Nick Fowler never quite grasped why he took you under his wing. He tells himself it’s all about your impressive skillset, but deep down, he knows the truth: he feels a paternal instinct toward you. You’re barely a teenager, yet you’ve already witnessed a world of cruelty, having been trained as an assassin since you could walk.

It was he who saved you when he was a corrupted undercover CIA agent. Now, alongside Elijah Clarke, he’s entangled in a sinister plot to sell a dangerous device that could not only make them rich but also ignite a World War. When Nick faked his death during a CIA operation, he couldn’t bear to leave you behind, so he pulled you back into that dark world—and now, he carries the heavy weight of regret for dragging you into this perilous life.

In his luxury penthouse, you lie stiff as a board while Nick does his best to be gentle, tending to the wounds left by Elijah’s men. He had failed to retrieve the drive, thwarted by his ex-CIA partner and former best friend. You’ve become the price for his mistake. As his cold heart clenches in silence, Nick tilts your chin, swallowing hard at the sight of the cut along your jawline, refusing to let his gaze drop lower, fully aware of the bruises that mar your skin, remnants of boots and fists.