“Unless it’s a full code, direct anything after six to Dr. Alec,” Ava said, slipping her lab coat off one arm as she moved through the hallway of the ER.The nurse beside her nodded quickly, clipboard in hand, struggling to keep up with Ava’s fast pace.“If it’s something he can’t handle,” Ava continued, already opening her locker, “they can call my emergency line. But only if it’s life-threatening or political. No grey area.”“Yes, Dr. Reed.”Ava buttoned her coat shut and pulled her hair free from the clip. Her shift was technically over. Her nerves, however, were far from clocked out.The memory of Alex’s face in that dark hallway—the sound of his voice, the gun, the brief standoff—still felt intense. He didn’t recognise her, and she was sure of that. But ever since that moment, she’d felt a tightness in her jaw that just wouldn’t disappear.Between a police raid she couldn’t admit to surviving and the fallout of public scandal, she felt like she'd lived three lifetimes in one week
The drive started quiet.Alex’s car—a sleek, dark hybrid with leather seats that still somehow smelled like pine—glided through the city like it belonged in a movie. Ava sat in the passenger seat, legs crossed, hands folded neatly over her clutch. Her dress shimmered faintly under the ambient dashboard light. And still, all he could think about was how much she looked like she didn’t want to be there.Which was ironic. Because neither did he. Except… he kind of did.“You look like you’re calculating how many exits you’d need to take to fake a kidnapping,” he said lightly, eyes still on the road.“I’m trying to decide if I can fake appendicitis without actually performing surgery on myself,” Ava replied without missing a beat.He laughed. “That’s dark. I like it.”Ava gave a little smirk. “Pearl’s coaching.”“Yeah, I figured. That kid’s going to run for mayor by age ten.”“She’s already lobbying for wedding fireworks and matching tattoos.”Alex side-eyed her. “Tattoos?”“Don’t worry,
Ava tilted her head slightly, watching him. “Can I ask you something?”Alex gave her a slow grin. “Isn’t that what dates are for?”She didn’t return the smile. “Why’d you become a cop?”He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “Wow. Jumped right past favourite colour and childhood pets, huh?”“I figured they don’t really say much about you,” she replied with a neutral shrug. “Besides, you strike me more as a rescue-dog-than-hamster type anyway.”That made him chuckle. He set his fork down, leaning forward with his forearms braced on the edge of the table. For a moment, he looked thoughtful, like he was sorting through something. But the truth—well, his version of it—came easily now. He’d rehearsed it so many times it felt real.“My mom used to run a little diner in the south end,” he said, his tone gentler now. “One day, someone came in with a knife and tried to rob the register. I was twelve. I froze. My dad wasn’t around that day. But there was this guy, a regular customer. Off-duty
The phone call had barely ended when Alex spotted movement in his rearview mirror.A man emerged from behind a tall hedge near the front gate of the Reed estate, standing in the warm light of the security lamps. He wore a nice, dark long coat, and he didn’t seem to be trying to hide; he was simply waiting.Alex’s hand hovered near his holster as he stepped out of the car and closed the door behind him.“Something I can help you with?” Alex called out, casually but not carelessly.Rafael stepped forward, hands in his coat pockets. “I could ask you the same.”Alex didn’t move. “You’re Ava’s assistant. Rafael, right?”“Among other things.”There was an awkward silence between them, a tense moment that pretended to be a conversation. The wind rustled through the trees by the estate walls, the only sound filling the gap for a while.“I’m not here for trouble,” Rafael finally said, stepping a little closer. “But if you’re going to keep showing up at that door pretending to be something you’
The weeks leading up to the mayor’s award ceremony felt deceptively calm throughout the city.Everything seemed perfect on the outside. Newspapers celebrated the drop in crime, generous donors supported Ava’s community health program, and people in the precinct talked about Alex as if he had single-handedly fixed the streets.But beneath the surface, things were definitely tense. Rico's reports on Kalenko were frustratingly vague, and even though they had rescheduled the shipment, it still hadn’t shown up. Meanwhile, the De Lucas family was strangely silent. Alex reached out to his father once, but their conversation was short and left him feeling unsatisfied.Meanwhile, Ava balanced long hours at the hospital with a string of public appearances she couldn’t decline.But today, today was a promising day in the city.It was award-giving night.City Hall had never looked so grand—chandeliers blazing, marble floors polished until they reflected the gold trim lining every arch and column
Ava set her champagne glass down on a passing tray, her smile lingering a moment longer for Alex’s sake. “Excuse me,” she said lightly, brushing a hand along his sleeve. “I need a minute.”Alex raised an eyebrow in question, and she simply said. “Powdering my nose.”“Don’t be too long,” Alex replied with an easy grin, sipping his drink. “I’ll hold down the fort.”She smiled back, slipping seamlessly into the flow of guests, weaving past laughing politicians and swirling gowns, while keeping her eyes fixed on the waiter. Once around the corner, her smile dropped. She stepped swiftly through a side door and into the quiet service corridor lined with crates and catering carts, the hum of the gala replaced by the distant clatter of catering trays. Dim lights buzzed overhead. The waiter wasn’t far—she spotted him just ahead, slipping deeper into the hall, checking his phone.“Stop,” Ava said calmly.He froze, glancing over his shoulder, startled but not yet alarmed.“Turn around.”He he
