The rain had eased, but the streets of Black City were still slick, reflecting the cold, pale glow of streetlights. Mark stood under the flickering neon sign of a closed pawn shop, his soaked clothes clinging to his skin as he waited. Every muscle in his body was wound tight, but his mind was sharper than it had been in days.Grayson stood a few feet behind him, leaning against the wall, watching the empty street with cautious eyes.“Are you sure about this?” she muttered under her breath.“No,” Mark answered, voice grim. “But if we want to get to the truth, we need him.”A black town car pulled up, tires hissing against the wet pavement. The tinted window rolled down halfway, revealing the sharp, calculating eyes of Julian Cross—the same man who had played him at the pier. But tonight, Mark wasn’t here to be played.Julian’s lips curled into a half-smirk. “Back so soon, Mark? You look like hell.”Mark didn’t flinch. “Let’s cut the theatrics. You owe me answers. You lied about the led

The crack of the gunshot echoed through the industrial yard like a thunderclap. Edward stumbled back, clutching his shoulder as blood seeped between his fingers. His smirk twisted into a grimace, eyes narrowing with seething fury.Mark didn’t hesitate. His adrenaline surged as he lunged for cover behind a rusted cargo container, the red laser sights from the rooftop snipers dancing across the fog.Nathan Cross kept his weapon trained on Edward, his voice sharp. “Stand down, Edward! This doesn’t have to end like this.”Edward’s laugh was hollow, tinged with pain as he straightened. “Oh, but it does. And you know it.” He waved his uninjured hand, signaling his men. The snipers shifted positions, taking aim.Mark growled, voice cutting through the tension. “You’re out of your mind, Edward! Felicia isn’t even here! She was never here, was she?!”Edward’s lips curled into a cold, victorious smile despite the blood staining his coat. “You’re catching on. Took you long enough.”Nathan fired

The wind howled against the windows of the safe house as Felicia stood near the door, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. The revelation of her true lineage still echoed in her mind, but it didn’t matter—not right now.She needed Mark.Nathan Cross stood near the window, watching the shadows shifting outside with trained focus. His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the message. A single line flashed on the screen:“Inbound. 10 minutes. Secure the target.”Felicia noticed the tension in his face. “What is it?”Nathan hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Mark’s on his way. But we have company. Edward’s remaining men—whoever’s left—must have picked up your location. They’re moving in.”Felicia’s heart raced. “Then we have to leave. Now.”Nathan shook his head. “No. If we move now, they’ll catch us in the open. I’ve signaled for backup. Mark is almost here—”“I’m not waiting,” Felicia snapped, her voice firm. “If Mark’s close, I’m meeting him. I’m done being used as leverage.”Before Nathan

The rain had eased, but tension hung heavier than the storm as the van skidded to a halt under the cover of an abandoned train depot on the outskirts of Black City. Rusted metal beams loomed above them, the scent of damp earth and oil lingering in the air.The escape had bought them minutes, but Mark knew minutes were never enough.Grayson killed the engine, the van settling into a tense silence.Nathan was the first to break it, his voice controlled but tight. “We can’t stay here long. Caldwell will have already flagged the city’s surveillance grid. He’s going to lock down the entire district looking for you both.”Mark was still gripping Felicia’s hand, but his mind was elsewhere—calculating, planning, searching for the angle they hadn’t yet seen. He turned to Nathan, his voice razor-sharp.“We can’t keep running. We need to be two steps ahead of Caldwell. You said the ledger wasn’t just financial records. You said it was a blueprint for corruption in this city. Where’s the real one

Grayson knelt beside Caldwell’s lifeless body, her hand pressed against the warm pool of blood spreading beneath him. The faint hum of distant footsteps made her instincts scream to move, but she remained frozen for a moment.Caldwell’s final words echoed in her mind: “They’re everywhere… and they’ve already won.”Her grip tightened on her weapon, her sharp eyes darting toward the corridor. Whoever had fired that shot was long gone. A professional. No mistakes, no witnesses.But the truth hadn’t died with Caldwell. Not yet.She searched his pockets quickly, finding a secure USB drive tucked inside his jacket. She slipped it into her coat, rising just as the sound of approaching guards forced her to retreat into the shadows.Meanwhile – The Underground GarageMark arrived just as Felicia emerged from the service stairwell, her face pale but her steps determined.“Felicia!” he called, his heart racing as he closed the distance between them.She turned, relief flashing in her eyes for ju