2025-03-21 19:04:59
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The shadow in the hospital The Midnight Call
Ramirez gripped the steering wheel tightly, his breath heavy with exhaustion. The night air was thick, pressing against the windshield of his car as he sat in the dimly lit parking lot outside his apartment. He had driven home, but stepping inside didn’t feel safe. Not when he knew they were watching. Not when he had spent the last twenty-four hours trying to find his family, only to hit dead end after dead end.He exhaled, rubbing his tired eyes. His back ached from stress, his mind a tangled mess of desperation and suspicion. He couldn’t trust anyone. Not his colleagues, not his superiors—hell, not even the so-called “friends” who had warned him to back off. The moment he started digging into Javier Montoya and his criminal network, the threats came in waves, whispered behind closed doors, sent in untraceable messages, hinted at in the cold, lifeless gazes of men he once called his brothers in uniform.And then, his phone rang.He flinched. The sound cut through the silence like a k
The shadow in the hospital I'm Revoking Your Fatherhood Rights
The nurses emerged from the labor room, their steps brisk yet gentle as they carried the newborn swaddled in a soft white blanket. Elizabeth, exhausted but glowing with the warmth of motherhood, leaned into Walker’s embrace as he wrapped his arms around her. His breath hitched as he gazed down at the tiny bundle in the nurse’s arms.Walker’s throat tightened, emotions bubbling up inside him. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on Elizabeth’s forehead, then another on the baby’s. "You did it," he murmured, his voice thick with gratitude.Elizabeth smiled, though fatigue pulled at her features.“Nurse, can we go now?” Walker asked. His arms tightened protectively around Elizabeth, an instinctive urge to take them home where he knew they’d be safe.“Not so fast, sir,” the nurse replied, shaking her head. “Your wife needs to stay for two days. There were some complications after birth. We need to monitor her.”Walker’s expression didn’t change, but inside, a wave of unease crept up his sp
The shadow in the hospital A Visit to Ramirez’s coward partner
The car door swung open, and Ramirez stepped out, his polished boots slamming onto the pavement with firm authority. He was a man of presence—tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding the kind of honor that made him stand out even in a city like New York. His jet-black hair, neatly combed back, glistened under the streetlights, and his sharp brown eyes carried a depth of experience that few could comprehend. At 33, Ramirez was a man built for resilience, a man who had seen too much yet carried himself with dignity. His chiseled jaw, accentuated by a slight five o'clock shadow, gave him a rugged appeal, and his tailored black suit hugged his frame perfectly.Tonight, he was on Madison Avenue, not far from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital—where Oscar was recovering. As he pulled up, his mind raced with memories. He and Oscar had been through everything together. From the cold streets of the Bronx to high-stakes busts in Brooklyn, they had always had each other’s backs. Sure, Oscar had his moment
The shadow in the hospital Where does Svet belong?
Something about the truck driver was off.Walker noticed it the moment Svet shrugged off his coat and settled into the waiting room chair. The dim hospital light cast soft shadows over his frame, highlighting the marks that crept up his neck—tattoos, but not the casual kind. Some were shaped like stars, others like half-moons, blending into the wrinkles of his aged but still intimidating physique.Then there were his arms.Walker had seen tattoos before—who hadn’t?—but the ones on Svet’s hands were different. His left forearm bore the inked silhouette of a scorpion, its tail curled upward in a striking green hue, as though ready to strike. The details were sharp, intricate, as if the creature itself had been burned into his skin rather than merely inked. It was mesmerizing, dangerous-looking, almost alive.This wasn’t just body art. This was a mark of belonging.Walker’s gaze shifted to Svet’s right arm, where a serpent-like dragon coiled in emerald and black, its fierce eyes seeming
The shadow in the hospital Daad Intercontinental Supermarket
The revolving glass doors parted, and Walker stepped into Daad Intercontinental Supermarket—a retail empire owned by the prestigious Daad family. It was more than just a supermarket; it was a symbol of luxury, the epitome of affluence, where only the wealthiest could afford to shop. Everything inside shimmered under golden-hued chandeliers, from polished marble floors to elegantly arranged aisles stocked with imported goods. Each item carried a price tag that could make an average man weak in the knees.Walker was not an average man. He was far below that today.His clothes were crumpled, the same ones he had hurriedly thrown on when the truck driver took him and his wife to the hospital. He had no time to go home for a change. His wife had just given birth, but complications had kept her in the hospital. Now, she needed urgent supplies—things for herself and their newborn.As he scanned the aisles, feeling out of place among the elite customers dressed in tailor-made suits and design
The shadow in the hospital No One Is Coming For You
