The moment the door clicked shut, I opened my eyes. From midnight to early morning, the guest room had been alive with muffled sounds, their voices carrying through the silence.
I had spent the night sitting on the edge of the bed, a cigarette perpetually lit between my fingers. The empty cartons littered the floor, and the acrid scent of smoke clung to the room, making me cough until tears burned my eyes.
Tears—for her. Why? I didn’t love her anymore. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
When the first rays of sunlight seeped into the room, I wiped my face clean, collected the spent cigarettes, and threw them into the trash. Along with them, I tossed years of feelings I could no longer bear to hold onto.
By tomorrow—no, by the end of today—this would all be over.
***
Scarlett stood by the door as I prepared to leave, her reluctance almost tangible.
“Hubby, when this mission is over, I promise I’ll stay with you. Just wait for me!” She kissed me over and over, delaying until the last possible second before she finally ran out the door, afraid of being late.
I watched her car speed off, her words echoing in my mind, hollow and meaningless. I turned and climbed up to the roof. The waiting helicopter blades sliced through the air, a reminder that there was no turning back now. As I boarded, a faint, familiar scent drifted toward me.
Moments later, a woman stumbled as the aircraft made a sharp turn, falling into my arms. “Still time to back out, you know,” her voice teased, low and melodic.
I helped her to her seat and closed my eyes, feigning indifference. “Brigadier General Gardner, you’re unusually talkative today.”
Bianca, the Secret Service’s only female brigadier general, was known for her icy demeanor, her presence commanding respect and fear alike. Yet now, her laughter—soft and lilting—filled the cramped cabin.
“Henry,” she said, her voice lowering, “this operation is critical. Taking down this network will destabilize the underground forces in the southwest for good. But you’ve been handpicked to be the bait.”
She hesitated, her tone tinged with rare concern. “Promise me you’ll prioritize your safety. No unnecessary risks, understood?”
I nodded silently, securing my gear as the helicopter neared the drop zone.
***
The field command room was ready and waiting, but as soon as I stepped inside, something felt off. The third operator through the door didn’t act right. His movements were stiff, deliberate. Instinctively, I turned to retreat, but a sharp prick in my neck stopped me.
My vision blurred, and the world tilted sideways as I heard a voice, smug and triumphant. “Finally. We’ve captured the famed intelligence analyst. Inform the chief immediately!”
Darkness swallowed me whole.
***
When the moving vehicle finally stopped, a team of agents was already on its way. Scarlett frowned as she reviewed the mission details. “The coordinates are so precise. But didn’t all the informants we planted die?”
The First Captain, a woman with a crisp, commanding voice, replied calmly. “It was the intelligence analyst. He blended in and risked everything to transmit the signal.”
Her voice softened, laced with emotion. “Today’s mission isn’t just about crushing the enemy. It’s also about bringing him back safely. That’s not just the Administrator’s order—it’s my personal plea.”
Scarlett let out a small laugh, her tone casual. “Seems like you and this analyst have a special bond, Captain.”
The First Captain smiled faintly. “I’ve admired him for years. You’re a woman, Scarlett—you understand what it’s like to worry about someone you care about, don’t you?”
Scarlett’s response came swiftly, her tone light but pointed. “I suppose I’m luckier than you, Captain. I’ve been married to the person I love for five years now.”
Carter, who had been listening in silence, snorted derisively. “That analyst? The one who usually hides behind the front lines? Let me guess—he showed up this time because the prize money was too good to resist.”
The First Captain’s demeanor shifted instantly, her temper flaring. “Shut up, Carter! Without him, none of your missions would have succeeded. You wouldn’t even be alive to sit here and spout nonsense!”
Chastened, Carter fell silent, muttering under his breath. The team pressed forward, moving under the cover of darkness toward their target.
***
The initial attack on the enemy’s outer defenses went smoothly. When Scarlett and Carter’s group stormed the warehouse, they found the enemy leader slumped against the second-floor railing, his breath shallow. Beside him, tied up in five separate ways, was a man whose face was obscured by shadows. Even in the dim light, something about him stirred a sense of familiarity in Scarlett. Her thoughts were interrupted when Carter, walking ahead of her, suddenly collapsed to the ground.
“It hurts! My leg—it's pierced by a bullet!” Through the rain of gunfire, I saw Scarlett cradling Carter in her arms, her expression tight with panic. Her voice cracked, laced with sobs. “I can see the bone! The injury is severe—there’s no time to waste.”
Carter groaned, his voice low and trembling. “Just blow them all up, Scarlett. If this drags on, I might lose my leg... I’m terrified. What if I can’t marry you like this?”
The rest of the team hesitated, their focus shifting between Carter and the mission. “Captain, we can’t do that!” one of them argued. “We’re under orders to capture the chief alive! Besides, the intelligence analyst is still inside!”
But their protests were drowned out by Carter’s agonized scream. “I’m the captain! Am I not more important than some analyst?”
At that moment, every eye in the squad turned to Scarlett. As their leader, the decision fell to her. Scarlett glanced toward the warehouse's dim interior, where the analyst was supposedly being held. The intelligence analyst had always treated her well. He’d helped her secure accolades, saving her life more than once. But Carter... Carter was different. He wasn’t just a colleague; he was her secret. His pain, his vulnerability—it tugged at her heart in ways she couldn’t explain. The sound of gunfire outside was relentless, a reminder that time was running out.
In the end, gratitude and duty paled in comparison to the bond she shared with Carter. Scarlett made up her mind. Grabbing the collar of one of her men, she whispered harshly, “The perimeter is secure—there’s no need to waste more time here. Throw in a bomb and report that the bandits detonated it themselves. Quickly! Don’t linger.”
She turned, hoisting Carter onto her shoulder with visible effort, and began to retreat. The moment the bomb was thrown, Scarlett hesitated, casting one final glance back toward the warehouse. The explosion illuminated the scene in stark clarity. For a brief moment, the figure tied up in the warehouse was unmistakable.
Our eyes met. I smiled—desperate, bitter, and resigned. Scarlett froze, her eyes wide, the realization crashing over her.
