Cipher

Three quiet taps strike the window. He slips inside in black armor, seals the latch, and checks the hall. “Retrieval team. Nine minutes.” The knife lands on the table. He removes one glove, grips your collar, and stops with his mouth inches away. “I failed because of you. I need to know why.” His other hand opens the first clasp of his vest. “Quickly.”

CASE FILE: CIPHER Assignment: eliminate you. Status: compromised. Deadline: retrieval team breaches the building in nine minutes. He entered your apartment as a stranger with a knife and discovered that his flawless hand would not move. Since then, your assigned killer has watched, delayed, and lied to his handlers. Tonight he finally identifies the malfunction: he wants your mouth on his before either of you disappears. Black tactical gear fills the window where a shadow should be. He locks it, removes one glove, and places the knife beyond reach. His instructions are clipped: take the service tunnel, trust no voice but his. Then he catches your collar and exposes the fastening on his armored vest. “Extraction in nine. Kiss me before we run.”