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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Mystery
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 01/16/2025
Brought Back to my past
Born 2006, F, from Dallas, TX, United StatesI tell her to stop.
They tell her to stop.
Even the police tell her to stop.
Nothing works.
It’s like she’s in her own world.
Sirens blare behind her. Police shout orders. She narrowly escapes by climbing onto a roof and leaping into an alley below.
“I’ve got a job for you, Dominic,” his boss says, sliding a file across the desk.
“What is it, Boss?” Dominic asks, picking up the folder.
“I need you to go undercover and gather intel on the Vazquez family,” his boss explains.
Dominic’s eyes widen. “Isn’t that the most dangerous mafia family in the country?”
“Yes. We’ve identified their base of operations and secured a house for you in their neighborhood. Move in, gain their trust, and get us what we need. Good luck.”
Later that evening, Mia arrives home, shopping bags in hand.
“Samuel, I’m back,” she calls out.
“Mommy!” her son exclaims, running to hug her. “Did you get the stuff for school tomorrow?”
“Yes, and I picked up a few extra things, too,” she says with a smile, pulling a Nintendo Switch and Xbox from one of the bags.
Samuel’s eyes light up. “Thank you, Mommy! You’re the best!”
“You’re so welcome, buddy,” Mia replies, hugging him tightly.
“I guess this is the house,” Dominic mutters as he pulls up to a modest light gray home surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes. After unpacking, he hears a knock at the door.
“Hi! My name is Mia, and I’m head of the neighborhood welcoming committee,” she says, holding out a basket of homemade sugar cookies.
“Thank you,” Dominic replies, taking the basket.
Before he can say more, Mia’s phone rings.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” she says, walking away.
Curious, Dominic follows at a distance, overhearing her side of the conversation.
“I’m not coming back. You know I have a son,” she says sharply. “I know, but my answer is final.” She hangs up and quickly walks away.
Dominic slips back into his house, his mind racing. What was that about? Was she in the mafia?
A few minutes later, Mia peeks in his open doorway. “If you need anything, I’m just across the street,” she says with a warm smile before leaving.
Mia’s heart drops as she walks into her house. Her ex-husband, Xavien Vazquez, stands in the living room, holding Samuel by the waist.
“Well, hello there, Mia. So nice to see you again,” he says, his voice dripping with menace.
“Why are you doing this, Xavien?” she asks, tears filling her eyes.
“I want you back,” he says, stepping closer and tilting her chin up with his finger.
“I will never go back to you,” Mia snaps, pulling away.
His expression darkens. “It’s either you come back, or I send Samuel far, far away. It’s your choice.”
Mia looks at her son, tears streaming down both their faces. After a moment’s hesitation, she takes a deep breath.
“Fine. What do you want?” she asks, defeated.
“Move in with us. Then I’ll tell you what you need to do,” Xavien says with a smirk. “And just so you know, that wasn’t a threat. I only used your son to get to you. I’ll give you time to say goodbye.”
With that, he leaves.
Mia collapses to her knees, tears falling freely. She bends down to Samuel’s level. “Samuel, I’m going to call a trusted friend to take care of you for a while,” she says, voice trembling.
Forty-five minutes later, Nessy arrives to pick up Samuel.
“Thank you for doing this, Ness. I owe you so much,” Mia says.
“You know I’d do anything for my best friend,” Nessy replies, taking Samuel’s hand.
“Mommy, why aren’t you coming with me?” Samuel asks, his voice small.
Mia forces a smile. “Mommy has things to take care of, sweetheart. I love you so much. Be good for Ness, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy,” Samuel says, hugging her tightly before climbing into Nessy’s car.
Mia watches as the car pulls away, tears streaming down her face.
From across the street, Dominic watches the scene unfold, a puzzled expression on his face. “Why is that boy getting into that woman’s car?” he mutters to himself, unsure of the storm brewing around him.
