Bound By The Badge

diner was empty save for a few scattered customers nursing their cups of coffee. The low hum of the neon sign outside buzzed faintly in the background, casting a dull, sickly glow that r

k out, walk to her tiny apartment just a few blocks away, crash into bed for a few hours, and then wake up to do it all again. She'd been doing this for months no

rt of the city, the kind of place where you didn't ask too many questions and just served the food. But Mia

is back to the wall, a cup of black coffee in front of him, and a plate of scrambled eggs untouched. He was a mystery, a brooding figure who seemed to carry a weight with him. He never spoke much and never acknow

was something about him-something dangerous. Every time he walked into the diner, it

wasn't here to get caught up in his mystery.

deliberate like they owned the place-had Mia instinctively straightening up. She had seen men like them before. Rough around the edges, tough-looking, but

guy with a shaved head and a scar running down his jaw, flashed her a grin t

uff, as he pulled out a chair for hi

moved, but she could see the subtle tension in his shoulders. His jaw was clenched, his hand wrapped tightly around his coffee cup lik

g was about to go wrong. She set the coffee down in front of the man with the sc

r voice steady, though the une

ed her up and down. She could see the calculation in his gaze. He was used to

screaming that something wasn't right. She glanced back over her shoulder toward the door, but that's when she noticed the two

. These men didn't belong here. No

ht through her. She quickly turned back to the counter, pretending not t

attention. He was taller than the others, with a sleek, black suit and an air of authority that seemed to pulse around him. His eyes locked onto Cole

. "Detective Lawson," he said, his voice smooth and condescending. "

ight click, his eyes narrowing in a way that made the room feel even smaller. "I don't h

time she had heard it. There were rumors and whispers about Mason and his connection to the city's u

ted, as if they were already preparing for something. Mia's stomach churned with dread. The

y. "It's not just about time, Cole. It's about loyalty. And you're a

eact. He stood slowly, his chair scraping noisily acros

," Cole said, his voice as hard as

elt a chill run down her spine. Whatever was happening between these men, whate

n-his gaze sharp, comman

left no room for hesitation. She grabbed her apron and rushed toward the back door, her mind reeling. She heard voic

d she barely had time to step outside before the reality of the situation hit he

d her back to the cold brick wall.