Chime.A low, digital notification rang out from the debris near the fireplace.Slayde turned slowly, locking his gaze onto the third thug, the one whose face he had shattered against the brick wall. The man was barely conscious, slumped against the rubble, but his trembling, bloody fingers held a military-grade burner phone. The glowing screen showed a completed outgoing data link.The thug looked up through his bleeding eyelids, catching Slayde’s deathly glare. A wet, bloody chuckle rasped out of his throat, staining his broken teeth red."You... you hit real hard, suit," the thug wheezed, coughing up a spray of crimson as he held up the vibrating phone like a trophy. "Real impressive. But you spent too much time talking about college funds. I just called in the heavy backup."The man grinned brutally, his swollen face twisting into a grotesque mask. "You thought you were just dealing with a few local block collectors? Nah. The bosses wanted the old lady's son badly, so they put

The silence didn't last long. The scarred leader's face twisted as Slayde's confidence registered, his harsh chuckle grating through the quiet."A pulp? Hear that, boys? The man in a suit’s got a theatrical streak," the leader sneered, tilting his head as his thumb casually flicked the safety off his sidearm. "You talk like a man who hasn't seen his own blood in a long time.”“Do they teach you that high-and-mighty dialogue in whatever boardroom you crawled out of? Because down here in the dirt, confidence without a firing line just makes you a well-dressed corpse."He gestured with the barrel toward the shattered doorway, where the shadows of four more armed men shifted on the porch."You're standing in a box with two liabilities behind a wooden chair, facing eight automatic barrels," the leader mocked, his eyes narrowing. "Mathematically speaking, suit, you don't even have the seconds it takes for my finger to twitch. So unless that fabric is woven from military-grade kinetic plati

"I don't care about their contract, and I care even less about what their gang thinks it owns," Slayde said, his voice dropping into a deep, commanding register that immediately silenced Maya’s protests. "Both of you need to stop talking and listen to me."He stepped closer, his imposing silhouette casting a protective shadow over the two women. His eyes locked onto Maya’s tear-stained face with piercing clarity."You think staying here and letting them use you as collateral is going to resolve this? You think it fixes the debt?" Slayde asked, a bitter, realistic edge cutting into his smooth tone. "Staying here achieves absolutely nothing. If you stay behind to take the hit for his sins, your father isn't going to suddenly wake up, feel guilty, and rescue you. A man like that will only see your sacrifice as a green light."Slayde glanced over at the old lady, his expression softening just a fraction, though his words remained brutally honest."The moment he realizes the gang is taki

Slayde stood outside the glass-paneled observation deck of the intensive care unit, his broad shoulders squared as the chief medical officer approached, wiping a hand across his weary brow."She is stabilized for now," the doctor began, pulling up a biometric chart on his tablet. "It’s a cardiovascular illness that typically manifests at her advanced age. The physical trauma and stress triggered an acute episode. However, if she is properly taken care of, given cellular regeneration therapy, and kept away from stressful environments, she will heal."Slayde didn't like the sound of that. His jaw tightened. “Heal properly" in a public sector hospital meant being vulnerable, surrounded by minimal security, and accessible to any syndicate runner looking to finish the audit."She’s not staying here long," Slayde said, his voice dropping into a low, firm baritone. "The moment she is stable, I am moving her somewhere private and heavily fortified."The doctor shifted uncomfortably, glancin

He needed to find Maya.Leaving the chaotic reception desk behind, Slayde walked back toward the intensive care waiting room. Through the glass partition, he spotted her. The young girl was curled up in a plastic chair, her small shoulders shaking as she gripped the straps of a worn bag, looking completely lost in the bright, clinical emptiness.Slayde stepped into the quiet waiting room. The heavy tension from the hallway vanished from his face, replaced by his usual calm expression.Maya looked up, her eyes puffy and red. Before either could say a word, a loud, distinct growl echoed from her stomach. She instantly flushed with embarrassment, pressing her hands against her midsection and looking down at the linoleum floor.Slayde’s eyes softened just a fraction. He knew she hadn't eaten a single thing since the Red Cross enforcers had broken down their door."I’m going to grab some food for you," Slayde said smoothly, turning toward the exit."No, mister, please don't go," Maya