After Nessy drives off, Mia stands motionless on the curb, her arms crossed tightly around herself. She doesn’t realize that Dominic, standing at his window across the street, has been watching her.
Who is this woman? he wonders. He’s supposed to be gathering intel on the Vazquez family, but Mia’s involvement complicates everything. He needs answers—soon.
Inside her now eerily silent house, Mia paces the living room, her mind racing. She pulls out her phone and scrolls through her contacts until she lands on a name: Marcus.
“Marcus, it’s me,” she says when he answers. “I need your help.”
“Long time, no call,” Marcus replies, his voice tinged with amusement. “Didn’t think I’d hear from you again after you disappeared.”
“This isn’t a social call,” Mia snaps. “Xavien found me. He threatened my son.”
There’s a pause. “Xavien? I thought you’d left all that behind.”
“So did I. But he’s back, and he wants me to move in with him.”
“That’s bad news, Mia. If he’s bringing you back, it means he’s planning something big.”
“I don’t care about his plans. I just want to keep my son safe.”
Marcus hesitates before answering. “Okay. I’ll do some digging. Stay put—and don’t do anything reckless.”
Meanwhile, Dominic decides to take a walk around the neighborhood. The crisp evening air does little to clear his mind. He’s supposed to be focused on the Vazquez family, but his instincts are screaming that Mia is more than just the sweet, cookie-baking neighbor she appears to be.
As he approaches Mia’s house, he notices a sleek black car parked a block away. Its windows are tinted, and the engine idles softly. Surveillance? he wonders. He makes a mental note of the license plate before continuing his walk.
The next morning, Mia finds a note slipped under her door:
Mia,
Remember who you are. You know where to find me.
—X.
Her heart pounds as she reads the note. She crumples it in her hand and shoves it into her pocket. She knows she’s being watched.
Determined to protect her son, Mia heads to a storage unit she hasn’t visited in years. Inside is a collection of weapons, disguises, and stacks of cash—remnants of her old life. She pulls out a duffel bag and begins loading it. If Xavien wants me back, he’s going to regret it.
Across town, Dominic meets with his FBI handler at a quiet diner.
“Mia Collins,” Dominic says, sliding a photo across the table.
“What about her?” his handler asks.
“She lives across the street from me. I think she’s connected to the Vazquez family.”
The handler frowns. “Why do you think that?”
“I overheard a phone call. She mentioned not wanting to ‘go back.’ Then there was a man at her house last night—Xavien Vazquez himself. I’m sure of it.”
The handler’s expression turns grim. “If she’s connected to Xavien, she’s a critical asset. Keep an eye on her, Dominic. And whatever you do, don’t blow your cover.”
Later that day, Dominic spots Mia leaving her house, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. He follows her at a safe distance as she weaves through the city, finally stopping at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.
Inside, Mia meets Marcus, who is already waiting for her.
“Got everything?” Marcus asks, eyeing the bag.
“Enough to start,” Mia replies.
“What’s the plan?”
“I need to find out what Xavien’s planning. If I can stop him before he escalates, maybe I can keep Samuel safe.”
“And if you can’t?”
Mia’s jaw tightens. “Then I’ll make sure he never gets the chance.”
Unbeknownst to them, Dominic is perched on a rooftop across the street, watching through binoculars. What are you up to, Mia?
Back in the neighborhood, Nessy receives an ominous phone call.
“Hello?”
“Is this Nessy?”
“Yes. Who’s asking?”
A low chuckle echoes through the line. “I know you have Samuel. Tell Mia that if she doesn’t cooperate, there won’t be a place left for him to hide.”
Nessy’s blood runs cold as the line goes dead.
Mia leaves the warehouse with a clear plan: infiltrate Xavien’s operation from within and dismantle it piece by piece. But as she drives home, her resolve wavers. She’s no longer the ruthless operative she used to be. She’s a mother—a protector—and the thought of putting herself back into that violent world terrifies her.
