The locker room grew quiet again, the tension thick in the air. Jason stood in front of the row of lockers, his reflection staring back at him from the dirty mirror. He adjusted his mask, pulling it down slightly to ensure it fit comfortably over his face. The familiar weight of the nosemask had always been a source of comfort for him, a shield that kept the world from seeing the parts of him that he wants to keep hidden.Behind him, Huda sat on the bench, his eyes carefully studying Jason. Huda had been the kind of guy who’d never asked too many questions, always keeping to himself, until recently. Jason could feel the shift in the air whenever Huda was around. He wasn’t just the coworker anymore. He was asking more questions than was safe, and that made Jason uneasy.Jason adjusted the hem of his uniform, pretending not to notice the subtle tension in the room. But Huda’s voice broke the silence.“What’s your deal with the president, Lucas? You’re stepping on toes without thinking

He hadn't planned on sleeping that long, but fatigue had a way of creeping up on him. Jason had slept for more than six hours on the couch in his study before he was woken up by a sudden crash that sounded like the shatter of a glass window. Instinct kicked in immediately, cutting through the haze of sleep like a razor.His hand reached for the sleek, black combat knife on the coffee table. The weight of the blade felt familiar in his grip, but it was the revolver that truly made him feel ready. He grabbed his Samuel Colt revolver from beneath the top of the coffee table, slipping a silencer onto its muzzle with practiced ease. The quiet click as he loaded the gun echoed softly through the silent room.Jason moved quickly, but silently, out of his study. His door had been reinforced and made in such a way that it creaked not once, even under the weight of his movements. His fingers wrapped around the doorframe as he slid into the hallway.The corridor was shrouded in shadows. The apar