The soft light from chandeliers lit up the restaurant, creating a cozy and elegant atmosphere. People chatted quietly as silverware clinked on fine china, soft jazz played in the background, and the delicious smells of grilled steak and aged wine filled the air around tables covered in clean white tablecloths.Alex Ramos adjusted his badge and checked his watch. Again.Across from him, his partner Jenna took another leisurely sip of her wine, clearly entertained by his impatience."Well, your matchmaking effort was a total waste today," Alex muttered, shooting her a look of mild irritation. "She isn’t here, so I should probably take my leave."Jenna rolled her eyes. "You’re impossible, you know that? Maybe she just got caught up in traffic.""Or maybe she wasn’t interested in a blind date with a detective.""Or maybe you should stop acting like this is a murder investigation and relax," Jenna countered. "God, no wonder you’re single."Alex exhaled through his nose, already regretting
"Everyone in position, Rafael?""Yes, Godmother."Ava Reed adjusted her black gloves as the dim city lights cast sharp shadows on her face. Dressed in all black with her long coat fluttering in the cool night air, she looked like a spy, an assassin, or even a ghost. Her dark-tinted glasses shielded her bright green eyes, but her cold, stiff posture left no doubt about who she was.She was The Godmother.From her vantage point on the rooftop of an adjacent building, she gazed down at the brightly lit minister’s office. The luxury suite on the top floor screamed power and wealth—evidence of the corruption she had come to cleanse.She flexed her fingers inside her gloves. Time to begin.With a single nod, she signaled Rafael. Within seconds, the plan was in motion.Ava watched as her men slipped inside the building. The security cameras blinked out and went offline. The power inside the minister’s suite was cut off remotely, forcing his guards to switch to backup generators. By the tim
Ava set her champagne glass down on a passing tray, her smile lingering a moment longer for Alex’s sake. “Excuse me,” she said lightly, brushing a hand along his sleeve. “I need a minute.”Alex raised an eyebrow in question, and she simply said. “Powdering my nose.”“Don’t be too long,” Alex replied with an easy grin, sipping his drink. “I’ll hold down the fort.”She smiled back, slipping seamlessly into the flow of guests, weaving past laughing politicians and swirling gowns, while keeping her eyes fixed on the waiter. Once around the corner, her smile dropped. She stepped swiftly through a side door and into the quiet service corridor lined with crates and catering carts, the hum of the gala replaced by the distant clatter of catering trays. Dim lights buzzed overhead. The waiter wasn’t far—she spotted him just ahead, slipping deeper into the hall, checking his phone.“Stop,” Ava said calmly.He froze, glancing over his shoulder, startled but not yet alarmed.“Turn around.”He he
The weeks leading up to the mayor’s award ceremony felt deceptively calm throughout the city.Everything seemed perfect on the outside. Newspapers celebrated the drop in crime, generous donors supported Ava’s community health program, and people in the precinct talked about Alex as if he had single-handedly fixed the streets.But beneath the surface, things were definitely tense. Rico's reports on Kalenko were frustratingly vague, and even though they had rescheduled the shipment, it still hadn’t shown up. Meanwhile, the De Lucas family was strangely silent. Alex reached out to his father once, but their conversation was short and left him feeling unsatisfied.Meanwhile, Ava balanced long hours at the hospital with a string of public appearances she couldn’t decline.But today, today was a promising day in the city.It was award-giving night.City Hall had never looked so grand—chandeliers blazing, marble floors polished until they reflected the gold trim lining every arch and column
The phone call had barely ended when Alex spotted movement in his rearview mirror.A man emerged from behind a tall hedge near the front gate of the Reed estate, standing in the warm light of the security lamps. He wore a nice, dark long coat, and he didn’t seem to be trying to hide; he was simply waiting.Alex’s hand hovered near his holster as he stepped out of the car and closed the door behind him.“Something I can help you with?” Alex called out, casually but not carelessly.Rafael stepped forward, hands in his coat pockets. “I could ask you the same.”Alex didn’t move. “You’re Ava’s assistant. Rafael, right?”“Among other things.”There was an awkward silence between them, a tense moment that pretended to be a conversation. The wind rustled through the trees by the estate walls, the only sound filling the gap for a while.“I’m not here for trouble,” Rafael finally said, stepping a little closer. “But if you’re going to keep showing up at that door pretending to be something you’