Jett jerked awake to the sharp sting of ice-cold water slamming against his face. His body convulsed from the shock, lungs seizing as the freezing liquid soaked into his torn clothes. The world was a blur—shadows moving, voices laughing, his breath coming in ragged gasps.Then, the fist came.A brutal strike to the ribs. Then another. Jett groaned, head lolling forward, but the pain snapped him awake. His wrists burned from the ropes cutting into them, his legs bound so tight he could barely feel them anymore.A boot slammed into his gut.He would’ve doubled over, but the ropes held him upright."That woke him up," one of the guards sneered, rolling his shoulders. The red scarf around his neck was stained with dried blood—maybe his, maybe someone else’s. Didn’t matter. These men didn’t care.Jett spat blood onto the floor.The laughter around him was casual, like they were playing cards instead of torturing a man. He could barely lift his head, but he caught glimpses—rifles slung lazi
The shadow in the hospital Looks like you owe this man an apology
The security office was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of coffee and stale authority. Walker sat in the interrogation room, his wrists still stinging from the tight handcuffs. His jaw clenched as he watched the security officers whisper among themselves, throwing him the occasional glance like he was some street rat caught in the wrong place.Outside, in the loading bay of Daad Intercontinental Supermarket, a massive steel door groaned open—the supplier's entrance, a passage reserved for trucks delivering goods straight from the seaport and airport. Svet had just finished his delivery.He stepped down from his truck, stretching his back with a groan before heading toward the security department to finalize his clearance. He wasn’t in a hurry. His work here was done, and all that remained was getting the final stamp on his delivery papers before driving off.Whistling softly, he knocked once on the security office door, then pushed it open.Inside, he slid in casually, humming
The shadow in the hospital Final Wreck for his courage
The entire police department was in chaos.A cop had been beaten, humiliated, and left for dead in the middle of the street. The video was everywhere—circulating online, played repeatedly on news channels, dissected frame by frame by both law enforcement and the public. The image of Officer Oscar struggling, then collapsing, played like a stain on the department’s reputation.A prisoner had escaped, not just slipping through their fingers but taking a patrol car and making a mockery of them. It was a slap to the face.Inside the precinct, tempers flared.“We have checkpoints all over the city, CCTV surveillance, and an entire force dedicated to tracking this guy down!” Ramirez slammed a file onto the desk. “And yet, nothing?!”Another officer, jaws clenched, shook his head. “He’s like a damn ghost. We traced the patrol car—found it abandoned near an uncompleted building. No fingerprints, no leads, nothing.”The NYPD’s higher-ups were livid. The escapee’s face was everywhere, plastered
Latest Chapter
Memory Loss
Tiny flickers of light danced before his eyes. His vision blurred, unfocused. He groanved, trying to move, but his body felt weighted, sluggish. Panic clawed at his chest as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings."Where... where am I?" His voice cracked, dry as desert air.The sound of hurried footsteps. A soft gasp. Then, warmth—a gentle hand brushing against his cheek. "Walker! Oh my God, you're awake!" A familiar voice. Comforting. Shaky with emotion.He tried to lift his head, but the effort was exhausting. Squinting through the haze, he could barely make out the silhouette of a woman. His heart told him it was Elizabeth, but his mind refused to connect the dots."I’m here," she whispered, her fingers tracing his face as though confirming he was real. "It’s me, Elizabeth."Walker’s breath came out in short puffs. "What happened to me? Why can’t I see properly?" He reached up, his fingers brushing against bandages wrapped tightly around his hands and arms.Elizabeth sque
Prison Chaos
Ramirez's breath came in ragged gasps as he maneuvered through the crawlspace. The air was thick with dust, making his lungs burn. He heard the officers below shouting orders, their boots thundering against the floor. The prison was alive with the chaos he had unleashed.He wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind racing. He needed to get to the inner cells. If Javier Montoya was truly inside, he had to see him with his own eyes. If not, then Ramirez knew he had been chasing shadows—and his family’s disappearance had a different culprit.The crawlspace was tight, barely giving him enough room to move. His uniform scraped against the rough metal, and his shoulders ached from the strain. He pressed on, ignoring the discomfort. Every second counted. He could hear the officers below, their radios crackling with updates.Ramirez pushed forward, but his luck ran out. The metal creaked beneath his weight, and then—SNAP!—the weak panel gave way. He barely had time to react before he plummeted
Venom
Walker sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly into the dimly lit room. His mind was a storm, a never-ending swirl of worries and unresolved thoughts. Elizabeth stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open as she instinctively checked on their baby, Seth. Once satisfied that he was sleeping soundly, she rolled over, expecting to find her husband asleep. Instead, she saw his tense posture, his shoulders hunched forward as if carrying an unbearable weight.She wiped her face with her palm, clearing her vision as she glanced at the bedside clock. It was exactly 2 a.m. The eerie silence of the night made his soft murmuring more apparent. Walker’s lips moved, but his words were incomprehensible. Elizabeth sat up, concern tightening her chest. She reached out and touched his shoulder. Walker flinched slightly, his body jolting as if pulled from the depths of his thoughts."Baby, why aren’t you sleeping? You look troubled," she whispered, moving closer and wrapping her arms around him. H
Prison Invasion
