Courage_Ita_1386

Jeremy, a nineteen-year-old martial artist from an average family, is forced to transfer to Jefferson High, a school riddled with crime and dominated by gangs. His handsome looks immediately make him the object of both envy from the boys and infatuation from the girls, including Jess, the popular queen bee.  Jess's boyfriend, Tyler, the school jock, sees Jeremy as a threat and tries to bully him. However, Jeremy's martial arts skills prove too much for Tyler and his crew, leading to two decisive defeats for the jock.
Despite the unwanted attention, Jeremy remains cold and detached, uninterested in the affections of the girls.  He forms a reluctant friendship with Alex, the class nerd, who becomes his confidante.  After their second fight, Tyler disappears, and Jess's behavior changes drastically.  She becomes colder, more distant, and reveals she's connected to a powerful, dangerous organization.
Jeremy discovers that Jess had Tyler killed by this organization.  When he confronts her, she offers him a choice: join them or face the consequences.  He refuses and chooses to escape, knowing he's now a target.  With Alex's help, he creates a new identity, Michael Riley, and flees to a small town to start a new life.
While working a menial job and living in fear, Jeremy secretly trains and researches Jess's organization, learning about their illegal activities and dangerous reach. He knows he can't stay hidden forever. He must return to Jefferson High, stronger and more skilled, to confront Jess, avenge Tyler's death, and expose the truth about the organization she's aligned with. He's no longer just Jeremy, the new kid. He's Michael Riley, a ghost preparing to return and become the hunter.  The synopsis sets the stage for a story of revenge, action, and suspense, with a touch of romance woven into the dangerous game Jeremy is now playing.

The Iced Prince

Jeremy didn't run. He walked. He walked out of the warehouse, his head held high, his expression defiant. He knew they were watching him, the men in the dark suits, lurking in the shadows. He could feel their eyes on him, their presence a palpable weight in the air.

He reached his car and got inside, his movements deliberate, his heart pounding in his chest. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. He saw the black sedan pull out after him, its headlights cutting through the darkness.

He knew he was being followed. He knew they wouldn't let him go that easily. He had crossed them, defied them, and now he had to pay the price.

He drove through the city streets, his mind racing. He had to find a way to escape, to disappear, to vanish without a trace. He thought about going to the police, but he knew it was futile. He had no proof, no evidence, nothing to connect Jess or her "friends" to Tyler's disappearance. It would be his word against theirs, and he knew who they would believe.

He thought about going to his parents, telling them everything, asking for their help. But he couldn't. He couldn't put them in danger. They were already struggling, working long hours just to make ends meet. He couldn't burden them with his problems, with the dark world he had stumbled into.

He was alone. He had to rely on himself.

He drove to a 24-hour diner, a place where he could blend in, a place where no one would recognize him. He parked his car and went inside, his eyes scanning the room. He found a booth in the back and sat down, ordering a coffee.

He sat there for hours, sipping his coffee, watching the other patrons come and go. He was trying to think, trying to come up with a plan, trying to figure out what to do next.

He knew he couldn't stay in town. He had to leave, to disappear, to start a new life somewhere far away. But he didn't have any money, no resources, no connections. He was starting from scratch.

He thought about Alex. He was the only person he could trust, the only person who knew what he was going through. He pulled out his phone and texted him. "I need your help. Meet me at the library. Tomorrow. 10 am."

He knew it was a risk, contacting Alex, but he had no other choice. He needed help, and Alex was the only person he could turn to.

He left the diner and drove back to his house, his eyes constantly checking the rearview mirror. He didn't see any sign of the black sedan, but he knew they were still out there, watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.

He arrived home to a quiet house. His parents were asleep, their lives a constant cycle of work and rest. He envied them their simplicity, their lack of complications.

He went to his room and closed the door, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched. He lay down on his bed, but sleep eluded him. He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing.

He knew he was in a dangerous game, a game with very high stakes. He was playing against powerful people, people who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him if he became a threat.

He knew he had to be smart, he had to be careful, he had to play his cards right if he wanted to survive. He had to disappear, to vanish without a trace, to become someone else.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but his mind was still racing. He knew he was in a trap, but he was determined to escape. He was a survivor, and he wouldn't give up. He would fight for his life, for his freedom, for his future. He would escape, no matter the cost.

Chapter nineteen