1.“An Unannounced Call”

"An Unannounced Call"

Angie and Vincent quietly slipped away from Dominic Scott's mansion.

She still wore a calm, amused expression, but Vincent kept his guard up.Even if they got out unnoticed, Scott's surveillance wouldn't let them go that easily.

"Relax a little," Angie whispered.

"This is a time to be tense."

"We walked out clean. For now."

Vincent scanned the area.There were still guests near the entrance, and a few guards patrolled the outer perimeters.

But the real danger would always come later.

As they headed toward the parking area—Beep—Beep Beep... Beep...

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

No caller ID.

Vincent immediately felt it.Someone who knew how to reach him.

He answered, slowing his pace.

"Vincent…"

The voice was familiar.

"I'm in trouble. I need your help."

Vincent narrowed his eyes.

"What's going on, Feynman?"

"Took you long enough to pick up. You've been keeping me entertained, but now's not the time for jokes."

Vincent looked around cautiously.Angie noticed his reaction and stepped closer to listen.

"Who's after you?"

"The government. Who else?"

Feynman's tone was casual, but his breathing was uneven.He was hiding. Running.

"Details."

"Ever since you and I got involved, my name's been on every damn list. I've always been a wanted man, but this time's different."

"How?"

"Someone wants me gone. Not just watched—eliminated."

Vincent inhaled slowly.

"Where are you?"

"Hell if I know. I'm running, remember? But I need your help, fast. Either you find me, or I find you—we've gotta move."

"If you're on the run, how'd you even contact me?"

"I knew you'd pick up. And don't tell me you're not gonna return the favor."

Vincent hesitated.

This wasn't just about loyalty.

Feynman in danger meant he was in danger, too.Feynman's data had serious value.Ignoring this could cost him dearly.

Feynman's voice lowered.

"Vincent, you owe me. I gave you your new identity. The cash. Maybe it's time you pay me back."

Vincent smirked.

"Was that blackmail?"

"More like a business proposal."

Angie looked at him with curiosity.

"Who is it?"

Vincent answered briefly."Our next problem."

"Alright. Where should we meet?"

"You tell me."

Vincent pulled up a mental map.

"Public is too risky. But hideouts are dangerous too."

"Just like you. Lucky for us, I've got a place in mind. City outskirts—an old factory with a decommissioned data center. You used it before, remember?"

Vincent remembered.

A former government facility, now abandoned.Not ideal—but low surveillance made it useful.

"Time?"

"One hour."

"Got it. See you there."

The call ended.

Angie folded her arms and looked at him.

"This is getting interesting. I knew you were trouble, but your friends are just as bad."

Vincent sighed.

"It's about to get a lot worse."

**********

"A Trap Laid at the Meeting"

An abandoned industrial district on the outskirts of the city. The decommissioned data center stood shrouded in darkness.

Vincent parked his car nearby.

Once, this facility had been used by a government agency. But times changed, and it was shut down, left to decay.

No cameras. No surveillance.

Normally, the perfect hideout. But tonight, it wasn't.

Vincent turned off the headlights and took a deep breath.

"Too quiet."

He felt it in his gut—something was off.

It was supposed to be quiet, yes. But this was too quiet.

He stayed inside the car, eyes scanning the surroundings.

Movement. A shadow near the building.

Someone was already here.

Vincent pulled his hood low and stepped out, walking slowly toward the building. Feynman was supposed to be waiting inside.

But this wouldn't be a simple reunion. Vincent knew that.

He activated a small comms device. "Feynman."

Silence.

"Feynman, respond."

More silence.

"Shit."

He scanned the area again. This wasn't a case of a missed call. Something had gone wrong.

Then—

Tick.

Something small dropped from above into his field of vision.

Infrared sensor.

Vincent dropped and rolled back instinctively.

Bang!

Gunfire erupted. A wall nearby shattered. Gunpowder filled the air.

"It was a trap."

Vincent dove for cover.

In the darkness, shadows moved. He slowed his breathing, counting.

Strike team. At least six. Tactical gear. Suppressed automatics.

"Not military spec ops like before... but trained."

He quietly drew his pistol. This wouldn't be a straightforward shootout.

The enemy knew he was coming. That meant the only way out was reading their tactics.

Then, faint static in his earpiece.

"Ghhk... Shit... Vincent...?"

Feynman.

Vincent took a sharp breath. "Where are you?"

"Second floor... Damn it, I got caught trying to hack one of them before you arrived..."

"I told you. Screw up one more time, I'll take your hands off myself."

"If I die here, you won't even have the chance to save me."

Vincent clenched his jaw.

Feynman had screwed up. But thanks to him, Vincent now had a better sense of who was behind this.

Not a major agency like CIA or FBI. Something smaller. Operating in the shadows.

"Someone inside the government is moving independently to eliminate us."

Vincent reloaded. Then said:

"Feynman. Stall them. I'll be there in two minutes."

Feynman gave a strained laugh. "Two minutes? They might blow my head off by then."

Vincent replied flatly: "Then I'll kill them before that happens."

And he vanished into the shadows.

Vincent moved silently.

He had already mapped their positions. Inexperienced fighters leave shadows when they move. He followed them.

Target 1 – Guard at the east stairwell.

Target 2 – Guard on the hallway to Feynman's room.

Target 3 – Squad leader giving orders over comms.

They were pros. But Vincent had more experience.

He ducked low and stepped lightly. The enemy had firearms. But they had one major weakness:

Vincent didn't fight fair.

He picked up a rusty pipe from the ground. And then—

Whoosh—!

The pipe sailed through the air.

"What was that?"

The guard turned his head instinctively—

Wham!

Vincent struck. Arm lock, chokehold.

Target 1: Neutralized.

Before the body even hit the ground, Vincent grabbed his weapon.

Time to move up.

He crept up the stairs. Just as expected, another guard stood watch at the 2nd floor entrance.

Then—

"Hey, you good?" someone asked over comms.

The guard opened his mouth—

Vincent knocked him out silently.

"All good," he said into the radio, voice low and modulated. "Checking the second floor."

He opened the door.

Feynman sat on the floor, bruised, wrists tied.

"You took your sweet time."

"You took quite a few hits."

Vincent helped him up.

"Let's go."

"Sure... but quick question."

"What."

Feynman grinned weakly.

"Do we actually have a plan to get out of here?"

Vincent sighed.

"The plan was getting in."

"You bastard. I almost died."