The days when I had to watch my back were gone, fading into a comfortable routine where I didn't have to look for a knife in my back.

I liked my routine. Anya was more than happy that I was getting more sleep and that I paid more attention to work.

A routine is good...until it's not. The thing about routines is that if you have one, you've become predictable. For someone like me, who has enemies on all sides, a routine is like a death warrant. So the day before our date, I was unsurprisingly ambushed. A shoot-out in public is hardly what I call convenient but there's not much you can do. At least there weren't many civilians here.

Just another day on the job.

God just loves to play his best jokes when I'm not looking, doesn't he?

Eddie ducked behind a crate, there was a cut on his forehead that was dripping blood into his eyes. He looked at me with a familiar crazed expression, wiping away his blood and handing me a new cartridge for my gun. I take it gratefully and load it into my gun.

"Thanks!" I said. "You good?"

He nodded, eye wide. "I've been in worse! Who are these guys?!"

A good question. I wish I had an answer. I peeked behind the crate. The shipping yard had been busy a few minutes ago with dock workers unloading crates and our men patrolling around. Now it was empty except for the machinery that was abandoned and a few dead bodies scattered around. Blood was turning the asphalt a murky brown as it mixed with the water, I could smell it as the breeze spread the stench of death towards us.

Several men in three black cars had broken through the barriers and opened fire on us. The cars were armoured and heavy, almost military-grade but they weren't the police. I had paid off enough officials and police officers to look the other way, if anyone wanted to snitch on me then I would know immediately. Anya wasn't the only one with a network.

There was no signal, no identifying feature. I had no idea who these men were and most of my bodyguards were dead except for Eddie.

I needed a place where I could have a good vantage point. The sniper I had strapped to my back was useless on the ground. I looked up. There was a crane, the operator missing. Maybe if I could get up there, I could have a better shot at taking these guys out and buying us enough time until the reinforcements arrive. It's a good thing that I had a light breakfast.

"Cover me!" I called out to Eddie.

I ducked out behind the crate and started running across the yard. I was completely in the open, dodging bullets and concentrated on hauling my ass to the open crates that were stacked on top of each other, giving me perfect cover. I could hear the bullets hitting the crate, sometimes going through the thin metal. They were split between shooting at Eddie and me. I trusted Eddie enough to hold down the fort. There was a reason I kept him around all these years. I just hoped that his luck wouldn't run out now.

I climbed quickly and quietly, making sure that I wouldn't be seen. I could see Eddie making a mad dash to the boat, drawing the attention of our assailants away from me. The rifle on my back was heavy but it didn't stop me. By the time I made it up the crane, my arms were aching.

I laid down on my stomach, hiding behind the door of the operator box. The wind was blowing hard, ruffling my hair and making the cables of the crane sway.

Eddie was probably hiding out in one of the ships because he wasn't returning any fire. The men dressed in all in black were running through the dock, looking for me as well. They didn't know that they were in my sights.

I took a deep breath in and placed my finger on the trigger, steeling myself.

My father had trained me for years with this gun. I had spent years in the field of our forest hunting animals through a scope and I couldn't come home unless I came back with a kill.

Humans were technically animals, weren't they? Meera would scold me for that line of thinking but I couldn't help it, this was a killed or be killed scenario. You couldn't reason with a mountain lion to not think of you as lunch, could you?

The moment I pulled the trigger, I would be giving away my position.

I had to be fast. I squeezed the trigger, gritting my teeth against the recoil as the bullet ripped through the barrel. It hit its mark, splitting the side of the head in an explosion of pink mist. They stumbled to the ground for cover, firing their gun and hitting some of the others. I squeezed the trigger again. He went down quickly, before the next body could hit the floor I was reloading and shooting.

This went on for a minute before they realised where I shooting from. Bullets hit the door. One ripped through the metal and grazed my arm, tearing through my shirt and drawing blood.

