Jackson sat on the soft grass of the park, watching his four-year-old daughter, Emily, as she ran around chasing butterflies. Her laughter was like music to his ears, a rare melody that brought a genuine smile to his usually stoic face. The sun was warm, casting a golden glow over the playground, and for a moment, Jackson allowed himself to forget the dark world he was a part of.
“Daddy, look!” Emily’s voice was filled with excitement as she held up a small, delicate butterfly that had landed on her finger. Jackson’s heart swelled with pride and love as he watched her gentle interaction with the fragile creature. He reached out and gently stroked her hair, feeling a sense of peace that he rarely experienced.
They spent the next hour playing games, swinging on the swings, and sharing a picnic lunch. Jackson cherished every second, knowing that these moments were fleeting. Emily’s laughter and innocent joy were a stark contrast to the violence and danger that filled his life.
This afternoon with his daughter was pure bliss. On the way home from the park, they stopped for ice cream, and Emily chatted away while enjoying her favorite flavor. It was the best stress relief he’d ever experienced. Now, they are home and Emily is sitting in front of the TV, engrossed in her favorite cartoon, while Jackson sits on the couch, contentedly watching her.
The sound of the house phone fills his ears. He closes his eyes as if he were in pain, but he was. He knew what this call meant. It was a summons back to the life he despised, the life that kept him away from his daughter. He stood up and walked a few steps away, answering the call with a heavy heart.
"There's been a complication, Jackson," Alexander said, his voice tinged with a hint of panic. "Our intel suggests there's a witness, someone who could jeopardize the big man’s empire. You must silence them before they become a threat."
Jackson closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on him. He taps the phone receiver twice to indicate his acceptance of the mission. He ended the call and took a deep breath, trying to compose himself before returning to Emily. She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, completely unaware of the darkness that loomed over their lives.
“Daddy, are you okay?” she asked, her small hand reaching out to touch his. Jackson forced a smile, kneeling to her level. Emily’s face fell, and Jackson’s heart broke a little more.
“Do you have to go?” she asked, her voice trembling. He nods as he pulls her into a tight hug, wishing he could stay with her forever. He places her back in front of the TV, planting a kiss on her forehead, then walks away.
He heads to the garage to collect supplies before moving to his bedroom to pack his own bag. Then, he enters his daughter’s room to prepare her bag as well. Expecting Aleksander to have a car ready outside, he returns to the living room and switches off the TV. Jackson gathers his little girl and her belongings, and they walk across the yard. Jackson stood at the doorstep of Mrs. Tessa’s quaint house, his daughter, Emily, clutching his hand tightly.
A few moments go by, and finally Mrs. Tessa opens the door, looking delighted to see her favorite people. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden hue over the neighborhood. Jackson, a mute contract killer, had always found solace in the quiet moments like these, where the world seemed to pause just for a second.
Mrs. Tessa opened the door with a welcoming smile. She was a kind-hearted woman in her late fifties, with a nurturing aura that made everyone feel at home. “Jackson, Emily, come in,” she said warmly, stepping aside to let them enter.
Jackson nodded in gratitude, his eyes conveying the words he couldn’t speak. He gently nudged Emily forward, and she reluctantly let go of his hand to step inside. Mrs. Tessa knelt to the little girl’s level, her smile never wavering.
“How are you, sweetheart?” she asked softly. Emily glanced back at her father, her eyes filled with sadness.
“I’m okay,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. Then she suddenly runs off somewhere without saying anything more. Jackson urges to go after her, but stops himself.
“Don’t worry, Jackson. She’ll be just fine here,” she reassured him. Jackson gave a small, appreciative smile, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad and pen, quickly scribbling a message.
Thank you, Mrs. Tessa. I must go away for a few days. It’s not safe for Emily to be alone.
Mrs. Tessa read the note and nodded understandingly. “I know you’re doing everything you can to protect her,” she said gently. “You’re a good father, Jackson. She’ll understand that someday.”
Jackson’s eyes softened. He scribbled another note.
I hope so. I just want her to be safe and happy.
Mrs. Tessa placed a comforting hand on his arm. “She will be. And she’ll know how much you love her, even if you can’t say it out loud.”
Jackson nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his responsibilities. He gave Mrs. Tessa a final nod before turning to leave.
As he walked away, the silence of the evening enveloped him, but his mind was anything but quiet. He knew the path he had chosen was fraught with danger, but every step he took was for his little birdie. The sacrifices he made were silent, but they spoke volumes about the depth of his love for his daughter. He hated this life, hated the way it tore him away from the one person who mattered most. But he knew he had no choice. For now, all he could do was hope that one day, he could leave this world behind and be the father Emily deserved.
