Chapter Five: Blood on the Line

The deafening crack of the gunshot echoed through the penthouse, followed by a shattering silence. Alex felt his heart stop as he instinctively dove to the side, pulling Emilia down with him. The intruder's aim was off, his bullet embedding itself into the wall behind them. 

"Stay low!" Alex barked at Emilia as he rolled into cover, his gun already raised. 

The masked man didn't waste a second. He darted toward the kitchen, using the marble counter as cover. The tension was suffocating as Alex calculated his next move, the adrenaline surging through his veins. 

"I don't miss twice," the intruder called out, his voice dripping with cruel confidence. 

"You just did," Alex retorted, firing a warning shot. The bullet grazed the edge of the counter, sending shards of marble flying. 

Emilia whimpered beside him, clutching her knees to her chest. "Alex, he's going to kill us!" 

"Not if I kill him first," Alex growled, his mind working in overdrive. He needed to end this quickly. 

The sound of a chair being shoved aside gave away the intruder's position. Alex took advantage, firing another round that forced the man to retreat further into the kitchen. 

"Who sent you?" Alex demanded, his voice sharp and unrelenting. 

The intruder laughed, a hollow, eerie sound. "You'll find out when it's too late." 

Alex gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. He edged closer, keeping his body low, his gun trained on the man's last known position. The kitchen was a maze of shadows and reflective surfaces, each one a potential hiding spot. 

A sudden clatter of metal startled Alex, drawing his attention to the far corner. He spun around, his finger on the trigger—only to realize it was a distraction. The man lunged from the opposite side, slamming into Alex with brutal force. 

The two men crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs, the gun slipping from Alex's grasp and skidding across the floor. The intruder was strong, his punches landing like sledgehammers, but Alex had been through worse. 

With a surge of strength, Alex twisted his body, throwing the man off balance. He landed a sharp elbow to the intruder's jaw, followed by a knee to his ribs. The man groaned, but he recovered quickly, pulling a knife from his belt. 

Alex barely had time to react as the blade arced toward him. He grabbed the man's wrist, their strength evenly matched as they struggled for control. The knife hovered inches from Alex's throat, the cold steel gleaming in the dim light. 

"Alex!" Emilia screamed, her voice piercing the chaos. 

Summoning every ounce of his strength, Alex twisted the man's arm, forcing him to drop the knife. It clattered to the ground, but the intruder wasn't done. He lunged again, this time going for Alex's throat with his bare hands. 

They crashed into the coffee table, the glass top shattering under their weight. Pain shot through Alex's back, but he ignored it, his focus solely on survival. 

The fight was brutal, primal, and unforgiving. Alex landed a punch that sent the intruder reeling, but the man retaliated with a kick that knocked the wind out of him. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw Emilia grab the knife. 

"Emilia, no!" he shouted, but she was already moving. 

With a cry of desperation, Emilia plunged the blade into the intruder's shoulder. The man howled in pain, his body jerking as blood seeped from the wound. 

Alex took the opportunity to deliver a final blow, his fist connecting with the man's temple. The intruder slumped to the ground, unconscious. 

Breathing heavily, Alex pushed himself to his feet. He looked at Emilia, who was shaking violently, the knife still clutched in her hand. 

"It's over," he said, his voice softer now. "You're safe." 

Her eyes were wide with terror as she dropped the knife, her hands trembling. "Who… who was he?" 

Alex didn't answer immediately. Instead, he bent down, pulling off the man's mask. The face beneath was unfamiliar—sharp features, a scar running down his left cheek. But it wasn't the man's identity that concerned Alex. 

It was the small tattoo on his neck: a black circle with a dagger through it. 

Alex's stomach sank. He knew that symbol. It belonged to an underground syndicate—one that Declan had mentioned in passing years ago. If they were involved, this was far bigger than he'd anticipated. 

"We need answers," Alex said, grabbing a zip tie from a drawer and securing the man's wrists. "And he's going to give them to us." 

The unconscious man was tied to a chair in the center of Alex's living room, his head slumped forward. Victor arrived shortly after, his expression grim as he took in the scene. 

"Looks like you've had a rough night," Victor said, his tone dry. 

"You have no idea," Alex replied, pacing the room. "He's with the Syndicate." 

Victor's eyes darkened. "The Syndicate? That's bad news, Alex. They don't get involved unless there's a lot of money—or blood—on the line." 

"Declan's pulling their strings," Alex said. "I'm sure of it. But why? What's his endgame?" 

Victor didn't answer. Instead, he crouched in front of the unconscious man, slapping his cheek until he stirred. 

The man groaned, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw Alex and Victor, his face twisted into a defiant sneer. 

"You think you've won?" the man spat, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "You're already dead. You just don't know it yet." 

Alex stepped forward, his voice icy. "Who sent you?" 

The man smirked, his gaze unflinching. "You're barking up the wrong tree, Knight. This is bigger than you." 

Victor grabbed the man's jaw, forcing him to look at Alex. "Answer the question, or I'll make you wish you had." 

The man's smirk faltered, but he didn't break. "You think you can stop this? You're nothing but a pawn. Declan, Helena… they're just the beginning." 

Alex's patience snapped. He grabbed the man's collar, yanking him forward. "Tell me what they're planning!" 

The man laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Alex's spine. "You're too late, Knight. By the time you figure it out, everything you love will be gone." 

Before Alex could respond, the man bit down hard on something hidden in his mouth. 

Victor reacted instantly, prying the man's jaw open, but it was too late. Foam bubbled from his lips, and his body convulsed violently before going limp. 

"Damn it!" Victor cursed, throwing the chair over in frustration. 

Alex stared at the lifeless body, his mind reeling. The Syndicate had made their move, and their message was clear: 

*This was only the beginning.*