The sound of the gunshot was still ringing when loud sirens exploded outside.WHOOP—WHOOP—WHOOP—Clara froze. “Ryan… is that… the police?!”Rocas looked back. “Yes! They are here! They finally found us!”Ryan held Ava tighter. “Please… please let them be in time…”Another loud shout came from outside.“POLICE!! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!!! NOW!!!”Adrian’s voice rose, angry and wild. “Shoot them! Don’t let anyone enter!!”Gunshots blasted everywhere. Glass broke. Metal cracked. Shouting filled the whole place.Ryan pressed Ava to his chest. “Stay with me… just hold on a little more… you’re safe now…”Clara shook as she held Ava’s legs. “Ryan hurry! The police are fighting them! We need to reach the tunnel!”But before they could take another step—BOOOOM!!The front door burst open. Police officers rushed in from every side. Some wore shields. Some wore heavy gear.“DROP YOUR GUN!! HANDS UP!!!” they shouted.Adrian’s men panicked. Some dropped their guns. Some tried to run.A

The hospital was quiet but tense. Ryan sat in the small waiting room with his fists clenched. His eyes never left the ICU door where Ava lay. Her face was pale, her breathing slow, and her hand connected to tubes. Every beep from the machines made his heart race. Commander Blake sat beside him, his arms crossed. His face was serious, calm, but Ryan could see the worry behind his eyes. He had been fighting alongside Ryan for years, but even Blake looked shaken now. “She will be okay,” Blake said quietly. “She is strong. She survived the shot. Doctors say she can fight through this.” Ryan shook his head fast. “I can’t wait, Blake. I can’t sit here. Every second counts. She could… she could die if I don’t do something!” His voice broke a little. Blake put a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “Listen… you can’t do anything right now. You can’t fight a gunshot with your fists. She needs the doctors, Ryan. Breathe. Think. When she wakes, you will be ready. But for now… you wait.” Ryan

Ryan sat on the couch with his head down. His hands shook small. The papers from the company were on the table. Many papers. Many signatures. Many lies.Clara sat close to him. “Ryan talk to me… what is going on?”Ryan breathed slow. “Clara… nothing is making sense. My father’s company… everything he worked for… it is not mine again. Someone took everything. Someone changed all the papers before he died.”Clara held his hand. “But who? Adrian?”Ryan shook his head fast. “No. Adrian did wicked things but he didn’t take the company. This one is different. This one is bigger. More planned. More clean. No mistake. Everything was changed slowly… like the person was watching us for long.”Clara swallowed. “Then who?”Ryan looked at her. “I don’t know.”Just then the door opened. Commander Blake walked in with a bandage on his arm. He winced small but tried to smile.“Ryan… how is everything?”Ryan stood. “Commander… I don’t understand what is happening. Someone took my father’s company befo

Ryan stood at the door, frozen.Clara stood behind him, her breath caught in her throat.Commander Blake held his gun tight, watching closely.Mrs Harrison gasped loudly. “YOU?!”The man outside stepped forward slowly.It was Eric.Clara’s cousin.The same Eric everybody thought had run away from the country.The same Eric the police were searching for because of all the fraud cases he did.Eric smiled a little and raised his hands like someone who came in peace. “Hello, family.”Mrs Harrison shouted, “GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!! GET OUT THIS MOMENT!! I don’t want trouble!! The police are looking for you!! Why will you come here?!”Eric sighed and walked inside anyway. “Mama, calm down. I came because I heard something serious.”Clara moved closer to Ryan, her hands shaking. “E-Eric… why are you here? We thought you traveled.”Eric looked at her quickly then looked away. “Forget that. I came because I heard Ava is missing.”Mrs Harrison cried harder. “Yes she is missing!! And you comi

The knock came again, louder this time. For a moment, nobody moved. Everyone just froze like cold water had been poured on them. Ryan felt his heart jump inside his chest. His hands were still shaking from the fight and the stress of everything happening at the same time.Mrs Harrison held Clara close like she was protecting her from some danger. Clara didn’t even look up. Her face was wet from crying. Eric stood by the wall, folding his arms like he owned the whole house. His eyes were sharp, watching everyone with small anger and small pride, like he enjoyed the pain he was causing.The knock came again. Bang. Bang. Bang.Ryan took a slow breath. “Let me check,” he said quietly.Mrs Harrison hissed. “Are you sure? Trouble follows you like shadow.”Ryan looked at her but didn’t answer. He didn’t have strength to fight her. He just walked to the door. His legs felt heavy, but he still moved.He opened the door slowly.A police officer stood there. A young man with a tired face.