Mrs. Tessa watched him go, her heart aching for the silent warrior and his little girl. She knew that one day, Emily would understand the sacrifices her father made. Until then, she would do everything in her power to keep the child safe and happy, just as Jackson wished.
He returned to gather his belongings, making sure to lock up the house and double-check that everything was secure. As anticipated, a car was waiting for him out front. He loaded his items into the already open trunk, then settled into the front seat and closed the door. Jackson’s mind was already shifting to the task ahead. He was now in the mindset of a cold-blooded killer.
The Briefing
On the outskirts of the city, hidden within the shadows of an abandoned warehouse, Jackson met his handler, a man named Gabriel. Dressed in a tailored suit that belied his lethal profession, Gabriel's cold eyes betrayed a ruthless cunning that revealed the darkness that dwells within. A flickering street lamp cast an ethereal glow upon his hardened face, accentuating the scar that marred his left cheek.
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He smoked a joint as he waited for Jackson to arrive. A beat-up Gremlin pulled up next to a pile of garbage. The driver, Lenny, got out of the car, approached Gabriel with a smile, and patted him on the shoulder. He swatted Lenny’s hand away, not wanting any contact. Lenny raising his hands in apology, snickering to himself.
Moments later, a limo and car pull up in front of Gabriel and Lenny, coming to stop. Jacob and Aleksander get out the limo, and Jackson leaves the second car.
“What’s up, fellas?” Lenny says with an eager smile on his face. Everyone stops to give him either a look of annoyance or disinterest, shutting Lenny up. They all shake hands with each other, entering the warehouse to talk business.
“Jackson, glad you could make it. How’s that little girl of yours?” He asks with a grin, as Jackson walks through the door. He gave Lenny a thumb’s up, glad that he couldn’t talk. He didn’t much like talking about his little girl to these men…especially Lenny. Lenny was a bottom-feeding leech who liked underage girls. He’d have to keep an eye on him.
“Can we get down to fucking business and skip the chitter chatter?!” Jacob yells, with impatience.
The old warehouse had become their makeshift headquarters, a place where secrets were traded like currency and decisions were made with finality. Aleksander leaned against the large oak table at the center of the room, his cold, green eyes scanning the faces around him. Gabriel, tall and muscular, sat across from him, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his chair. His dark eyes were sharp, calculating, as he listened intently to the conversation. Jacob, always calm and collected, was perched on the edge of the table, his arms crossed over his chest.
Off to the side, Jackson leaned against a wall, his posture relaxed, but his mind alert. He had a reputation for being the enforcer, the one who got things done. But there was a line he wouldn’t cross—a line Aleksander and Jacob were keenly aware of.
Lenny, sprawled out on the couch in the corner, seemed completely disinterested in the gravity of the discussion. He twirled a coin between his fingers, his gaze distant, as if he had no part in the mess they were now trying to clean up. Aleksander shot him a cold glare, but Lenny didn’t even notice.
Aleksander pulled a folder from his jacket, placing it on the table.
“This witness,” Aleksander began, breaking the silence, “is a loose end we can't afford. If he talks, the whole operation falls apart.”
Jacob nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable. “We need to act fast before anyone else gets involved.”
“What’s the story with this witness, anyway?” Gabriel asked, his voice steady, but with a hint of suspicion. Aleksander hesitated for a fraction of a second, just long enough for Jacob to jump in.
“Just some nobody who got too close. Saw something he shouldn’t have. We silence him, and this whole thing goes away.”
Gabriel leaned forward, his tone casual. “We’re talking about a clean job. In and out, no complications?” Jacob and Aleksander exchange nods. Jackson scribbles in his notepad, rips out a page, and hands it to his friend.
And how did this nobody get involved?
Aleksander glanced at Lenny, who was now flipping through an old magazine he’d found on the coffee table. The man's nonchalance grated on Aleksander’s nerves. Lenny had been careless, sloppy even. It was his mistake that had put them all in this position, and now they were the ones left to clean it up.
“Lenny here,” Jacob said, his tone laced with sarcasm, “wasn’t as discreet as he fucking should have been. The witness was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Lenny finally looked up, his expression one of mild annoyance. “Hey, I didn’t know anyone was around. Besides, it’s not like it’s a big deal. Just take care of it and move on.”
Gabriel shot Lenny a look of disgust. “You’re unbelievable,” Gabriel spat, his voice low and dangerous. “You had one job and you couldn’t even get that right!”
Lenny shrugged, feigning indifference. “Stuff happens, Gabe. Can’t control everything.”