I bit back a scream and ducked behind it, holding my rifle close to me. I waited between the time it took for them to reload their guns before shooting at them again.

"Fuck!"

I was getting sick of these guys. I didn't know who they were and it was pissing me off. If this continued, I wasn't going to have any bullets left.

I aimed at the black armoured car and pulled the trigger several times. The car went up in flames as the fifth bullet hit the gas tank, blowing up. The fireball went more outwards than up but I could feel the heat from up here. The remaining men scattered. They didn't even bother to pick up their wounded as they ran towards the remaining car and left, leaving skid marks as they accelerated away from the docks.

A part of the dock was on fire and the rest was littered with dead bodies.

By the time I climbed back down, the reinforcements arrived. Felix was half dragging Eddie to the car that was waiting.

"What the fuck happened here, boss?" Felix looked around the carnage and then at my arm. "What the fuck happened to your arm?"

I tossed the empty rifle into the trunk and slammed it close. My arm didn't hurt but there was still blood. I could hear Meera's voice in my head telling me that it was the adrenaline.

I was hearing a lot of her these days. Maybe she's become my conscious.

"I didn't know, Felix. But I'm sure as hell going to find out. First the SS Singhania and now this."

"I think we need to get to the hospital first, boss." Eddie piped up, pressing a towel to his head. "Whoever these fuckers are they're not getting away with it."

I wish that was true.

I walked over to one of the men in black. He was dead, blood pooling underneath his body and draining into the sea. I squatted down, ignoring the blood that was on my shoes and took off his mask. The man had brown skin, dark eyes, and black hair that had been shaved close to the head. I pushed his head to the side to see the tattoo underneath his ear. It was in the shape of a flower engulfed in flames that were geometrical and inked in red, black, and blue. I couldn't make it out well since the ink looked a bit faded. I looked for the man whose brains I had blown out earlier, he was slumped over, blood dripping from his nose. I gritted my teeth and turned his head, ignoring the stench of his dead body. The same symbol was on this man except it was in red.

Whoever these guys were, they were part of the same organisation. And they had rank too.

My life was going to get a whole lot more complicated.

I brought out my knife and pressed down. Blood was all over my hands as I peeled off his skin, the sickly smell of blood coated my nostrils.

Felix and Eddie looked uncomfortable as I held out the piece of skin. I don't know why they were acting so squeamish? They've seen me do more terrible things than this.

"Why is it always us who have to deal with this?" Eddie brought out a handkerchief and held it out.

"Because you two are my best." I opened the door for them. "Now get in the car. Dr Saravana is probably waiting for us."

It didn't take us long to get to Farewell-Love General hospital. The staff was already there waiting for us. Dr Franz took Eddie to a different room with Felix helping her to drag him there. It was just us and Meera doesn't say a word. For obvious reasons of course. She was quiet when I came in. No greeting, no gentle smile. Not even an acknowledgement that I was in the room.

It freaked me out to see her so closed off. Was it my fault? Did I do something stupid? I tried to rack my brain for something, anything. All I could come up with was that I was sitting in her office bleeding from my arm. Was that why she was mad?

Her office was the same as it was last time. The same flare scent lights, the same succulents on the window sill, and the same blue cardigan draped over the back of her chair. Some things were different though. Her desk which had been sparse had picture frames. I couldn't make out who was who from where I was sitting but I could see a picture of us.

I had taken her to Coney Island last weekend. We ate ice cream, rode the roller coaster, and sat on the pier as we watched people walk around us. Meera had taken a photo when I wasn't looking, there was an ice cream cone in my hand and I leaned my head on her shoulder. My eyes were staring at something else but I was grinning like the happiest person in the world. Meera was kissing my cheek, her red lipstick leaving a stain that I didn't even notice until Anya had pointed it out to me.

It was a good day. I think I felt ridiculously happy that day and it carried over into the next week.

