Chapter 28: The Flight Into Darkness

The black SUV roared through the city streets, weaving between traffic like a shadow slipping through the cracks of reality. Liam sat in the back, his eyes fixed on the nightscape outside. His face was now plastered across every news station.

A fugitive. A wanted man.

Every streetlight felt like a spotlight exposing him. Every pedestrian was a potential informant. The air was thick with tension, suffocating him.

Alec drove with precision, his jaw tight as he took another sharp turn. Seraphina, seated beside Liam, lazily checked her nails, but even her usual confidence was laced with tension. Nathan sat in the front, his fingers twitching against the gun holstered at his hip.

"How long until we reach the airfield?" Liam asked, his voice calm despite the storm raging around them.

"Fifteen minutes," Alec replied, his tone clipped. "Assuming we don't run into any—"

Before he could finish, the blare of sirens filled the air.

Nathan cursed. "They're already here."

Liam clenched his jaw. Dante Velasco wasn't wasting time.

Flashing red and blue lights flooded the streets behind them as a fleet of police cars closed in.

Seraphina smirked. "Well, this just got fun."

Alec gritted his teeth. "Hold on!"

He yanked the wheel hard to the right, sending the SUV careening onto a side street. Tires screeched against the wet pavement as they sped through an alleyway, dodging dumpsters and narrowly missing a delivery truck.

Nathan checked the GPS. "There's a service road up ahead. If we take it, we can lose them in the old industrial zone."

"Do it," Liam ordered.

Alec didn't hesitate. He gunned the engine, sending the SUV rocketing forward. The police were closing in fast, but Alec was faster.

Seraphina glanced over at Liam. "You know, if we die, I just want you to know—this was all your fault."

Liam exhaled. "Noted."

A sudden explosion rocked the streets behind them. A police car flipped over, engulfed in flames.

Nathan spun around. "What the hell—"

Then they saw it.

A black motorcycle emerged from the smoke, its rider clad in dark gear, moving with an almost supernatural grace. A sniper rifle was strapped to their back.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "That's not a cop."

Seraphina's smirk widened. "Oh, now this is getting interesting."

The rider lifted an arm. A flash grenade arced through the air—

Alec swerved just in time. The grenade detonated behind them, blinding the pursuing officers. The police cars veered off course, crashing into each other in a chaotic pile-up.

The SUV burst onto the service road. Alec didn't slow down. "We're almost there!"

Liam's phone buzzed. A message.

Unknown Number: "You're running out of moves, Liam. Let's see how far you get."

Liam exhaled sharply. Dante was watching.

They had to disappear—now.

---

The airfield loomed ahead, its massive hangars standing like silent sentinels under the moonlight.

A private jet waited on the runway, engines already roaring to life. The pilot was ready. Nathan had planned everything.

Alec slammed on the brakes, sending the SUV skidding to a stop.

"Go! Go! Go!" Nathan barked.

They flung the doors open and sprinted toward the plane. The wind howled, the scent of burning rubber filling the air.

But just as they reached the steps—

Gunfire erupted.

Bullets tore into the metal staircase. The pilot collapsed with a strangled gasp, a crimson stain spreading across his chest.

Seraphina hissed. "Sniper!"

They dove for cover as another bullet struck the wing of the jet.

Liam's heart pounded. Dante had planned for this. He wasn't letting them leave.

Alec scanned the area. "Where is he?"

Nathan pointed toward the hangar rooftops. "There!"

A lone figure stood on the edge of the roof, rifle in hand, face hidden behind a black mask.

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "That's not just any sniper."

Liam recognized the stance, the precision. This was a professional.

Nathan handed him a sleek silver pistol. "What's the plan, boss?"

Liam didn't hesitate. "We take them down. Fast."

Seraphina grinned, drawing her twin knives. "Now we're talking."

Alec cocked his gun. "Let's end this."

The hunt had begun.

--

The masked sniper crouched low on the rooftop, their weapon trained on Liam's team. They weren't just here to stall them—they were here to eliminate them.

Liam ducked behind a crate, adrenaline surging through his veins. He needed a distraction.

"Seraphina, go left. Nathan, take the right flank," he ordered.

Alec nodded. "I'll cover the jet."

Seraphina moved first, her movements like a shadow slipping through the night. She scaled a nearby scaffolding, knives glinting under the floodlights.

Nathan sprinted toward the hangar, sliding behind a parked fuel truck. He raised his pistol, aiming for the sniper's exposed side.

The sniper moved—fast.

A single shot rang out, narrowly missing Nathan's head.

"Shit!" Nathan rolled to the side, squeezing off a return shot. The bullet ricocheted off the sniper's rifle.

Liam moved in next. He leaped over a stack of crates, firing three quick rounds. The sniper twisted mid-air, dodging them with almost inhuman reflexes.

Seraphina was already on the roof. She lunged.

The sniper spun, raising their rifle to parry her attack. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying.

Alec took the opportunity to sprint toward the jet. He yanked open the cockpit door, dragging the dead pilot out. "Nathan, get this thing started!"

Nathan bolted toward the plane. "On it!"

Liam turned back in time to see Seraphina locked in a deadly dance with the sniper.

Blades flashed. Bullets flew. Neither backed down.

Seraphina feinted left, twisting at the last second. Her knife found flesh.

The sniper staggered, a dark stain blooming on their shoulder.

Liam didn't hesitate. He fired.

The bullet struck the sniper's leg. They crumpled.

Seraphina kicked the rifle away, pressing her blade against their throat. The sniper gasped, their mask slipping.

Liam's breath caught.

It was a woman.

Her face was smeared with blood and dirt, but her sharp green eyes burned with defiance.

She spat at him. "You think this ends here?"

Liam stared at her. Something about her felt... familiar.

Before he could speak, Nathan shouted. "Liam! We gotta go—now!"

The jet engines roared.

Liam hesitated—just for a second.

Then he turned away. "Let's move."

Seraphina knocked the woman unconscious and followed.

As they sprinted toward the jet, a second wave of gunfire erupted.

More men were coming. Dante's forces.

Liam barely made it up the steps before Alec yanked the door shut.

Nathan shoved the throttle forward. The plane lurched, then took off.

As they soared into the night, Liam looked out the window.

The sniper lay motionless on the tarmac, but even from this height, he could feel her gaze burning into him.

Something told him—this was just the beginning.