LOGIN“Shouldn’t we call for help?” Charlotte said, her voice weak and strained as she clung to Gerald, her body still trembling from the effects of whatever had been used on her. Her breathing was uneven, her strength barely holding, and the sound of gunfire tearing through the air only made her more fragile in that moment.“I already did,” Gerald replied quickly, his own breath coming fast as his eyes scanned their surroundings with sharp urgency. “On my way here. Let’s just pray they come fast. We can’t hold these men off.”There was no time to waste.Gerald tightened his grip on his gun and stepped slightly forward from behind the Jeep, using the edge of the vehicle as partial cover as he raised his weapon and fired back at the approaching attackers. His focus was locked on the incoming car that was charging towards them with reckless speed.He aimed for the driver.The shot rang out sharply, cutting through the chaos, and the bullet tore straight through the windshield of the approac
Inside the van, the atmosphere was nothing like the violence they had just left behind. The men were in high spirits, their voices loud and filled with excitement as they celebrated what they clearly saw as a successful mission. The engine hummed steadily beneath them as the vehicle sped through the road, cutting across the quiet stretch that led away from the woods. Laughter echoed within the confined space, rough and careless, as though the lives they had taken meant nothing more than a story to boast about.One of the men seated at the back leaned forward slightly, his voice animated as he began to recount his part in the attack. “You should have seen the way he dropped,” he said with a grin, gesturing with his hands as though replaying the moment in the air. “The idiot didn’t even have time to react before I put him down. Just one shot and he was gone.”The others burst into laughter immediately, their voices overlapping as they reacted to his story, some clapping him on the
That evening at about 4:20pm, Charlotte sat quietly in the dining area of the safe house, the soft ticking of a wall clock the only sound keeping her company as the late afternoon light filtered through the glass windows, casting faint shadows across the table. A plate of food had been set neatly in front of her, still warm when it was first brought in, but now it sat untouched, slowly losing its heat as time passed. She hadn’t taken a single bite. Her fingers rested lightly around a photograph she held, her attention completely withdrawn from everything around her as her eyes stayed fixed on the image.It was a picture of her and Caleb.They were both smiling in it, caught in a moment that felt alive even now, laughter frozen in time, their closeness evident in the way they leaned toward each other. Charlotte’s thumb brushed gently over his face in the picture, tracing the outline as though trying to feel something through it. Her lips parted slightly as a quiet breath escaped h
On his way driving back from the bar, Marcel gripped the steering wheel firmly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as the city stretched before him in its usual busy rhythm, yet his mind was far from the traffic, far from the honking horns and passing lights. There was a strange mix of emotions stirring within him, something he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since before he became entangled in Nathan Mills’ world. He felt relieved, deeply relieved, and at the same time, a quiet guilt gnawed at him from within. The relief came from the simple fact that he had done something good, something that wasn’t tied to violence, intimidation, or destruction. It had been so long since he had allowed himself to act out of conscience rather than command, and even though it was just a warning, it felt significant to him. But the guilt lingered because he knew the kind of man he worked for, and he knew that if Nathan ever found out about what he had just done, there would be consequences, not just
The next day, Gerald stepped into his usual bar just a few minutes past noon, the familiar creak of the wooden door and the soft chime above it announcing his presence. The atmosphere inside was calm, almost soothing, with a low hum of quiet conversations and the faint clinking of glasses blending into the background. It was a place he had come to rely on over time, not just for food, but for the brief sense of normalcy it offered amidst the chaos of his work.He walked toward his usual spot by the side, a small table tucked slightly away from the center of the room, giving him a clear view of both the entrance and the bar counter. It was a habit he had developed unconsciously, always positioning himself where he could see everything. Old instincts never really left him.He pulled out the chair and sat down, letting out a quiet breath as he settled in. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, his shoulders easing slightly as his gaze moved casually around the room.Then she app
“How dare you sit there and watch one of your boys, that bastard called Inspector Ford, meddle in my affairs?” Nathan’s voice exploded the moment the call connected, his anger pouring through the line without restraint. He stood beside his desk, one hand gripping the receiver tightly while the other pressed hard against the polished wood surface, his knuckles whitening from the force.On the other end, the man receiving the call remained silent for a brief second before responding. “Mr. Mills,” Commissioner Harold Whitaker said, his voice calm and measured, carrying the authority of a man used to power but careful in how he exercised it. “What are you talking about? What did Inspector Ford do this time?”Nathan didn’t respond immediately.There was a pause.A dangerous one.Then he let out a short, humorless chuckle, the sound low and filled with disbelief. “You seriously don’t have an idea?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm before he continued without waiting for a response.
Her phone buzzed inside her bag while the car was still moving, the vibration faint but persistent against the leather seat beside her. Charlotte frowned slightly. For a brief moment, she wondered who could possibly be texting her now. Very few people knew she was leaving today. Fewer still cared
Charlotte practically floated out of the tall glass building, her laughter light and unrestrained as the doors slid shut behind her. The Sydney sun felt warmer than usual, or maybe it was just her mood. She swung her handbag playfully at her side, her simple navy suit hugging her frame neatly, co
As Celine descended the stairs into the living room, the sharp clicking of her heels echoed faintly against the polished marble floor. Two housemaids standing by the corridor straightened immediately, their backs snapping to attention as they bowed low in practiced unison."Good morning, Mrs. Mill
"Mom, did you find that fairy tale book?" Celine's voice was low but sharp, each syllable edged with impatience as she spoke into her phone.She sat on the king-sized bed, still dressed in silk pajamas that clung to her frame. The luxurious hotel room was dimly lit by warm bedside lamps, casting s