There were several bouquets on her desk too. I knew most of them were from her patients, small tokens of gratitude for the countless lives she had saved. Daffodils, lilies, and carnations brought a little colour to an otherwise bleak office. But there were roses too. Not just normal pink or white roses that were soft and delicate. There was a large bouquet of bright red roses the colour of blood that stood out amongst the flowers.

It didn't feel as soft or welcoming as the others. There was a small card attached to it.

I reached my hand to grab it but Meera sat down in the chair opposite of me, a tray of medical supplies in her arms. "Does it still hurt?"

"It's not that bad," I said, trying to placate her. "Or maybe it's just the shock?"

Meera glares at me as she applies antiseptic to my wounds. I clench my teeth at the sting. "Say another word and I'll stitch you up without anaesthetics."

"Are you mad?" I ask finally, unable to take the silence between us.

Meera sighed, walking back to her desk. The roses were still there, the petals wilting and the blue ribbon looked stained. She picked them up and put them on the ground out of sight... I couldn't see her face but I could see the tension in her shoulders. "I'm not mad."

Infamous last words if I ever heard them.

I raised an eyebrow, my tone inquisitive. "Then why are you acting like that?"

"What?"

"Like you're being defensive. I can see you building up walls before I can even try climbing over them." I said.  "You remember what Dr Joy said? The thing about you choosing to close yourself off when something spooks you?" I leaned forward and cup her face, my thumb brushing over her cheek. She leans into my touch immediately closing her eyes. "Are you sure about me?" I asked. "Is that what this is about?"

She opens her eyes, scrunching her eyebrows together. "Ivan, what are you talking about?"

"My mother loved my father. Even when he came home bloodied or when he taught us how to use a gun, she continued to love him." I took her hand. "Meera. I want you to be sure About me. All of this."  She looked at me with a guarded expression. "There will be days where I'm covered in scars and blood. I might be dying. What will you do then?"

"I'll manage," Meera said, staring straight into my eyes. There was no changing her mind and a small part of me was glad. "Ivan, let's clear this up now. I don't care. I'm not an idiot who jumps before they look. I know what I want...and what I want is you. Flaws, scars, and all." She picked up another swab. "And as for you getting injured, obviously I'll nag a bit but I'm going to fix you up every time."

There was a burning itch to know everything about her. Meera had a lot of secrets. I could see it on her face. She knew that I was aware of them. It didn't change much between us. I trusted her.

But...it would be nice if she told me what had her so tense. Just a little bit.

"I'm sorry that I'm putting you through so much," I said, changing the topic. "I'm making you worry—"

"I worry because I care." She said, cutting me off. "Should I stop?"

I press my forehead against hers. "I know. You're so patient with me. Sometimes I want you to get mad, just a little bit. Whatever it is you have to say I'll always listen."

I knew Meera was hesitating to tell me something. I could see it in her eyes. I should ask her. God, I know I should. There's so much at stake and strangely we find ourselves in the middle of it all. Nik hasn't given me the file yet. I know that he had nicked it from Anya's office. It has all of Meera's secrets, even the ones she doesn't know about. I can't find it in myself to betray her trust like that. It would be so easy. And yet...looking into her eyes, I knew I couldn't—wouldn't—do that to her.

"I'll think about it."

"Good." I played with her fingers, tracing the base of her ring finger. "Think I'll be able to attend tomorrow, Doctor Saravana? Or should I take some bed rest?"

"I don't think anyone going to notice your arm."

"That's a relief."

I look around to see if anyone is there before leaning down for a kiss. She ducked underneath my arm, throwing me a stern look over her shoulder. "You know my rule. Don't even think about it."

"One day I'll make you break that rule, sweetheart," I grumbled.

Meera smirked, passing me a strawberry-flavoured lollipop from the candy jar. "Dream on, Farewell."

"With you here? How could I?"

"You do know that flirting with me will get you nothing right?"

I shrugged, wincing at the pain in my arm. "A man can try, right?"

"Well then...Keep trying."