Ava tilted her head slightly, watching him. “Can I ask you something?”Alex gave her a slow grin. “Isn’t that what dates are for?”She didn’t return the smile. “Why’d you become a cop?”He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “Wow. Jumped right past favourite colour and childhood pets, huh?”“I figured they don’t really say much about you,” she replied with a neutral shrug. “Besides, you strike me more as a rescue-dog-than-hamster type anyway.”That made him chuckle. He set his fork down, leaning forward with his forearms braced on the edge of the table. For a moment, he looked thoughtful, like he was sorting through something. But the truth—well, his version of it—came easily now. He’d rehearsed it so many times it felt real.“My mom used to run a little diner in the south end,” he said, his tone gentler now. “One day, someone came in with a knife and tried to rob the register. I was twelve. I froze. My dad wasn’t around that day. But there was this guy, a regular customer. Off-duty
The drive started quiet.Alex’s car—a sleek, dark hybrid with leather seats that still somehow smelled like pine—glided through the city like it belonged in a movie. Ava sat in the passenger seat, legs crossed, hands folded neatly over her clutch. Her dress shimmered faintly under the ambient dashboard light. And still, all he could think about was how much she looked like she didn’t want to be there.Which was ironic. Because neither did he. Except… he kind of did.“You look like you’re calculating how many exits you’d need to take to fake a kidnapping,” he said lightly, eyes still on the road.“I’m trying to decide if I can fake appendicitis without actually performing surgery on myself,” Ava replied without missing a beat.He laughed. “That’s dark. I like it.”Ava gave a little smirk. “Pearl’s coaching.”“Yeah, I figured. That kid’s going to run for mayor by age ten.”“She’s already lobbying for wedding fireworks and matching tattoos.”Alex side-eyed her. “Tattoos?”“Don’t worry,
“Unless it’s a full code, direct anything after six to Dr. Alec,” Ava said, slipping her lab coat off one arm as she moved through the hallway of the ER.The nurse beside her nodded quickly, clipboard in hand, struggling to keep up with Ava’s fast pace.“If it’s something he can’t handle,” Ava continued, already opening her locker, “they can call my emergency line. But only if it’s life-threatening or political. No grey area.”“Yes, Dr. Reed.”Ava buttoned her coat shut and pulled her hair free from the clip. Her shift was technically over. Her nerves, however, were far from clocked out.The memory of Alex’s face in that dark hallway—the sound of his voice, the gun, the brief standoff—still felt intense. He didn’t recognise her, and she was sure of that. But ever since that moment, she’d felt a tightness in her jaw that just wouldn’t disappear.Between a police raid she couldn’t admit to surviving and the fallout of public scandal, she felt like she'd lived three lifetimes in one week
They didn’t move.For a heartbeat, neither blinked nor lowered their weapon. The darkness between was thick, lit only by the flickering remnants of the busted overhead light. Her hood shadowed her face, and Alex could barely make out the shape of her jaw and the firm grip of her gloved hand on the trigger. But he could tell she was calm and wouldn’t hesitate to act."You’re on the wrong turf, Officer," she said coolly, voice slightly altered through some kind of audio modulator. "La Rosa doesn’t appreciate unexpected guests."His aim didn’t falter. “Put the gun down.”She ignored the command entirely, taking one step forward. “This is trespassing, detective. You brought your people into our house, all ready for a fight. And for what? A few crates you don’t understand and a war you’re not built for?”Alex’s eyes narrowed. She spoke clearly and carefully, as if she had done this a hundred times before. And for some odd reason, it felt like she recognised him.“Who are you?” he asked.
The briefing room smelled strongly of burnt coffee. You could feel the tension in the air, as if it were gnawing under your skin. Officers in tactical gear filled the benches; some were rubbing their tired eyes, while others fidgeted nervously, already feeling the pre-mission jitters. While some appeared to be still waking up, the majority displayed a glare that indicated their frustration.Nobody enjoyed being summoned at the break of dawn for a raid that was assembled with less than a day's notice.Alex Ramos stood at the front, arms crossed and jaw clenched, looking serious. He was more than just another person in the room; he wasn’t there just to participate in the raid but was the man who had orchestrated it all. “You sure about this intel?” Jenna asked, leaning toward him, her voice pitched low enough to avoid catching the captain’s attention. Her ponytail was still damp from the gym, and she smelled faintly of cinnamon gum and doubt. “An anonymous tip with no ID could be ba
The bullpen was already buzzing when Alex walked in.Officers leaned across desks, coffee in hand, tossing yesterday’s gossip like poker chips. Phones rang, radios hummed, and somewhere in the corner, someone was laughing way too hard at a bad joke. Typical morning chaos.Except this morning wasn’t typical—not for him.“Look who finally showed up,” Jenna’s voice rang out from behind her desk. His partner was leaning back in her chair, her boots resting on her drawer, and a half-full cup of black coffee balanced on her knee.“You miss me, or just enjoying the circus?” Alex muttered, walking toward his desk.Jenna grinned. “Both. Congrats, by the way. Five days ago, only those who kept tabs on the police department and ongoing investigations knew your name. Now? You’re trending right under a celebrity divorce.”Alex shot her a look. “Don’t start.”“I wouldn’t,” she said sweetly, then slid a tablet across the table with her boot. “But you might want to take a peek before the chief finds