THE HUNT BEGINS

Jack and Sophia raced down a narrow street, the Parisian night still echoing with the aftershocks of the explosion at the warehouse. The flashing lights of emergency vehicles were already on the horizon, and the acrid smell of smoke hung heavy in the air. They needed to disappear fast — Orlov and Andrei had a head start, and Jack knew that every minute wasted put them further behind.

"Where's Alyssa?" Sophia asked, her breathing quick but steady as they ducked into a side alley.

Jack scanned the dark street, but Alyssa was nowhere to be seen. "She'll turn up," he muttered, though he wasn't entirely convinced. Alyssa had a habit of vanishing when things got complicated, and Jack wouldn't be surprised if she had her own agenda.

Just then, a sleek black motorcycle pulled up beside them. Alyssa lifted the visor of her helmet and smirked. "Need a ride?"

Jack gave a half-smile and nodded. "Where's Zane? We're going to need help tracking Orlov."

Alyssa gestured behind her. "Zane's already working on it. I've got a few contacts tracking Orlov's convoy. They're heading east — we think they're making a move toward Russia."

Jack frowned. Russia wasn't just any destination — it was a hotspot of underground operations, and if Orlov was heading there, it meant they were walking straight into a hornet's nest. But he had no choice. The stolen government tech could be catastrophic if it fell into the wrong hands, and Jack was starting to suspect that The Ghost's plans went far beyond black-market deals.

"Let's move," Jack said, mounting the bike behind Alyssa. Sophia took her place in a second vehicle — a car Zane had arranged — and they sped off into the night.

Hours Later: En Route to Russia

The ride across the French countryside felt surreal, the night sky casting a pale glow over the open road. Jack had barely spoken, his mind running through the events of the past few days. Too much still didn't add up. He didn't trust Alyssa entirely, and Sophia — despite her steadfast loyalty in the field — still raised questions in his mind.

As they crossed the border into Germany, Jack's phone buzzed. It was Zane.

"I've got eyes on Orlov's convoy," Zane said, his voice steady over the line. "They're heading toward Saint Petersburg. Whatever's happening, it's going down there."

Saint Petersburg. The city was a nexus for high-level black-market transactions, corrupt politicians, and ex-military operatives willing to sell to the highest bidder. Jack knew that once they were inside Russian borders, the rules would change — and not in their favor.

"We'll meet you there," Jack replied before ending the call.

Sophia pulled up beside them in the car and rolled down her window. "What's the plan?"

Jack didn't hesitate. "We head to Saint Petersburg. We'll need to hit Orlov's convoy before they can disappear into the city. If they make it to one of The Ghost's safehouses, we'll lose them for good."

Sophia nodded, her expression tense but focused. "Do you think Andrei is leading them there? I can't shake the feeling he's always a step ahead."

Jack exhaled slowly. Andrei was a wild card, a ruthless killer who thrived in the chaos. He had personal stakes in this — Jack knew that much from their past encounters. But Andrei wasn't the mastermind; he was a pawn in something much bigger.

"I don't know," Jack admitted. "But we need to assume The Ghost is watching every move we make. If we're going to take them down, we'll have to be smart about it."

Saint Petersburg: A City of Shadows

By the time they reached Saint Petersburg, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the historic streets. The city's mix of old-world beauty and modern corruption was palpable. It wasn't long before Jack, Sophia, and Alyssa found themselves in the heart of one of the most dangerous districts, known locally as Petrogradka.

"This place is a nest of vipers," Alyssa murmured, looking around. "We won't last long if we're not careful."

Jack checked his weapon, glancing around at the dilapidated buildings, where armed men stood guard on nearly every corner. "Orlov's convoy is holed up in a warehouse near the docks," he said. "If we can intercept them before the handoff, we might have a shot at stopping this."

Alyssa nodded. "I've got a few contacts in the area. I can get us some extra firepower, but we'll need to move quickly."

Sophia looked out over the crowded streets. "Jack, what if this is another setup? What if The Ghost is baiting us?"

Jack had thought about that possibility. The Ghost was a master at manipulation, always several steps ahead, and this could easily be a trap. But if they didn't act, those experimental weapons would be gone — and with them, the chance to dismantle The Ghost's operation.

"We don't have a choice," Jack said. "We stop Orlov tonight."

The Dockside Assault

Night had fully descended by the time they reached the docks. The air was cold, and a heavy mist rolled in from the water, making visibility poor. The warehouse where Orlov's convoy had stopped was an old, rusting structure, its high windows dark and foreboding.

Jack, Sophia, and Alyssa crouched behind a stack of shipping containers, surveying the area. There were at least a dozen armed men patrolling the perimeter, and the convoy of SUVs was parked near the entrance, their drivers on high alert.

"We're outnumbered," Sophia whispered. "We need a distraction."

Jack nodded, formulating a plan. "Alyssa, can you loop their security feed?"

Alyssa smirked, already working on her tablet. "Give me thirty seconds."

As Alyssa worked, Jack kept his eyes on the guards. Orlov was inside, no doubt overseeing the transfer of the stolen tech. If they could get inside, there was a chance they could sabotage the operation and take Orlov down — but it wouldn't be easy.

"Done," Alyssa whispered. "Their cameras are on a loop. We've got about five minutes."

"Let's move," Jack said, signaling for Sophia and Alyssa to follow him as they crept toward the warehouse.

They moved like shadows, slipping past the patrolling guards and toward a side entrance. Jack picked the lock quickly and quietly, pushing the door open just enough for them to slip inside. The interior of the warehouse was dimly lit, with stacks of crates lining the walls.

In the center of the room stood Orlov, his back to them, speaking to a man Jack didn't recognize. It was clear they were finalizing the deal — the crates of government tech were being loaded onto a shipping container bound for who-knew-where.

Jack motioned for Alyssa and Sophia to fan out, positioning themselves behind cover as they prepared to strike. But just as Jack took aim at Orlov, he heard a faint clicking sound behind him.

He turned, heart racing, just in time to see Andrei Kovalenko stepping out of the shadows, his gun trained on Jack.

"You really should've stayed dead, Adams," Andrei said, his voice cold and amused. "But I'm glad you didn't. I've been waiting for this."

Time seemed to slow as Jack and Andrei stared each other down. Jack's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was calm, calculating. He had one shot — one chance to take Andrei out before the entire operation went up in flames.

"I've always admired your stubbornness, Jack," Andrei continued, circling him like a predator. "But you're in over your head. Orlov is just a piece of the puzzle. You have no idea what you're really up against."

Jack's finger hovered over the trigger of his gun, but Andrei was fast — too fast. He needed to create an opening.

"You talk too much, Andrei," Jack said, his voice steady. "Let's finish this."

Andrei's eyes flashed with anger, and in that split second, Jack made his move. He dropped low, rolling behind a stack of crates as Andrei fired. The bullets ricocheted off the metal, missing Jack by inches.

The room erupted into chaos. Orlov's men opened fire, and Jack, Sophia, and Alyssa returned fire, the warehouse turning into a warzone. The crates of stolen tech became collateral damage as bullets flew, and the sound of shattering glass and splintering wood filled the air.

Andrei, undeterred, moved through the chaos, his eyes locked on Jack.

This was the moment Jack had been waiting for — the moment everything would change.