CHAPTER 17

The engine roared beneath me as I tore through the city streets, headlights slicing through the dark. Riley had gone north—I was heading south.

We needed distance. And a plan.

I gritted my teeth, my pulse hammering. The Oath wasn't going to let us walk away from this. They'd keep coming.

Unless I stopped them first.

My earpiece crackled. "Nathan, I made it to the fallback point," Riley's voice came, tense but steady.

"Good. Stay put. I'm going to buy you time."

"You mean you're going to do something reckless."

"Same thing."

Silence. Then, "Just don't get yourself killed."

No promises.

I cut the lights on the SUV and veered off the main road, tires skidding across cracked asphalt. The industrial district—perfect. Empty buildings. Limited exits. A damn good place for an ambush.

I needed them to follow.

I reached under my jacket, pulled out my burner phone, and sent a single text to an old, familiar number.

You want me? Come get me.

Then I ditched the phone and waited.

Minutes passed. The city was quiet. Too quiet.

Then I saw them.

Black SUVs, headlights flaring like hungry eyes, prowling the streets in search of me.

I grinned. Hook, line, and sinker.

I revved the engine, then floored it, blasting through the empty roads, making sure they saw me.

They took the bait.

Engines roared behind me. Tires screeched. Shadows shifted in my mirrors—two, no, three vehicles closing in.

Good.

I led them deeper, weaving through abandoned warehouses and broken streetlights casting jagged shadows. I needed them all in one place.

Then, when the timing was right—

I slammed the brakes.

The SUV behind me swerved hard, trying to adjust—too late. I threw the door open and rolled out just as the first vehicle skidded past, my gun already drawn.

Three shots.

Driver down. The SUV lost control, slamming into a rusted dumpster.

The second one nearly ran me down. I dove, rolling across the pavement as gunfire erupted. Bullets sparked against metal, missing me by inches.

I hit the ground running, cutting between two storage containers. They chased.

Perfect.

I slipped into the shadows and ducked behind cover. Listened.

Footsteps. Five—maybe six—men.

Their leader called out. "Nathan, you're outgunned. You know how this ends."

I exhaled slowly, steady. They don't know me at all.

I reached into my vest and pulled the remote detonator from my pocket, thumb hovering over the switch.

"You're right," I called back. "I do know how this ends."

Then I pressed the button.

A boom shattered the night. The abandoned car I'd rigged earlier erupted in flames, sending a shockwave through the alley. The force knocked them off their feet.

I didn't give them time to recover.

I was on them before the dust settled.

The first man groaned, struggling to stand. I silenced him with a knife to the throat.

The second swung wildly, ears ringing from the blast. I ducked, twisted his own gun out of his hands, and fired point-blank.

Two down.

The others scrambled, trying to regroup. I didn't let them.

I shot out the streetlight, plunging us into near darkness. I could hear them breathing. Panicked.

"Where is he?!" one of them shouted.

I moved fast, silent. A shadow in the chaos.

My blade found the third man's ribs before he even knew I was there.

Three down.

The last two finally fired—blind shots in the dark. I dropped low, rolling behind cover as bullets tore through the air.

"You really thought this would be easy?" I taunted, my voice bouncing off the walls.

One of them made a run for it.

I let him think he had a chance.

Then I fired a single round.

He collapsed face-first.

Only one left.

He turned in circles, weapon shaking. "Screw this," he muttered, bolting for his SUV.

I let him reach the door.

Then I pressed the second detonator.

The explosion sent his body flying.

I stood there, watching the flames flicker, my breath steady despite the carnage.

The Oath had underestimated me.

I wouldn't make the same mistake.

I tapped my earpiece. "Riley, it's done."

Her voice came back, relieved. "How bad?"

"For them? Very."

A pause. Then, "And you?"

I rolled my shoulder, feeling the sting of my injuries. "Still standing."

"Good. Because we're not done yet."

I glanced at the burning wreckage around me.

No. We weren't.

This was just the beginning.