Prologue

The dim light of the night filtered through the dark curtains of Nicholas Sokolov’s office, casting weird shadows across the expensive and modern furniture. Despite the luxury and the beautiful view, there was an air of tension high in the air, suffocating in its intensity. Nick sat behind his desk, a glass of amber liquid between his hands as he stared blankly at the city lights and skyline beyond the window.

Home.

The world left a bitter taste in Nick’s mouth, harsher than the whiskey he was drinking. This place was supposed to be his sanctuary, a refuge from the demanding chaos that his life was. But instead, it felt like a gilded prison, offering no peace or solace, only the ghosts of demons that haunted him.

The throbbing pain in his shoulder served as a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the safety of his office. He winced as he shifted in his chair, the movement sending a sharp jolt of pain shooting through his entire body. He had bruises everywhere. The wound on his shoulder, made by a bullet, was still fresh. It was the result of a bad deal that ended in a bloodshed of betrayal.

With a heavy sigh, Nick raised the glass to his lips, the fiery whiskey providing a fleeting moment of numbness amidst the turmoil. He knew he shouldn’t be drinking after being in the hospital a couple of hours ago. With the pills they gave him, he knew it would only dull his senses and cloud his judgment even further. But in that moment, he didn’t care. He just needed something, anything at this point, to dull the ache and the pain coming from his soul.

As the liquid burned its way down his throat, Nick’s mind drifted back to the events that led him there; to the choices he had made over the years and the consequences that had followed him.

He thought of Isabel, his beautiful but lying wife, and the empty shell of a marriage they built together. He thought of Lucas, his trusted friend and confidant, who had betrayed him.

But most of all, he thought of Jane.

The one person he had never been able to forget. Despite their past, despite his decision and the hurt he had inflicted, a part of Nick still longed for her, yearned to see her one more time.

Nick set the empty glass down on his desk, the clink of the glass against wood echoing through the silent office. He knew he couldn’t stay there forever; he couldn’t drown all his sorrows in a bottle of whiskey and pretend that everything was okay. But for now, in that moment, it was enough.

Nick leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, letting the darkness of the office envelope him like a shroud. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and new dangers to face. However, in this brief respite from the storm, Nick allowed himself to succumb to the numbing embrace of alcohol and exhaustion.

Tomorrow could wait.

For tonight, Nick Sokolov was content to drown in the silence of his office, lost in the haze of his own thoughts and regrets.