A Deal with Shadows

The night stretched endlessly as Luca pushed the car forward, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the tense silence between them. Every mile put more distance between them and the chaos they had barely escaped, but no one in the car truly felt safe.

Julian directed them toward an abandoned industrial district on the outskirts of the city they were approaching. The buildings loomed like forgotten relics, their windows shattered, their walls covered in graffiti. Luca parked the car near a rusted chain-link fence, cutting the engine.

"This is it?" Rayna asked, her voice laced with doubt.

Julian gave a small smirk. "Trust me. He's here."

Vaughn scoffed. "And what exactly makes this friend of yours so special?"

Julian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pushed open the car door and stepped out, gesturing for them to follow. "Come and see for yourself."

With cautious steps, they followed him through a narrow alleyway, their boots crunching against broken glass. At the end of the alley, Julian knocked twice on a steel door and then tapped three times in quick succession.

A few moments passed before a mechanical click echoed through the air, and the door creaked open. A man stood in the dimly lit doorway, his frame lean but strong, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. He had sharp features, a five o'clock shadow, and an aura of quiet authority.

"Well, well," the man drawled, his voice smooth and dangerous. "Julian, I thought you were dead."

Julian smirked. "Miss me, Declan?"

Declan let out a chuckle, stepping aside to let them in. The interior was surprisingly well-kept—an underground bunker filled with high-tech equipment, weapons, and stacks of paper detailing blueprints and city schematics.

Rayna scanned the room, her gaze lingering on the surveillance monitors. "Who exactly is this guy?"

Julian glanced at her. "An information broker. Declan knows things no one else does."

Declan leaned against a metal desk, folding his arms. "And why should I help you?"

Luca stepped forward. "Because we're the only chance you have at getting back at the people who tried to kill us."

Declan's smirk widened. "Now that… that's interesting."

Vaughn crossed his arms. "We need intel. Safe houses, weak points, anything we can use against them."

Declan exhaled, rubbing his chin. "It won't be free."

Julian chuckled. "It never is."

Declan pushed off the desk. "I'll make you a deal. You get me something I want, and I'll give you everything you need."

Luca narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly do you want?"

Declan's smirk turned predatory.

"A man. Alive."

Silence filled the room.

Rayna exhaled. "Who?"

Declan turned to one of the monitors, tapping the screen. A grainy image of a man filled the display. His face was hard, his expression unreadable. But what sent a chill down Luca's spine was that he knew exactly who this man was.

Julian cursed under his breath.

Vaughn tensed.

Rayna whispered, "No way."

Because the man Declan wanted them to bring in…

Was the same man hunting them down.