Bounded By The Badge

eady herself, but her mind was spinning. The gunshot that had echoed through the diner's walls still rang in her ears. Her hands were tr

shadows against the pavement, making everything feel even more isolated. The city was quiet at night, the usual hum of traffic

mething about his calmness that scared her. It wasn't just confidence-it was something darker. The way he had order

Was she in danger too? Or

e alley, his figure emerging from the shadows like some kind of predator. His usual quiet intensity was still there, but there w

nched tightly. "I told you to go inside," he

hat the hell is going on in there, Cole?" she asked, her voice shaking, though sh

nning the alley for threats. "It's nothing you need to worry about," he sai

ed me out of the diner and there's a gunshot, and you expect me to just fo

was a flicker of something in his eyes, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the usual cold detac

there was still an edge to it. "But I'm not going to drag you into something you

l me to stay out of it, Cole. I'm already involved. That Mason guy... he looked at me like I

ing. She wasn't sure if it was anger, concern, or something else that flicker

ide," he said finally, h

'm not going anywhere until you tell me

whelming. "You don't know what you're asking, Mia. These people... they don't ca

beat at his words. P

forward, her voice rising in intensity. "Why don't you trust me to

you're not helpless, Mia. But this... this isn't

n't understand. "What's comi

aint sound of footsteps echoed through the alley, and both of th

hissed, his voice ur

e ran, her feet pounding against the pavement as she darted toward the back door. She

om before he locked the door behind him, his hand resting on the k

e him, breathless

eyes trained on the door, every muscle in his body te

od. They were all looking in their direction, their eyes locked on Mia and Cole. The scarred man, Mason,

though his eyes didn't leave the

feel the storm brewing, and she wa