Gabriel clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “This isn’t ‘stuff,’ Lenny. It’s our livelihood. Dimitri trusted us, and you—”
Lenny interrupted, his eyes dancing with insolence. “Dimitri trusts you and Aleksander, Gabe. Not me. I’m just the expendable one.” Jacob sighs in annoyance, rolling his eyes. He’s ready for this touchy-feely shit to end already.
“Whatever the case may be, we can’t just let him walk away,” Jacob insists, his fists clenched on the table. “He knows too much. If he talks, we’re all finished.”
Aleksander, the mediator, tried to keep his voice calm, but the tension was palpable. “We don’t have a lot of time. We need to decide now.”
“Obviously, we send Jackson to clean up this mess. No muss, no fuss.”
“I don’t know why you two keep trusting this asshole with jobs anyway. He’s a fucking moron.” Gabriel interjects.
“Dick.” Lenny mutters, still flipping through a magazine. Hearing what he said, Gabriel’s restraint snapped. He lunged at Lenny, his fist aimed at the smug face before him. He was ready to toss him out on his ass. But at the last moment, he pulled back, stopping himself inches away. His breaths came in ragged bursts, the rage boiling inside him. Gabriel never liked, let alone trusted that little shit.
“Da fuck you just say to me?!” Lenny doesn’t move from his spot. He just laughs, giving Gabriel a wink.
“You heard me, fucker.” He responds with glee.
“You’re lucky,” Gabriel seethed, his voice trembling. “Lucky I don’t break every bone in your fucking body.” Lenny wiped a trickle of blood from his split lip, unfazed.
“Go ahead, Gabe. Prove me wrong.” Gabriel’s mind raced. He knew Lenny was baiting him, pushing him to the edge. But he couldn’t afford to lose control—not now. He stepped back, his chest heaving.
“You’re not worth it,” he muttered.
Lenny’s laughter echoed through the room. “That’s right, Gabe. Keep pretending you’re the noble one. But deep down, you’re just as ruthless as the rest of us.” Gabe gave him the middle finger, sitting back in his seat facing away from Lenny.
“Alright, that’s enough of this bullshit! Can we stay on task, gentlemen?!” Aleksander yells.
“We don’t need to overthink this. The job’s straightforward, and we’ve done worse. This is just another day.” Jacob says. Aleksander and Jacob gave each other a look, then nodded.
Jackson, ever vigilant noticed this. His gaze flickered between them, trying to read between the lines. He wasn’t stupid—he knew they were holding something back. But he also knew better than to push too hard. Trust was a fragile thing in their line of work, and once it was broken, it was almost impossible to repair. He couldn’t help but to ask though, so he scribbled in his notepad again, placing it in front of his friend.
Who is this witness, exactly?
Aleksander straightened up, meeting Jackson’s gaze head-on. He chose his words carefully, knowing how delicate this situation was. “Like Jacob said, just some nobody. A somebody in the wrong place. We take him out, and that’s the end of it.”
Jackson had a bad feeling. He had his own code, one that Aleksander and Gabriel knew all too well. Jacob doesn’t give a shit about code or honor. If he found out the truth, if he knew that the “nobody” they were talking about was just a nine-year-old boy, Jackson wouldn’t hesitate to walk away. And in this business, walking away was as good as betrayal.
His eyes narrowed as he observed his friend. There was something off, a flicker of uncertainty in his friend’s eyes. Jackson had known Aleksander for years, and he could read him like a book. Aleksander was hiding something. Finally, he stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. He pulled out his notepad and scribbled another message, holding it up for the others to see.
What’s really going on, Aleksander?
Aleksander’s eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. “Jackson, I told you, this mission is important. We need to handle this witness.”
Jackson’s gaze remained steady, unyielding. He wrote another message.
You’re lying. Why?
The room fell silent, the tension thickening. Aleksander glanced at Gabriel and Jacob, then back at Jackson. He took a deep breath. “I didn’t want to involve you, Jackson. But Dimitri… he doesn’t know about this. I thought we could handle it ourselves.”
Jackson’s jaw tightened. He felt a surge of anger and betrayal. Aleksander had lied to him, had dragged him into a mission without Dimitri’s knowledge. Jackson’s loyalty to Dimitri was unwavering, and this deception cut deep.
He scribbled one final message.
I’m out. Handle it yourselves.
Without another word, Jackson turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the empty warehouse. He knew he couldn’t trust Aleksander anymore. From now on, he would follow his instincts and remain loyal to the one man who had never betrayed him: Dimitri Giovanni.
As he stepped out into the cool night air, Jackson felt a sense of clarity. He would protect Emily, no matter the cost. And he would never again let anyone compromise his loyalty or his mission.