Chapter 35: Shadows of the Past

The underground tunnel stretched on, damp and suffocating, each step echoing in the silence. Liam's mind raced as he clutched the ledger tightly, the weight of his past and future pressing against his chest.

Seraphina ran beside him, her breath uneven. Nathan followed closely behind, his gun still gripped in his hands. They had escaped—for now. But Liam knew better than to believe they were safe.

"How much farther?" Seraphina whispered.

Liam glanced ahead, his sharp eyes catching the faint glow of an emergency exit sign. "Almost there."

Nathan pulled out a small device, checking their surroundings. "No heat signatures nearby. Either they lost us, or they're waiting ahead."

Liam's grip on the ledger tightened. If the people hunting him were anything like the ones who had taken his parents' lives, they wouldn't give up easily.

The door at the end of the tunnel loomed closer. Liam slowed down, pressing himself against the cold concrete wall. He motioned for Seraphina and Nathan to stay back. Carefully, he pushed the door open just enough to peek outside.

A deserted alley. Dim streetlights flickered. No immediate threats.

For now.

Liam stepped out cautiously, scanning his surroundings. The city stretched out before them, a web of towering skyscrapers and neon reflections on wet pavement. The safe house was only a few blocks away.

"Let's move," he whispered.

Seraphina followed, her fingers twitching near the concealed blade at her hip. Nathan took the rear, his eyes sweeping the rooftops.

They had just reached the main street when a black car slowed beside them.

The tinted window rolled down.

Liam's body tensed. His instincts screamed danger.

A man sat inside, his face hidden in the shadows. His voice was smooth, calculated.

"You have something that doesn't belong to you, Liam."

Liam's jaw tightened. "That so?"

The man chuckled. "Hand over the ledger, and you might walk away alive."

Nathan shifted slightly, his hand reaching for his gun. Seraphina's muscles coiled, ready to strike.

Liam smirked. "If you want it… come take it."

The man sighed. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The door opened. And the night exploded into chaos.

---

Gunfire erupted. Liam dove behind a parked car, barely avoiding a bullet that whizzed past his ear. Seraphina moved like a shadow, her blade flashing in the dim light as she disarmed the first attacker with surgical precision.

Nathan fired a precise shot, dropping a second assailant. But more were coming.

Liam gritted his teeth. He was done running.

He grabbed a metal pipe from the ground, lunging at the nearest attacker. His movements were precise—fluid. The man barely had time to react before Liam struck his knee, sending him collapsing to the ground.

Another charged him. Liam sidestepped, using the attacker's momentum against him, sending him crashing into the alley wall.

The man from the car simply watched.

Unbothered.

Like he was waiting.

Nathan took out another enemy. Seraphina spun, dodging a blade and countering with a brutal elbow strike.

Then—

A new figure stepped forward.

A woman.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, her silver hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. Her eyes were like steel. Cold. Calculating.

Liam recognized her instantly.

Catherine Laurent.

The right-hand woman of one of the most powerful underground families in the world.

And one of the names in the ledger.

She smiled. "It's been a long time, Liam."

Liam clenched his fists. "Not long enough."

She tilted her head. "You've grown."

"I could say the same, but you still reek of corruption."

Catherine chuckled. "Flattery won't save you."

She snapped her fingers. More men appeared from the shadows.

Liam's stomach twisted. They were outnumbered.

But he wasn't about to surrender.

He took a slow breath. "Seraphina. Nathan."

They understood instantly.

This fight was just getting started.

---

Liam could hear the sirens in the distance, but they wouldn't arrive in time. This was a battlefield, and the only way out was through.

Catherine's men advanced, their weapons glinting under the streetlights.

Nathan fired first, taking down one of them with a shot to the leg. Seraphina danced between two attackers, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Liam, however, had his eyes locked on Catherine.

She wasn't here just to watch. She was waiting for something.

Or someone.

A shadow moved on the rooftop above.

Liam barely had time to react before a bullet whizzed past his cheek.

A sniper.

He dove for cover as another shot rang out, hitting the ground where he had stood just moments before.

Nathan cursed. "They brought a damn marksman."

Liam gritted his teeth. He needed to end this—now.

His hand tightened around the ledger.

If this was what they wanted, then he'd make sure they'd regret coming for it.

With a deep breath, he sprang forward, closing the distance between himself and Catherine in an instant.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

But just before he could strike—

A gun pressed against his temple.

Liam froze.

Behind him, a man in a black mask had emerged from the shadows, his weapon steady against Liam's skull.

Catherine smirked. "You really thought you had the upper hand?"

Nathan and Seraphina tensed, their weapons raised but useless.

The fight was over.

Or so they thought.

Liam grinned.

"You should've pulled the trigger."

In a blur, he grabbed the masked man's wrist, twisting it violently. The gun fired—but Liam had already ducked, the bullet missing him by inches.

He spun, elbowing the man in the face and disarming him in one fluid motion.

Before Catherine could react, Liam had the gun aimed at her.

The tables had turned.

Catherine's smirk faltered.

For the first time that night, she looked… worried.

Liam's voice was ice-cold.

"Now, let's talk."

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