Lucas, a dedicated detective has been working his ass off to take down a drug ring that seems to be taking over the city of Brooklyn, NY, but somehow, they always seem to be one step ahead of him. Their ring leader goes by the name "Shadow", and as the name suggests, that's all the police and everyone else who has spoken to them has seen. Lucas tries not to go insane and finds comfort in the arms of Peyton, his girlfriend. To him, she is the only one that he trusts to be by his side. But his enemy might just be lurking closer to home than he imagined.
Lucas' POV
The sun seems to be gloomy today as it sits in the sky, I sigh continuously as my mind races. I am still shaken from the event that occurred a few hours ago.
Everything had been cleaned up. The blood, the broken glass- the bodies, it gave me chills. The fact that whoever this is can snap his fingers and have things done at his beck and call.
I and my team had been chasing the leader of the drug ring here in Brooklyn, but we seem to be chasing shadows. Everything we managed to come across led to a dead end.
I turn to my side, Joey is standing with the same expression as me, watching the sun quietly and sighing.
Today was a pretty rough day.
I sigh again, rubbing my hand over my face as I walk over to him. He has a glass of alcohol in one hand and his pistol in the other. I understand his frustration, having something- or in our case someone, slip through your fingers over and over again can be a bit too much, could even drive a man to a point of insanity.
I place my hand on his shoulders and frown at the permanent worry lines on his forehead, his hollow cheeks and under eye bags that seem to get worse every day.
"I'm going to kill him when I eventually lay my hands on him," he says venomously.
I can hear the hate in his voice, can feel it in the way his body shakes violently.
He had lost his daughter to this case, we believe she got too close to something tangible and had to be eliminated by them. So while the rest of us are passionately trying to get whoever this drug boss is, out of the streets, it was personal for Joey.
We never managed to get an actual name and the people we came across who were willing to talk, didn't seem to know anything that could lead us to him. They all called him a common name though, Shadow. And that was all we knew about him. The rest of it were facts, he was vicious, fast and powerful. Whoever he was, he had access to top security places, high value people and the thugs on the streets. He was literally feared everywhere, there wasn't much I could do at this time.
He slams his fist on the table, rattling the pen container and causing it to fall over. I take his half empty glass from him and put it away.
"Fuck!" he yells, annoyed at himself. I can tell because I have worked with him for long enough to know. After his daughter died, there seemed to be a part of him that snapped, and I don't blame him.
The board had considered getting him off the team but I had pleaded on his behalf, the worst thing we could do to him at this time is stop him from getting his revenge in the only way he knows how to.
I grab his shoulders and shake him roughly, "Pull yourself together man!" I yell, trying to call him back.
"Why do I keep letting him get away?" he sinks into my arms, tears spilling out of his eyes.
I swallow hard, I really don't do well with extreme emotions like this.
"It's not your fault. We've been on him for a year now. You are doing everything you can- we all are. And we are going to get him, he can only stay hidden for so long.
He nods, trying to pull himself together.
"I need you to do something for me, I need you to go home and have a cold shower. Get some sleep and show up to work tomorrow. It might take some time but we would get whoever he is eventually."
He seems to have a new sense of hope and he finally straightens up, tucking his gun into his hostler.
I sigh and pat his back, watching him as he walks stiffly out of the office.
Fiona is standing by the door, wearing her uniform, her hips were popped to the side as she eyes me, a smile spread across her face.
"You should be a therapist. You really know how to handle people," she says, walking over to me.
"God no, I can't handle that much emotions on a daily basis," I laugh softly.
She caresses my face gently, something I had grown to love. It had a way of putting my head back in order, and man was it peaceful. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling.
"Too bad, I thought it would suit you perfectly."
"Hmm," I hum.
I feel her hand leave my face, causing my eyes to open due to the absence of her touch.
"Are you okay?" she asks, raising an eyebrow, something she did when she expected me to lie.
I sigh, "No."
Her eyebrows relaxes, showing she believed me and was ready to listen. I love this about her, she is always ready to listen, and if she doesn't have a solution, she would provide comfort.
People say we should be together, but sadly we are not one of those childhood friends that end up together romantically.
"Tell me about it," she say, getting sited and pulling me to sit with her. I don't bother trying to get out of it, I know she wouldn't let me leave until she is convinced that I am okay
So I sit next to her and sigh, I've been doing that a lot lately.
"It's everything. We keep going round in circles and chasing someone who doesn't even have a face yet. Joey is a mess, the team is losing hope and I don't know what to do. Today- today was terrible. They were eight of them, an entire family- freaking slaughtered in their living room. The little girl was missing though, no trace of her anywhere."
