controlled.” (Resumes)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(nods slowly) “Alright… and then?”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“We create a new channel — proper contracts, tight NDAs. Sell in the black market, yes, but only through a filter, our company name will stay hide in our supply."
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
"The criminals? We hike the prices. Four times more.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(frowns): “Our weapons are already overpriced. Who’s going to buy them at that rate?”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(smirks): “Exactly. The ones who can’t afford it will back off. The ones who pay? Will bleed for it. That’s the point.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(nods but still hesitant): “I’ve tried something like that before. It backfired. We lost too much.”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(leaning in, eyes cold and certain): “The plan I’ve got will double your profits — and cut 70% of your exposure. That’s not a maybe, it’s a guarantee.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(eyebrows narrowing): “Then tell me, John. What exactly are you planning?”
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(smirked)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(confused)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
What!!!
John rose from the sofa, voice calm but loaded with meaning.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“You know... not everyone lives just to take lives. Some fight just to save them too.”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(turned his face away, scoffing in disbelief.)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“You sound delusional… I have never seen people like that other than my lily” (muttering)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(chuckled under his breath, then exhaled deeply, voice lower now.)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“Even in pretension, some people does”
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“No one's gonna spend a fortune on our weapons just to pretend, John. I’m not in the mood for riddles.” (Snapped back)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
“And what if I told you… I could turn that joke into reality? And while we’re at it — bring in higher profits?” (smiling subtly, but his eyes sharp)
Everett froze. Once again, John’s words hit him like a jolt.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Y... you -( got cut off)
John picked up his phone, dialed a number, and spoke with quiet authority.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
"Yes. Tomorrow. At Everett Black’s mansion. Sharp 9."(on call)
He ended the call with a decisive tap.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
"Who’s coming?" (Watching him, asked cautiously)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
"You’ll find out tomorrow." (without looking at him, replied with a small smirk)
He glanced at the clock and then at Everett.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
"But right now… you should go to your room. It’s late. Your wife’s waiting."
Everett stared at him — John’s face was calm, collected, unwavering… like a man who already saw the endgame.
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(Added, voice steady and full of weight) "You’ve shared your burden with me, Everett. Now let me carry it. I only do what’s best for those I stand with… And right now, my mission is simple — To see you living that dream you never thought possible… Smiling, at peace, with your child in your arms."
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(lips curved into a faint smile — a rare one.)
John arison (Ml)
John arison (Ml)
(turn face to Everett's study window and started to call some others)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(Walked out of the study… trusting the storm was now in safer hands.)
.
In Everett's room
Lily stood near the door, her arms folded, lips pouting with longing. She had been waiting — eyes wide, searching — the kind of wait that only love understands.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
(stepped inside)
As Everett stepped inside, her eyes instantly landed on the bandage wrapped around his hand. In a heartbeat, she rushed toward him.
Lily black (Everett
Lily black (Everett's wife)
“What happened to your hand? Did you get into a fight? Were you hurt badly?” “You were with John, right? Is he okay? Did something happen to him too?” (Anxiously)
Without answering immediately, Everett gave a quiet smile and looked at her with a softness that seemed to melt her panic. He leaned down, scooped her up in his arms — effortless, like she weighed nothing in his world.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“You ask too many questions all at once.” (calmly)
Lily black (Everett
Lily black (Everett's wife)
“Because you don’t tell me anything until I force you to.” (still worried, holding onto his shirt)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“You never force me... you just pout until I surrender.” (amused)
He gently laid her on the bed, sitting beside her. Then slowly, he leaned back, pulling her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. His hand slid over her back in slow, calming motions.
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“Just rest now, doll. If you don’t, our baby won’t either.” (whispering)
At his words, Lily’s breath hitched slightly — a smile appearing, shy and warm. She turned her face and buried it into his chest.
Lily black (Everett
Lily black (Everett's wife)
“You always do this... distract me when I want to be mad at you.” (murmuring)
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“That’s because I know you too well.”
He kissed the top of her head, holding her a little tighter.
She slowly drifted off in his arms, curled against him, her fingers still loosely gripping his shirt as if afraid he might disappear.
Once she was asleep, Everett stared up at the ceiling for a moment — his expression quiet, yet heavy.
Then he looked down at her sleeping face, his eyes softening.
He leaned in, placed a kiss on her forehead, and whispered under his breath...
Everett black (Ml bff)
Everett black (Ml bff)
“I don’t know what John has in mind... but whatever it is... I just hope it doesn’t lead me somewhere I can’t return from.” (to himself)
.
To be continued...
“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧! 𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧!” ❤️‍🩹
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