Chase

The air inside the old sedan was thick with the pungent scent of sweat and desperation. The two men sat in silence, their bodies thrumming with adrenaline and rage. The night outside was dark and quiet, the party's garish lights far behind them. Zale's breathing was slow, controlled, but his eyes were burning with determination.

"Can't believe he just bolted like that," Jared muttered, hands gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "He knew something was off."

"He must've caught word about the executives dropping dead," Zale replied, his gaze fixed on the black car weaving through traffic far ahead. "Or he's just paranoid enough to always have an escape route ready."

"Smart bastard."

"Smart doesn't mean untouchable."

Their sedan groaned as Jared pushed it harder, the engine's protests drowned out by the pounding of his heartbeat. The CEO's sleek black car was cutting through the sparse night traffic, its speed both desperate and controlled. Whoever was behind the wheel was good.

"Keep on him," Zale ordered, his voice a low growl. "He's trying to put distance between us, but he's not out of options yet."

Jared nodded, his eyes darting between the road and the taillights glimmering like red eyes in the distance. "He thinks he can run from us. He's got another thing coming."

Their rental car wasn't built for high-speed chases, but Jared handled it with the precision of a man driven by fury. They swerved around cars, narrowly missing a truck that blared its horn as they shot past.

"You're insane," Zale muttered, a hint of amusement cutting through his grim demeanor.

"Better than being dead, right?" Jared replied with a manic grin.

The cityscape was soon replaced by stretches of road flanked by trees and darkness. The few streetlights that dotted the highway were weak and sickly, offering only fleeting glimpses of the road ahead.

"He's trying to lose us," Jared said, his voice steady despite the tension. "Taking us out into the middle of nowhere where no one can see."

"Then he's only making things easier for us," Zale replied. "Less eyes. Less interference."

The forest seemed to swallow them whole, the narrow road twisting and turning like some serpentine creature determined to lead them to ruin. The sedan's tires screeched as Jared forced the old car to dance along the curves, always keeping the black car in sight.

"Damn," Jared hissed as the CEO's car pulled further ahead. "He's got one hell of an engine under the hood."

"But he doesn't know we're this stubborn."

"He will soon enough."

They followed the black car relentlessly, ignoring the warning signs on the roadside that spoke of dangerous curves and steep drops. Jared's hands were steady, his reflexes sharp. Zale's eyes remained locked on their target, refusing to blink, refusing to even consider failure.

The black car swerved suddenly, taking a sharp turn down a barely visible path cutting through the forest.

"Shit," Jared cursed, yanking the wheel hard to follow. The sedan shuddered under the sudden shift, tires skidding briefly over gravel before catching traction again. "He's really trying to lose us now."

"That means we're getting to him."

Zale's words were cold and calm, his rage focused like the tip of a blade. This was the man responsible for everything. The one who had celebrated his death as if it were some sort of sick victory.

He wouldn't get away.

"Stay back," Zale warned. "He might try something desperate."

Jared eased off the gas, allowing more distance between them. But he kept the car moving, eyes sharp and unyielding. They navigated the narrow path, trees blurring past them like ghosts.

"This better not be leading us into some trap," Jared grumbled.

"If it is, we'll spring it on him instead."

They continued the pursuit, the forest's darkness closing in around them. Every bump and jolt felt like a challenge, a test of their resolve. But Zale's mind remained locked on the man ahead.

The one he would make suffer.

Suddenly, the trees parted, revealing a sprawling estate carved into the base of the mountain. The mansion was massive, its architecture imposing and cold. High walls wrapped around the perimeter like iron jaws, and Zale spotted several guards patrolling with flashlights and rifles.

"Jesus," Jared whispered, eyes wide. "That's… that's a fucking fortress."

"Of course it is," Zale replied, voice tinged with scorn. "A coward like him would need to hide behind walls and guns."

"So, what's the plan, man? We can't just drive up and ask him to come out."

"No," Zale said slowly. "But he thinks he's safe now. Thinks he lost us out there in the forest."

"So, we sneak in?"

"We make him regret thinking he was safe."

They parked the sedan far enough into the forest to remain hidden but close enough to make a quick retreat if needed. The cool night air pressed against them as they stepped out, their breaths visible in the chill.

Jared looked back at the mansion with a mixture of awe and trepidation. "So, what now?"

"We find a way in. Quietly."

"Quietly?" Jared raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

Zale's eyes gleamed with a deadly certainty. "As sure as I am about breaking that bastard's neck."

Jared couldn't help but grin. "Well, when you put it like that… I guess we better not mess this up."

They moved through the underbrush, their footfalls as silent as they could manage. Zale's senses were sharpened by rage, his focus honed by desperation. The mansion loomed before them, its windows glinting in the pale moonlight.

Jared's breathing was shallow, his hands trembling slightly. But his eyes were locked on the target. Determined.

"I'll create a distraction. Something to draw the guards away from the main entrance." Zale's voice was steady, calm. "You find another way in and get to the bastard's safe room or whatever hole he's hiding in."

"What about you?" Jared asked, his voice almost drowned out by the rustling of leaves.

"I'll be fine. Just make sure you get to him before he tries to run again."

"Got it." Jared's eyes were sharp, his grin wild. "Let's make him pay."

Zale nodded, his fists clenched with grim purpose. They separated, moving like shadows through the darkness, their hatred guiding them forward.

The hunt was far from over. And neither of them intended to leave until the CEO paid for everything he'd done.