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.

even if he had the courage,

who wouldn’t blink at taking a life, and Nicholas had known this partnership was a

his future was bleak. But he had

from his desk, and hid it behind

in his black SUV but screeched to a halt in

from the car. Two laid

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

gritted his teeth, threw the car into reverse,

behind him, blocking his escape. The narrow alley had become a cage, and he

at the approaching assassins. He reached behind his back, gripping the screwdriver tightly. “Chief Novak?” the leader rasped,

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

a marked man and Jasper and Alyssa were determined to bring

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

you. We wouldn’t be here

this, but not now,” Nicholas pleaded,

I need to be

devotion, Chief Novak. It’s a pity our employer

charged at

Nicholas with their blades, one after another, but they missed. Amidst the howling wind, the terrifying

fought with the desperation of a

a cruel mistress slowing his reflexes just enough for a blade to find its mark. A searing pain erupted in his left arm as a knife sliced deep, bone