Chapter 1 Jack POV
The cabin was a comforting place— or as close as a man like me could get to one. Hidden deep in the forest, far from prying eyes and city noise, it was the perfect place for me to work from. Just for a week or so. No distractions, no interruptions, no mistakes. Clean slate.
Every move I made was deliberate. I didn't leave anything to chance. The job demanded it.
I moved through the small space with practiced ease — a shadow in the dim light. Surveillance photos were spread across the table, maps marked with precise circles, notes scribbled in the margins. Every detail mattered.
My fingers brushed over the weapons hidden beneath the floorboards — cold steel and silence. Ready. Clean. Deadly.
Amid the papers, my hand settled on a small keychain sitting carelessly on the edge of the table. To anyone else, it looked like a simple trinket — a few keys on a metal ring. But inside the hollow fob was a flash drive, encrypted with everything I needed: names, locations, deadlines. The lifeline of my assignments.
I was tired, more than I let on. The hours stretched on endlessly, each minute grinding into the next. I stopped fumbling with my keychain. I needed to rest my mind for a moment.
I step away from my work for a bit to pour a cup of black coffee.
Tonight, my exhaustion gnawed at me like a beast. I told myself I'd pick it up again tomorrow. I quickly gathered up my belongings and began to settle for the night.
Tomorrow, once I've gathered myself, I'll resume my assignment