When she arrives home, the sight of Samuel’s toys scattered in the living room brings tears to her eyes. I’m doing this for you, she thinks. No matter what it costs me.
Across the street, Dominic watches her from his living room window. He’s torn. The woman he’s been sent to spy on isn’t the hardened criminal he expected. She’s kind, compassionate, and fiercely protective of her son. Yet the deeper he digs, the more convinced he becomes that she’s key to unraveling the Vazquez family’s operations.
Later that evening, Dominic finds himself knocking on Mia’s door.
“Hey, Dominic,” she says, surprised. “Everything okay?”
“I just wanted to thank you for the cookies,” he says with a sheepish smile. “And to see if you needed help with anything around here.”
Mia raises an eyebrow. “You don’t strike me as the neighborhood handyman.”
Dominic chuckles. “Maybe not, but I’m good with a wrench.”
Mia hesitates. She doesn’t trust him—she’s learned to trust no one—but she also knows the value of keeping up appearances. “Well, if you’re offering, my kitchen faucet’s been acting up.”
As Dominic fiddles with the faucet, he sneaks glances at Mia. She’s distracted, her fingers tapping nervously on the counter.
“Everything okay?” he asks casually.
Mia forces a smile. “Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”
“You’re not from here, are you?”
The question catches him off guard. “What makes you say that?”
Mia shrugs. “Just a feeling. You seem… different.”
“So, where are you from?”
“A little bit of everywhere,” he says vaguely. “Work keeps me moving.”
Mia nods, but her instincts tell her there’s more to him than he’s letting on.
Meanwhile, Xavien is busy planning his next move. He sits in his sprawling mansion, surrounded by his most trusted men.
“Mia’s return changes everything,” he tells them. “With her back, we’ll have the leverage we need to expand our operations.”
One of his lieutenants speaks up. “You sure she’ll cooperate? She walked away once.”
“She’ll cooperate,” Xavien says coldly. “Because if she doesn’t, her son pays the price.”
That night, Mia can’t sleep. She lies awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. She thinks of Samuel, safe at Nessy’s house, and wonders how long she can keep him out of harm’s way. She thinks of Xavien, of his threats, and of the life she thought she’d left behind. And she thinks of Dominic, the charming but enigmatic man who seems too good to be true.
I need answers, she decides.
She slips out of bed, grabs her laptop, and starts digging. Using old contacts and skills she hasn’t used in years, she hacks into a private database linked to the FBI.
When she pulls up Dominic’s profile, her breath catches. Special Agent Dominic Reid.
Her heart pounds as she scans his file. He’s undercover… investigating the Vazquez family…
And me.
The next morning, Dominic receives a text from his handler:
Mia Collins is digging into you. Proceed with caution.
Dominic’s stomach drops. He thought he was being careful, but Mia’s sharp instincts have put her on his trail.
He knows he has to confront her, but he needs to tread carefully. If she’s as dangerous as her file suggests, one wrong move could be fatal.
That evening, Dominic shows up at Mia’s door again, this time with a bottle of wine.
“Thought you could use a drink,” he says, holding it up.
Mia eyes him warily but steps aside to let him in. “What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion,” he says, setting the bottle on the counter. “Just figured you might need a break.”
As they sit in her living room, the tension is tense. Dominic studies Mia, searching for any sign that she knows who he really is. Meanwhile, Mia plays along, pretending to enjoy his company while calculating her next move.
At Nessy’s house, Samuel is restless.
“I miss Mommy,” he says, looking up at Nessy with big, tear-filled eyes.
“She misses you too, sweetheart,” Nessy says, pulling him into a hug.
But as she comforts him, Nessy can’t shake the feeling that they’re being watched. She glances out the window and freezes. A black car is parked across the street, its engine idling.
“Nessy, what’s wrong?” Samuel asks, noticing her expression.
“Nothing, baby,” she says quickly. “Let’s go to your room, okay?”
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