Bounded By The Badge

Mia Carter wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time, the rag in her hand leaving streaks across the polished surface. The diner was empty-save for a few late-night customers hunched over mugs of coffee, their faces cast in the dull, flickering light of the neon sign outside. The low hum of the buzzing light was the only sound, except for the occasional sizzle from the grill and the clinking of silverware. It was always this quiet, this late. Too quiet.

She stifled a yawn, the weight of exhaustion pulling her down like a heavy blanket. Another hour and a half before her shift ended. She would clock out, walk the short few blocks to her apartment, collapse into bed for a few hours, and then wake up to do it all over again. She'd been working at the diner for months now-longer than she'd expected. The tips weren't great, but at least she had a job. It kept the bills paid, and the lights on, and it kept her from spiraling.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she glanced around. It wasn't much-just a rundown diner in a rough part of town. It was the kind of place that didn't ask questions. You came in, ordered, ate, and left. That's how Mia liked it. She didn't need more than that. Just enough to get by. That was all.

Her gaze shifted toward the corner booth. He was there again. Detective Cole Lawson. He was a regular, always at the same time, always in the same booth. He sat in the corner, back to the wall, never engaging much with anyone. A cup of black coffee in front of him, his untouched plate of scrambled eggs growing cold. The man was a mystery. She'd worked here long enough to know the kind of regulars who frequented the diner, and Cole was... different. He never said much. Never made small talk. His eyes-dark and sharp-always seemed to be studying the room, or maybe even her, in a way that unsettled her. She couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that didn't sit right, something that made her cautious, even though she didn't have a reason to be.

Mia turned back to the counter, her thoughts drifting. It wasn't like she had time to figure out what was going on in Cole's head. She had her problems. A few bills she was behind on, a landlord who didn't understand why rent was late, and the gnawing feeling that life wasn't going to get better. That's what kept her up at night-not Cole Lawson.

Her eyes flicked toward the door as a new set of customers walked in. She immediately straightened, feeling the shift in the atmosphere. They were different from the usual crowd. The way they moved-too confident, too assured-set off an alarm in her head. They weren't regulars.

The tallest man, wearing a leather jacket and sporting a scar across his jaw, glanced at her, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He looked like trouble. The others were just as bad. Rough, intimidating, the kind of guys who were used to getting what they wanted through intimidation. Mia's stomach knotted, but she kept her face neutral as she made her way over to their table.

"What can I get you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease creeping up her spine.

The scarred man grinned, and she could feel the coldness in his gaze. "Coffee. Black."

She didn't speak further as she poured the coffee, her eyes darting back to Cole. He hadn't moved, but she could see the way his hand gripped the cup a little too tightly, the tension in his shoulders. He was watching the men closely. Too closely. He wasn't just observing them. He was waiting. Waiting for something.

The men at the table didn't seem to notice, or maybe they just didn't care. As Mia set the coffee in front of the scarred man, his eyes flicked up to her again. Something was calculating in his gaze. He studied her, his eyes lingering just a little too long. She felt her skin crawl.

"You know," the man said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "It's pretty quiet in here tonight, isn't it? You'd think with all this bad weather, there'd be more people trying to warm up."

Mia forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, quiet night."

She turned quickly to leave, but before she could, her gaze met Cole's. For the briefest second, their eyes locked, and Mia felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away, rushing back to the counter. What was that? His gaze was sharp, but not in the usual way. It was intense, and focused, as if he were warning her about something.

As Mia tried to steady her hands, she glanced back at the men. The scarred one was now talking in low tones to the others, his words unintelligible. Her stomach twisted, but she couldn't put her finger on why. Something wasn't right.

The bell above the door jingled, and Mia jumped. A man stepped inside-clean-shaven, sharp suit, the kind of man who belonged in an office and not a dive like this. His gaze swept over the room before locking onto Cole's. The tension between the two of them was instantaneous. It wasn't just the usual stranger-to-stranger exchange. No, this was personal. It was as if an unspoken battle was being fought right there in the middle of the diner.

The man in the suit walked toward Cole slowly, a smile playing on his lips that didn't reach his eyes. "Detective Lawson," he said, his voice smooth but with a cold edge. "You know it's bad manners to bring your work into a place like this."

Cole didn't flinch. He set his coffee down, eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't have time for your games, Mason," he said, his voice low, controlled.

Mia's breath caught in her throat. Mason? The name rang a bell. She had heard whispers about him, rumors. His name was connected to the city's underworld, a figure that people avoided mentioning too loudly.

Cole stood slowly, his chair scraping against the floor. "You've got no leverage here," he said flatly.

Mason's eyes flicked to Mia. For a brief moment, their gazes locked. It was enough to send a shiver down her spine. Whatever was happening here, whatever these men were involved in, Mia had just stepped into something far bigger than she could understand.

Cole's eyes snapped back to hers, his expression hardening. "Get out back. Now."

The urgency in his voice made Mia's heart race. She didn't question him. She grabbed her apron, her hands trembling as she moved quickly toward the back door. Her pulse hammered in her ears, and just as she reached for the handle, she heard it-a sharp crack that split the air. A gunshot.

Mia froze. Fear gripped her. She couldn't move, couldn't think.

Her heart pounded as she pushed the door open and stepped outside. The cool night air hit her, but it couldn't quell the fear settling in her stomach. Whatever was happening in there-it wasn't just a confrontation. It was dangerous. And now, she was part of it.