Can’t Win Me Back

Late at night, the police station office was illuminated only by the eerie glow of a computer screen. It displayed Jameson’s interview after his bail.

Nicholas, haggard-looking, stared at the screen. An overflowing ashtray sat beside him.

He pursed his lips, his trembling fingers dialing Jameson’s number. To his surprise, it was engaged. Despair clenched his heart as he gripped the phone tighter.

Nicholas slumped on the couch, his eyes squeezed shut. Throughout his lifetime, he had faced horrors untold, his hands stained with the blood of many.

Yet, none of it prepared him for the soul-crushing despair that threatened to consume him now. This was the darkest night of his life.

Four agonizing days passed in this state. Then, one night, his phone rang. It was Natalie’s doctor.

“Mr. Novak, your wife had a sudden episode! She’s unstable. Please come to the hospital immediately!”

“Is she okay?” Nicholas shot up, grabbing his coat and rushing toward the door.

“Mrs. Novak is in the ER. We’ll discuss details when you arrive!”

Nicholas reached for the doorknob as the call ended. He hesitated, feeling the weight of a loaded gun in his pocket. It was a tempting deterrent, a promise of defense. But using it meant wading into a deeper swamp. Every shot, every bullet casing left behind, would be another clue for the police to follow, a neon sign pointing straight back to him and his tangled web of secrets with Jameson.

Cyrus, a rising star in the force, reminded Nicholas of his younger self. Given time, Cyrus would surely uncover their shady business.

stomach to defy Jameson; even if he had the

was a devil who wouldn’t blink at taking a life, and Nicholas

bleak. But he had

back, retrieved a screwdriver from his desk, and hid it behind

in his black SUV but screeched to a halt

black emerged from the car. Two laid a spiked chain

by car was clearly not an option; a single wrong move

He gritted his teeth, threw the car into reverse, and slammed

behind him, blocking his

behind his back, gripping the screwdriver

all of you, didn’t he?” Nicholas’ temples throbbed. The question hung

was now a marked

trapped, a fly caught in a web of enemies. Confronted by imminent danger, his primal survival instinct urged him to eliminate the threatNicholas. Nicholas understood

the leader smirked. “We’re aware of your capabilities. That’s why we came to you. We wouldn’t

settle this, but not now,” Nicholas pleaded, his voice laced with

wife’s critically ill. I need to be at the

our employer wants you dead

assassins charged

They slashed at Nicholas with their blades, one after another,

with the

was a cruel mistress slowing his reflexes just enough for a blade to find its mark. A