Jamie’s pulse steadies as the system notification fades from his vision, but the weight of what they’ve just uncovered clings to him. Cipher's reach extends far beyond what he expected, and he can’t shake the feeling that this is only a small piece of the puzzle. He glances at Lyle, who’s catching his breath against the grimy alley wall, still clutching the portable drive with all the stolen data. "Next step?" Lyle asks, his voice a bit breathless, though the glint in his eyes says he's already thinking ahead. Jamie scans the narrow alley, his instincts urging caution. “We’re sitting on a ticking bomb. Cipher’s people will be combing this area soon. We need a safe spot to go through what we grabbed.” Lyle nods, adjusting his backpack. “I’ve got a place. It’s off-grid. No surveillance. It’s just... not close.” "Doesn’t matter," Jamie replies, already moving. "Lead the way." They stick to the back streets, keeping to the shadows. As they navigate through the underbelly of Seattle,
The air feels thick as Jamie and Lyle weave through the streets of downtown Seattle. The city is bustling, unaware of the impending storm brewing just beneath the surface. Seattle Central looms ahead, its towering structure cutting sharply against the darkening sky. As they approach the building, Jamie's heart pounds in sync with the system's ever-looming presence in his mind. Lyle adjusts his backpack, checking the makeshift comms device he rigged up. “So, what’s the plan when we get inside? We’re talking high-security here, and if Cipher’s people are already in place, we’re walking straight into a deathtrap.” “We’re not walking in,” Jamie replies, his voice low. “We need to hit them from the inside out. Disrupt their communications, take out key personnel, and cut off their backup. Holmes should be in position by now, and if everything goes smoothly, we’ll have a window to sabotage the whole thing before they even realize what hit them.” Lyle quirks an eyebrow. “Smoothly, huh?
The sound of boots pounding down the hallway outside grows louder, like a war drum signaling the inevitable. Jamie’s pulse races, his mind calculating the odds. Lyle is hunched over the terminal, fingers trembling as he continues to work, sweat beading on his forehead. Holmes has taken up a defensive position near the server room’s exit, gun drawn, eyes hard as stone. “They’re almost on us,” Holmes growls. “Make a choice, Anderson. Do we go out guns blazing, or do we pull the plug on this whole operation?” Jamie stares at the servers, feeling the weight of his decision closing in. He had been in situations like this before, where every second mattered and each choice carved a path of consequences. But this one felt different. **Darker.** The system in his mind pulses, as if urging him to act, to trust in its power. But that power came with a cost—a cost he wasn’t willing to fully understand yet. “Jamie,” Lyle’s voice break
Jamie stands outside the apartment door, the weight of the past few days heavy on his shoulders. He hasn’t been back since Emma dropped the bombshell: her betrayal, the shady people she met, and the fact that she’s pregnant with his child. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The system hums faintly in the back of his mind, but this isn’t a battle where it can offer help. This is something he has to face alone. He unlocks the door quietly, stepping inside. The apartment feels different—like an alien space he no longer belongs in. Emma is sitting on the couch, hands folded over her stomach. When she sees him, her eyes widen in relief, but Jamie can tell there’s tension behind it. “I didn’t think you were coming back,” Emma says, her voice tentative, almost pleading. Jamie doesn’t respond immediately. He closes the door behind him and leans against it, taking her in. The woman he married. The woman who, not long ago, sold him out. “I had to,” Jamie finally says, his
Jamie sits in the quiet corner of a dimly lit bar, nursing his second glass of whiskey. His mind keeps wandering back to his last conversation with Emma—the argument, the tension that hung between them like a fog neither of them could cut through. He clenches his jaw, pushing the memory aside for now. There’s no space for that here, not when he’s about to dive deeper into the underworld.The bar door swings open, and in walks Lyle, his casual demeanor clashing with the gravity Jamie feels tightening around him. Lyle saunters over, his signature smirk plastered on his face as if the world outside is nothing more than a game to be played."Jamie, my man," Lyle says, sliding into the booth across from him. "Got a job that’ll make us both a nice payday. Interested?"Jamie glances at him, his thoughts still on Emma, on how distant their relationship has become. But Lyle’s here now, and he can’t afford to let his personal life bleed into this world. He nods, knowing full well that anything
Jamie stands at the edge of the upscale hotel lobby, scanning the room for any sign of Selina. Lyle has given him the basics: Selina is dangerous but necessary. She holds the keys to getting inside Nikolai Sokolov’s mansion, but trusting her is out of the question.The soft hum of conversation mixes with the clinking of glasses as well-dressed patrons mingle around him. Jamie feels out of place, a predator hidden in plain sight. He checks his watch, tension coiling in his chest like a spring wound too tight. Lyle set this meeting up, and if Selina doesn’t show soon, Jamie will have to assume the worst—that she’s already decided to double-cross them before the job even starts.Just as the thought crosses his mind, the soft click of heels catches his attention. A woman in a sleek, dark red dress walks through the entrance, her eyes cutting through the room as if she owns it. She’s stunning, but there’s an edge to her that keeps Jamie alert. Her confidence isn’t just from beauty—it comes
Jamie stands outside the rendezvous point, a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The streets are quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind pushing through the cracks in the worn buildings. The moon casts a pale light over the scene, adding to the eerie stillness.He glances at his watch—twenty minutes early. Lyle always says arriving early gives you the upper hand, time to assess the environment and see who might be watching. But tonight, something feels different. Jamie’s system has been unusually quiet, no nudges or flashes of insight. It feels almost... dormant.His instincts, however, are wide awake.A flicker of movement catches his attention, and Jamie’s eyes shift toward a figure approaching from the shadows. Selina, as poised as ever, steps into the light, her dark clothes blending with the night. She moves with the grace of a cat, her expression calm but her eyes sharp, scanning the area with the same precision as Jamie.“Right on time,” she says, her voic
The next evening, Jamie stands in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection of a man he barely recognizes. He looks the same—sharp jawline, intense gaze—but something inside him has shifted. The weight of the decision presses against his chest, like an invisible hand squeezing tight. The mission he’s about to embark on isn’t just another job. This one is personal, and the stakes have never been higher.He straps a holster around his chest, securing the pistol against his ribs, hidden beneath his jacket. His system buzzes faintly, a low hum in the back of his mind, but it offers no guidance. Not tonight. Even the system seems to understand that what he's walking into is a test not of skill, but of will.The plan is simple—on the surface. Selina will get him close to Nikolai Sokolov’s mansion under the guise of an invited guest. Once inside, they’ll locate the documents Vincent wants, and Jamie will handle the rest—neutralize Sokolov and ensure the blackmail mat