Dominic

28

_________

The night swallows the sound of the retreating SUV, leaving only the hum of tension in the air and the rapid rhythm of Eva’s breath against my chest. She’s trembling, but her grip on my arm is ironclad, her determination blazing through the fear.

Adrian’s team is already moving, their SUVs roaring to life as they take off in pursuit of Conrad. The masked man we’ve captured is shoved into the back of one of Adrian’s vehicles, his hands zip-tied behind his back. He resists for a moment before Adrian’s men silence him with a sharp shove.

I glance down at Eva. Her pale face contrasts starkly with the fire in her eyes. “You shouldn’t have gotten out of the car,” I say, my voice gruff with a mix of frustration and concern.

Her chin lifts slightly, defiance flashing in her gaze. “And you shouldn’t have stepped into the open like that. We’re even.”

Despite the chaos, I feel a flicker of amusement at her stubbornness. “This isn’t a game, Eva. These people aren’t bluffing.”

“And neither am I,” she fires back. “If you think I’m going to sit quietly while they come after us, you don’t know me as well as you think.”

I shake my head, biting back a sharp reply. She’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. Underestimating her resolve once nearly cost me everything.

Adrian strides back toward us, his phone pressed to his ear. “Conrad’s heading north on the old industrial route,” he says, his tone clipped. “There’s a bottleneck near the train yard—we can intercept him there.”

“Good,” I reply, my voice like steel. “I want him alive.”

Adrian nods, his sharp gaze darting to Eva. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“I’m coming with you,” Eva cuts in before I can object.

“No,” I snap, turning to face her fully. “You’re staying here with Adrian’s team.”

Her eyes narrow, anger flaring in her expression. “If you think I’m going to let you face him alone—”

“This isn’t up for debate, Eva,” I interrupt, my tone firm but not unkind. “I need to know you’re safe.”

She opens her mouth to argue but falters. I see the conflict in her eyes—the desire to fight beside me warring with the fear she’s trying so hard to suppress.

“Fine,” she says finally, her voice tight. “But you’d better come back in one piece.”

I step closer, brushing my hand over her cheek. “I will,” I promise. “Stay with Adrian. Trust me.”

She nods, though the doubt lingers in her expression.

The industrial district looms ahead like a shadowy maze of rusted metal and concrete. The headlights of Adrian’s convoy carve paths through the darkness, illuminating the skeletal remains of warehouses and old machinery.

“Conrad’s running out of road,” Adrian says through the comms. “He’s boxed in.”

“Good,” I reply, gripping the wheel tighter as I lead the charge.

Up ahead, the taillights of Conrad’s SUV flash as it skids around a corner, the tires spitting gravel. He’s fast, but not fast enough.

“He’s heading toward the train yard,” one of Adrian’s men reports. “There’s no way out from there unless he’s planning to abandon the vehicle.”

“Stay on him,” I order, my focus razor-sharp.

The road narrows as we approach the yard, the sound of distant freight trains echoing through the night. Conrad’s SUV swerves wildly, barely missing a stack of rusted shipping containers.

“He’s losing control,” Adrian says. “We’ve got him.”

The SUV jerks to a stop near the tracks, the driver’s side door flying open. Conrad stumbles out, his movements frantic as he searches for an escape.

I slam on the brakes, my car skidding to a halt just feet away. I’m out of the vehicle in an instant, my gun drawn as I move toward him.

“Conrad!” I shout, my voice cutting through the noise. “It’s over. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

He turns to face me, his face pale but twisted with defiance. “You think you’ve won?” he spits, his voice dripping with venom. “You don’t even know what game you’re playing.”

I step closer, my aim steady. “Drop whatever weapon you’ve got and get on the ground.”

He laughs, a hollow, manic sound. “You’re too late, Kane. Reyes has already set the next move in motion. Even if you take me down, you’ll never stop him.”

“Maybe not,” I say, my tone cold. “But I’ll make damn sure you don’t get to see it.”

Before he can respond, Adrian and his team close in, their weapons trained on him. Conrad hesitates, his gaze darting between us, before finally raising his hands in surrender.

Back at the penthouse, Adrian’s men secure Conrad in one of their safehouses, leaving me and Eva to process what we’ve learned.

“He was stalling,” Adrian says, pacing the living room. “Trying to buy Reyes time to move whatever pieces he has left.”

Eva sits beside me, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “Did he say anything useful?”

Adrian shakes his head. “Nothing we didn’t already suspect. But his comms were active when we caught him. My team’s tracing the signals now.”

“Reyes is running out of pawns,” I say, my voice low. “He’s desperate. That makes him dangerous.”

Eva looks up at me, her eyes full of questions she’s too afraid to ask. “What happens when we find him?”

I turn to her, my expression hard. “We end this.”

Adrian’s phone buzzes, and he answers it immediately, his face growing darker with every word.

“What is it?” I ask, my tone sharp.

He hangs up, his jaw tight. “We traced the signal. Reyes wasn’t just moving pieces—he’s here, . In the city.”

Eva’s grip on my arm tightens. “What does that mean?”

Adrian’s gaze shifts to her, his voice grim. “It means he’s not hiding anymore. He’s making his final move.”

The weight of his words settles over the room like a shroud. This isn’t just a chase anymore.

It’s the beginning of the end.

The weight of Adrian’s words hangs heavy in the room. Reyes isn’t running anymore—he’s drawing us in, daring us to make the next move.

I glance at Eva, her grip on my arm firm despite the fear shadowing her eyes. There’s a resilience in her, a quiet strength that has kept me steady through the chaos. I can’t lose her—not to Reyes, not to this war.

“Where is he?” I ask Adrian, my voice razor-sharp.

