The door exploded open with a deafening crash, sending splinters of wood scattering across the floor. Jeremy’s heart raced, his instincts kicking in as his grip tightened around his gun. They hadn’t even had time to take another step when armed men poured into the room, guns raised and eyes cold with intent. A few were wearing masks, but Jeremy could make out the sharp, menacing face of one of Victor’s top men: Raymond, a brutal enforcer known for his ruthless efficiency.Maya was the first to react. She dove behind a nearby pillar, her gun already trained on the advancing figures. "Move!" she shouted at Jeremy, her voice sharp with urgency. "We need to get out of here, now!"But Jeremy’s mind was racing. Elijah, the man who had once been his friend, was frozen in place, his face pale as he stared at the group of armed men. The weight of what had happened—what he had done—hung heavily in the air between them. Jeremy could feel it, the confusion, the pain, but also

The deafening roar of the explosion still reverberated in the air as Jeremy, Maya, and Elijah ran, their feet pounding against the cracked pavement. The smoke billowed in their wake, a blanket of darkness and destruction. But there was no time to dwell on what had just happened—the fire, the explosion, the chaos—it was all behind them now. The real fight was ahead.They sprinted down the alley, breathless, their hearts hammering in their chests, adrenaline pushing them forward, but the sound of pursuit was unmistakable. More footsteps. More of Victor’s men. They were coming. They weren’t going to let them escape so easily."Move faster!" Maya’s voice cut through the fog of panic that was threatening to engulf them. "We need to find cover, now!"But as they turned a corner, they were met with the sight of even more armed figures, blocking their path. Twelve men, all of them heavily armed, each one with a lethal glare aimed in their direction."Run!

The mysterious figure moved swiftly, their footsteps light but purposeful as they beckoned the group forward. Jeremy’s heart raced, his thoughts spinning. He hadn’t expected anyone else to show up—not here, not now. They were supposed to be running for their lives, not stumbling into another fight, another threat. Yet, here they were, facing the unknown once again.“Who are you?” Maya demanded, her gun still raised, her eyes darting between the stranger and the now-silent man who had once been their pursuer. “What do you want?”The figure didn’t answer immediately. Instead, they paused, casting a quick glance over their shoulder before locking eyes with Maya. The moment stretched, thick with tension, but then the stranger spoke, their voice low and steady.“You don’t need to know my name,” they said, their words cutting through the silence. “You just need to know that you don’t have much time.”Before anyone could respond, the figure’s eyes flicke