Ramirez’s heart pounded like a drum as he sped through the city streets of New York, his thoughts darkened by the loss of his wife and daughter. Every twist and turn on his patrol car’s journey seemed to echo the emptiness in his soul. He was convinced that the key to his personal nightmare lay with Javier Montoya—a notorious criminal now confined within the harsh walls of Rikers Island. Though Montoya was locked away, whispers of corruption and secret releases haunted Ramirez’s mind. Determined to find answers, he barreled down 42nd Street, the neon lights and towering billboards blending into a chaotic river of color that barely registered as he pushed his vehicle faster.Turning sharply onto Lexington Avenue, Ramirez’s focus intensified. The memories of his family—the gentle smile of his daughter and the comforting embrace of his wife—drove him onward. His mind wandered between scenes of happier times and the stark reality of his current despair. Soon, he merged onto the FDR Drive,
A deal below the belt
The wind howled through the dense thicket, rustling the overgrown shrubs that concealed the entrance to Jett’s hideout. He moved swiftly through the darkness, his breath steady despite the chaos raging inside his mind. The meeting had gone south. He had signed a deal with the Crocs—one he had no choice but to accept. They had set him free after his capture, but at a cost. Now, he was bound to a contract that turned his skills against the very people he once sought to protect. He had never been a saint, but at least he had wielded his knowledge on his own terms. Now, his will was no longer his own.He reached the mouth of the cave, crouching behind a thick trunk, scanning the surroundings. He never entered without ensuring he wasn’t followed. The Crocs had him in their grip, and he knew better than to underestimate their reach. The cave was well hidden, deep in the forest where few dared to venture. Wild vines snaked over its rocky exterior, masking the entrance like nature’s own fortr
Impromptu Visit
The blaring horn of a truck shattered the quiet of the hidden apartment complex, sending a ripple of tension through Walker’s chest. His grip on the bottle he was holding tightened instinctively. His hidden apartment was not the kind of place where people paid casual visits. He stood, moving toward the window, and peered out through the blinds.Svet.The old truck driver climbed down from his truck, a large box in his hands. A gift. Walker didn’t move at first. He just stood there, watching. There was something about Svet that never sat right with him. He had saved Walker’s wife in a moment of crisis, and for that, Walker was grateful. But ever since then, Svet had been lingering too close, weaving himself into their lives. Walker had been trained to be cautious, and something about the man didn’t add up.The way Svet had pulled rank at the Daad Intercontinental Supermarket had been unsettling. One moment, a manager was embarrassing Walker, the next, Svet had shut her down with a few
Oscar’s Pursuit
The cab ride home was silent, the only sounds coming from the city as it blurred past the windows. Oscar leaned against the seat, his face pale from the blood loss. His wife, seated beside him, reached for his hand, her grip firm yet trembling. She didn’t say a word, but the worry in her eyes spoke volumes.When they arrived, she helped him out of the car, her movements swift but cautious. His legs nearly buckled beneath him, and he gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain as she supported him toward the house. The Bolt driver waited as she guided Oscar through the door before hurrying back to the car. She had to retrieve the vehicle she had left at the mall to throw off any potential followers. Their movements were calculated, deliberate. They couldn’t afford mistakes.Oscar staggered inside, his breath shallow as he made it to their bedroom. His wife helped him ease onto the bed, carefully positioning him against the pillows. Every inch of his body ached, the pain radiating from
You kept Us Waiting Forever
Walker stepped out of the hospital with Elizabeth by his side, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. The air outside was cool, a welcome contrast to the stifling, antiseptic scent of the hospital corridors he had been trapped in for two days. His wife had given birth, but complications had delayed their discharge. The past forty-eight hours had been a blur of worry, sleepless nights, and hushed conversations with doctors.Walker had barely slept, his rest shallow and uneasy—like that of a security dog on duty. One eye closed, the other open, always alert. Elizabeth had pleaded with him to rest."Walker, please. Just three hours. I'll be fine. The nurses are here. The baby is safe."But he had shaken his head, exhaustion heavy in his bones. "I can't, Liz. I need to be here. What if something happens? I won't forgive myself.""And what if you collapse? What good will that do?" she had argued, frustration edging her voice. "I need you strong, not running on fumes."But he had
The reconnection
The car screeched to a halt. Jett barely felt the force of the stop—his body was too battered, too numb to register anything but exhaustion. The doors unlocked with a mechanical click, and one of the men in the front seat turned around, his cold, dead eyes drilling into Jett’s.“Get out.”Jett didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed the door open, dragging himself onto the pavement, his legs wobbling beneath him. He felt the weight of eyes on his back as he staggered forward, nearly falling but catching himself at the last moment. The car didn’t linger. It roared off into the night, leaving behind nothing but the acrid smell of burning rubber.He forced himself toward his apartment, each step a reminder of what he had just survived. His ribs jutted out beneath his torn shirt—he hadn't eaten real food in days. His body was an empty shell, but his mind… his mind was a storm.Jett fumbled with the key, his fingers trembling as he jammed it into the lock. The door creaked open, and he all