The echoes of the confrontation with Santiago's men still lingered in Zack's apartment when the doorbell pierced the uneasy calm. He approached cautiously, memories of the recent clash fresh in his mind. Peering through the peephole, he recognized the figure waiting on the other side—a familiar face from a past life.
Unlocking the door, Zack was met with the steely gaze of Marcus, a former military colleague turned informant. Marcus had once shared the trenches with Zack, their camaraderie forged in the crucible of conflict.
"Long time, no see," Marcus greeted, his voice laced with a hint of urgency.
"What brings you here, Marcus?" Zack's tone was guarded, wary of unexpected visitors after the chaos that had transpired.
Marcus wasted no time. "Word's out on the street about the skirmish with Santiago's crew. Agency's stirring, Zack. They're watching."
Zack's jaw tightened at the mention of the Agency—the clandestine force he had once served, now a specter haunting his present. He had left that life behind, seeking freedom from the puppet strings that once controlled him.
"What do they want now?" Zack's voice betrayed a mix of resignation and defiance.
Marcus's gaze held an unspoken understanding. "They see you as a loose end, Zack. But there's a bigger picture here. Santiago's just a pawn in a game they're playing. They want control, and you're a threat to that."
Zack's mind churned with possibilities. The Agency's reach was extensive, their motives shadowed in secrecy. But he was no longer their soldier, no longer willing to dance to their tune.
"I won't be their pawn again," Zack declared, his resolve hardening like steel.
Marcus nodded, acknowledging the unspoken decision. "They're coming for you, Zack. Stay sharp."
As Marcus left, Zack retreated into the shadows of his thoughts. The Agency's looming presence was a storm on the horizon, threatening to engulf him once more. But the man called God wasn't one to succumb to the chains of the past. He'd fight, carving his path through the darkness, untethered and resolute. The game had intensified, and Zack was ready to play on his terms.