The InterrogationThe room smelled of sweat and blood, a metallic tang that clung to the air like an unshakable omen. The Oath agent was slumped in the chair, wrists bound with zip ties, a bruise blooming across his jaw where Riley had introduced him to the stock of her rifle. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes—sharp, calculating—watched me with something that felt uncomfortably close to recognition.I leaned against the table, letting the silence stretch between us. The dim light cast long shadows over his face, but I could see the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t fear. It was something worse.Amusement."You gonna start talking," I said, voice low, steady, "or do we have to do this the hard way?"The agent—mid-forties, lean build, a scar running from his temple to his cheekbone—exhaled sharply, almost laughing. "There’s a hard way?" His voice was rough, like he’d swallowed glass years ago and never quite recovered.I grabbed the back of his chair and yanked hi

Ghosts of the PastPain.That was the first thing I felt.A sharp, splitting ache buried deep in my skull, like something was trying to claw its way out. I pressed my palm against my temple, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts. The room swayed, and the cold warehouse walls around me blurred at the edges.I was losing control.Again."Hey." Riley's voice was distant, muffled, like she was speaking through water. I barely registered the hand she placed on my arm. "Nathan, what’s wrong?"I jerked away before I could stop myself, my pulse hammering against my ribs. My vision swam, flashes of light and shadow twisting in my mind. The headache grew worse, splitting into something deeper—something not entirely physical.Memories.They were coming back.Unbidden, unwanted, unraveling like threads torn from a tapestry.And I had no idea how to stop them."Talk to me," Riley urged, stepping in front of me. I could feel her eyes on me, searching for answers I didn’t have. "Nathan, what is i

The Missing Puzzle PieceThe message came at dawn. A single phrase scrawled on the back of a torn playing card, slipped under the door of our safe house.One last shot. Meet us.Riley saw it before I did. She didn’t say anything, just held it between her fingers like it was a live wire. Her expression was unreadable, but I knew her well enough by now to recognize hesitation when I saw it.I took the card from her, running my thumb over the rough edges. The Resistance.“They finally decided to crawl out of the shadows,” I muttered.Riley crossed her arms. “You think it’s real?”I glanced at her. “They wouldn’t have reached out if they didn’t need me.”Her lips pressed together. “Or they’re setting you up.”“Could be.” I flicked the card onto the table. “But if they are, they just made a mistake.”She studied me, tension thrumming in the air between us. I could see the battle waging in her eyes—trust, doubt, maybe even guilt. I still wasn’t sure where we stood after last night.Did I tr

The CapturePain explodes through my skull before I even understand what’s happening. A brutal force slams into my side, knocking the air from my lungs. My knees buckle as I hit the cold, unforgiving ground. A boot presses against my ribs, pinning me down.Voices blur around me—low, commanding tones. I taste blood. My pulse hammers in my ears, each beat a warning that I don’t have time to process.Move. Fight back. Do something.I twist, trying to get a hand under me, but another blow crushes into my stomach. The world tilts as I gasp for breath. Rough hands yank my arms behind me, securing them with something cold and unyielding—steel.Handcuffs."Stay down, Nathan," a voice murmurs, amused. "Wouldn't want to make this harder than it has to be."Familiar. Too familiar.I lift my head, my vision swimming. A figure crouches beside me, smirking. Mason. One of Julian’s most loyal enforcers. His dark eyes gleam with satisfaction."You look surprised," he says. "Thought you were smarter th

The Last BetrayalI stare at Julian, the weight of his ultimatum pressing down on me like a vice. His expression remains composed, but I see the flicker of confidence in his eyes—he thinks he’s already won. That I’ll give in, just like he planned.He’s wrong.I take a slow step forward, watching his smirk deepen. My voice is steady when I speak. “I choose neither.”Julian’s smirk falters for a fraction of a second before he regains his mask. “Excuse me?”I cross my arms, the tension in my chest turning into something sharper—determination. “I don’t trust you. Not with my past, not with my memories, and sure as hell not with my future.” I tilt my head, studying him. “You expect me to believe you’re just handing me the truth out of the goodness of your heart?”Julian chuckles, slow and measured. “Nathan, I don’t believe in goodness.” His voice drops to something almost affectionate. “But I do believe in leverage.”I hold my ground. “That’s exactly why I won’t play your game.”The shift