“He’s using an abandoned luxury condo downtown,” Adrian replies. “We traced his signal to a secured unit on the top floor. The building’s cameras confirm activity, but we can’t get clear visuals.”

“He’s boxed himself in,” I say, my tone hard. “If we move now, we can pin him before he slips away.”

Adrian nods, but his expression remains grim. “There’s a catch. He’s not working alone. Surveillance picked up movement—armed men entering the building in shifts over the past twenty-four hours. This isn’t just a base. It’s a trap.”

The air grows heavier as his words sink in. Reyes is preparing for a fight, and he’s inviting us to walk straight into it.

Eva steps forward, her voice steady despite the tension. “Then we plan for the worst. We use his overconfidence against him.”

I glance at her, pride flickering beneath the storm of emotions threatening to consume me. “You’ve got something in mind?”

She nods. “He expects us to come charging in. But if we’re smarter, if we move in ways he doesn’t expect, we can turn his own trap against him.”

Adrian arches an eyebrow. “What are you thinking?”

Eva’s gaze flicks between us, determination burning in her green eyes. “We divide his attention. Make him believe the real threat is coming from one direction while the rest of us flank him. He won’t see it coming.”

I shake my head, my protective instincts flaring. “You’re not part of this, Eva.”

Her eyes lock on mine, unflinching. “I am part of this, . Reyes is coming after both of us. If we don’t stand together, he wins.”

“You don’t understand what you’re asking,” I say, my voice rising. “If something goes wrong—”

“Then it goes wrong for all of us,” she interrupts, her tone fierce. “I’m not sitting on the sidelines while you risk everything.”

The room falls silent, the tension between us crackling like a live wire. Finally, I nod, my jaw tight. “Fine. But you stick to the plan, Eva. No improvising. No heroics.”

She exhales, relief softening her features. “Deal.”

Adrian’s team moves with practiced efficiency, splitting into two groups to execute the plan. Eva and I remain in the penthouse as they finalize the approach, the air between us charged with unspoken words.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, breaking the silence.

Her gaze meets mine, steady and unwavering. “We don’t have a choice, . Reyes won’t stop until one of us is gone.”

Her words hit harder than I expect, a stark reminder of the stakes. I step closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I won’t let him hurt you.”

“I know,” she whispers, her voice softening. “But this isn’t just about me. It’s about us. About taking back control.”

I nod, my resolve hardening. “Then we do this together.”

Adrian steps into the room, his tablet in hand. “We’re ready,” he says. “Team One is approaching from the service entrance. Team Two will take the stairwell. We’ll converge on Reyes’ location from opposite sides.”

“And Eva?” I ask, my voice sharp.

“She’s with Team Two,” Adrian replies. “She’ll be safe.”

I glance at her, my instincts screaming against letting her anywhere near Reyes. But I can see the determination in her eyes, the fire that refuses to be extinguished.

“Let’s move,” I say, my voice firm.

The luxury condo looms ahead, a monolith of steel and glass bathed in the cold glow of city lights. Adrian’s SUV pulls to a stop a block away, the team disembarking with practiced precision.

I step out, the chill of the night air biting against my skin. Eva follows, her movements measured but steady.

“Stay close,” I say, my voice low.

She nods, gripping the comms device in her hand. “I will.”

Adrian signals for silence, motioning for the team to move. We cross the street in shadows, slipping through the service entrance without a sound.

Inside, the building feels like a tomb, the hum of electricity the only noise breaking the silence. The air is thick with tension, every step a reminder of what’s at stake.

“Team One in position,” a voice crackles through the comms.

“Team Two moving,” Adrian replies.

Eva and I follow Adrian up the stairwell, the narrow space amplifying the sound of our footsteps. My grip tightens on my weapon, every sense on high alert.

“Top floor,” Adrian whispers, his voice barely audible.

We step onto the landing, the dimly lit hallway stretching ahead like a gauntlet. The door to Reyes’ unit looms at the end, slightly ajar.

Adrian holds up a hand, signaling for the team to halt. “Something’s off,” he murmurs.

I nod, my instincts screaming the same warning. “Stay back,” I whisper to Eva.

She hesitates, her jaw tightening, but she nods, pressing herself against the wall.

I move forward, my gun raised, every step calculated. The door creaks as I push it open, revealing a sprawling penthouse bathed in eerie silence.

The room is empty, the furniture untouched. But the air feels wrong, charged with a sense of foreboding.

“Clear,” Adrian says, stepping in behind me.

I shake my head. “No. This isn’t right.”

A faint sound—a soft click—cuts through the silence.

“Down!” I shout, grabbing Eva and pulling her to the ground just as an explosion rips through the air.

The blast sends a wave of heat and debris through the room, the force slamming into my back as I shield Eva. Pain lances through my side, but I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay focused.

“Adrian!” I shout, my ears ringing.

“We’re fine,” he replies, his voice sharp. “It was a decoy. Reyes isn’t here.”

The words send a surge of fury through me. Reyes had planned for this, leading us into a trap while he moved elsewhere.

Eva pushes herself up, her face pale but determined. “We have to go after him.”

“We will,” I say, my voice like steel. “But first, we regroup.”

As we exit the building, Adrian’s phone buzzes. He answers it quickly, his expression darkening with every word.

“What now?” I demand.

He hangs up, his jaw tight. “Reyes is on the move. He’s heading to the docks.”

“The docks?” Eva asks, her voice laced with confusion.

Adrian nods. “It’s his last stronghold. If we don’t stop him there, we may lose him for good.”

I glance at Eva, her face a mix of fear and determination. “Then we don’t stop,” I say, my tone resolute.

The SUV roars to life as we race toward the docks, the weight of the night pressing down on us.

This isn’t just about ending Reyes anymore. It’s about survival.

And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Eva.

Even if it costs me everything.