I am starting to get migraines from thinking too much. And I can't even break down or be in a mood because I'm the guy who cheers everyone up.
"Could there be something you're missing?" Fiona asks thoughtfully.
"I have spent countless nights studying the case files, looking for loop holes, looking at the situation from different angles, going on stakeouts- I don't think there's something I could possibly be missing. Every time we find a lead, they end up dead. Even when they are kept in the holding cell."
She rubs my shoulders gently, sensing that my stress is getting the best of me.
"Can I see the case file?" she asks.
I hesitated, backing away a little so she could sense my discomfort at her request.
"What?" she asked, throwing her hands in the air.
"You know I can't do that. It's against the code."
"Technically, it isn't, because we are still in your place of work and I'm not just a civilian."
She makes a point, she is a cop, so I am not risking the life of a civilian, or taking documents out of work place. But I would be sharing sensitive information with a third party.
"I can't do that Fiona," I sigh.
I get to my feet and grab my jacket, ready to go.
"What if I am able to see something that you and your team missed," she asks, making me stop and turn to face her.
"Oh, and how is that possible? We've been working on this for a year now- and counting."
"That's precisely my point. The thing about teams is that you all have to be on the same page, and by extension, you all see from the same lens. It's like you all are in the same boat- so you need someone outside your boat to warn you of what's coming."
Another point.
Call me paranoid, but I can't help but suspect her, considering how desperately she seems to want to 'help' me.
But I am out of options and she has hit me with two great points.
"You have to promise me- swear, that this stays between us. No one can ever find out," I tell her sternly.
"What if I crack the case?" She pouts.
"This is serious Fiona, if you tell anyone I could get kicked out."
She scofs and walks over to me, slapping me playfully on the arm, "Quit being so serious would you?"
I relax a bit and hang my jacket back on the hanger, grabbing her hand, I lead her to the room.
The case files are scattered all over the table, Fiona keeps her focus on the pages while I subtly keep my eyes on her.
Personally, I believe Fiona was a great person, but I have been with the FBI for too long to trust that she is just here to help me crack a case because she is bored.
"Have you found anything?" I ask.
The sun is departing from the sky and I am starting to feel uneasy.
"I haven't found anything, but I have noticed a pattern," she says, not taking her eyes off the papers.
"And what is that?" I ask, biting my nails. I walk over to her and stand behind her, watching the papers she is studying.
"In all of these, you go to him. You follow leads that are supposed to take you to him. You plan stake outs, trying to catch him, when you don't even know what he looks like."
"So?" I shrug.
She sighs and put the papers aside, "What if he's playing games with you people. Setting traps and watching you walk into them while he hides in the shadows." She says.
I nod, furrowing my brows as I let what she said sink in.
"Think about it, how can he be so fast, escaping you every single time, unless it was pre- planned, unless he knew you people were coming- and made his plans accordingly."
"That's why he's always one step ahead."
It was all starting to click, the almost encounters and times when he would vanish like a ghost.
"So what do you suggest?" I ask.
"Beat him as his own game, set a trap for him. Let him come to you."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"I haven't figured that out yet. But there has to be something that he can't help but come after."
I think about it for a hot minuite, dissecting and trying to come up with something that could possibly get his attention.
I found nothing.
"There's a missing girl," I say. "I need to find her."
"Children are messy. Look hard enough and you will most likely find a slip up. Not from him obviously, cause he is obviously too smart for that. The kid is bound to screw him up though."
I nod again, she is right, I have never thought about this at all, he really might be playing games with us.
"Did I help?" She asks with a proud grin.
I place a kiss on her forehead and rub her shoulder lightly.
"Yes you did. Thank you so much."
I start to gather the papers and put them back in their files, Fiona helps me place them back on the shelves.
We get back to the main office and I grab my jacket and start to hurry out.
"Wait!" she calls, making me stop again in my tracks and turn to face her.
"If you people haven't seen a face before, how do you know it's a man?"
I shrug, the question does seem like something to think about, but there is no way a woman would be the leader of such a massive drug ring.
"The things I've seen Fiona, aren't something a woman can pull off," I say.
"That's a bit sexist don't you think?" she furrows her brows and places her hands on her hips.
"A woman can lead a drug ring, very efficiently even," she say.
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind," I reply.
I need to get home, place a call to Givoni and make sure we get something on this "Shadow".
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, āEither you or the baby survives!ā Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, āIām sorry, men no longer interest me.ā
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion.Ā Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"