Chapter 15: The Escape

Lily burst through the back exit of the warehouse, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she skidded to a halt. She was out—alive—but she knew it wasn't over. The guards were still inside, and Gabriel was still back there. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see him following her, but the darkened alley was empty.

Her pulse quickened. Gabriel had promised to hold them off, but there was no telling how long he could keep it up.

She turned to the narrow street that stretched ahead, bathed in the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. Her mind raced—there had to be another way out. She couldn't leave Gabriel behind, not after everything they had been through. He couldn't be alone in there, not with the syndicate's operatives closing in on him.

Lily's fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, quickly dialing Gabriel's number. The line rang once… twice… but there was no answer.

Her heart sank. It could mean only one thing—he was too busy fighting off their attackers to pick up. Her grip on the phone tightened as a surge of panic washed over her. She couldn't wait any longer. She needed to find him, needed to make sure he was safe.

She turned on her heel, darting back toward the warehouse. The sounds of voices grew louder as she approached, but they weren't from Gabriel. There were too many of them. She couldn't risk getting caught, but there was no way she was leaving him behind.

Lily's thoughts were scattered, her breath shallow, as she found an old fire escape ladder at the side of the building. It was rusty, but it would do. She climbed up the ladder as quietly as she could, her heart hammering in her chest with each step. She wasn't sure what she was going to do once she reached the roof, but she had to get a better vantage point, something to help her locate Gabriel.

The top of the building loomed closer, the night sky opening up around her as she pulled herself over the edge. She crouched low, blending into the shadows as she scanned the area. The entire warehouse district seemed eerily silent now, like the calm before a storm.

She couldn't afford to hesitate. Taking a deep breath, she moved swiftly along the roof, peering over the edge to get a better look. There. She spotted a figure in the distance, moving cautiously through a side alley—a familiar silhouette. Gabriel.

He was alive.

But as she watched, a group of figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding him. Lily's stomach dropped as she realized they were closing in on him. He didn't have much time before they overpowered him.

Without thinking, Lily sprang into action. She found a fire escape ladder on the opposite side of the building and descended quickly, her feet hitting the ground with a soft thud. She was just around the corner from Gabriel, and she had to act fast.

Her hand went to the small pistol at her side, but she hesitated. A clean shot wouldn't be possible without risking a confrontation. She needed something better.

The alley ahead was lined with crates and discarded equipment—perfect cover. She moved quickly, sliding between the shadows, using the terrain to her advantage. As she crept closer, she could hear the low voices of the syndicate's operatives. Gabriel was being held at gunpoint now, his hands in the air as they demanded he give them the files.

Lily's fingers tightened around her weapon. There was no way she was going to let them take him.

She reached the end of the alley, where a stack of crates provided the perfect vantage point. From here, she could see Gabriel surrounded by three of the operatives. They were armed, their weapons trained on him, but Gabriel remained calm, his body tense but not yielding.

"Tell us where the files are, Knight," one of the men demanded. "You've made this harder than it needs to be."

Gabriel's jaw tightened. "I won't betray my allies. You'll never get what you need."

Lily's heart swelled with admiration for Gabriel's unwavering resolve, but her next move was clear. She couldn't wait any longer. She raised her pistol, her aim steady, and fired.

The shot rang out, the silenced gun barely making a sound as the bullet struck the arm of one of the operatives holding a gun. The man dropped to the ground with a yelp, his weapon falling from his hand.

"Gabriel, move!" Lily shouted, her voice cutting through the night.

Gabriel reacted instantly. With one swift motion, he tackled the second operative to the ground, using his weight to knock him off balance. The remaining man hesitated for only a moment, his eyes flicking to the ground where his fallen companions lay before he raised his gun toward Gabriel.

Lily didn't wait for him to make the first move. She fired again, her bullet striking his wrist, sending the gun flying from his hand. The man staggered back, clutching his bleeding arm, and before he could regain his composure, Gabriel was on him.

With a precise, fluid movement, Gabriel incapacitated the man, leaving him unconscious on the pavement. The fight was over.

Gabriel took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving as he looked up at Lily. His eyes softened with a look of relief, and his lips curled into a small, grateful smile. "You came back."

Lily lowered her weapon, her pulse still racing. "I wasn't going to leave you behind," she replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Gabriel took a step toward her, his expression serious. "We need to move. There's no telling how many more are out there."

Without another word, they turned and ran, disappearing into the night. The danger was far from over, but for the moment, they had each other—and that was all that mattered.

As they moved through the labyrinth of streets, their minds were already on the next step—on how they would expose the syndicate and take down the men responsible for the city's corruption. But for now, they allowed themselves a brief moment of solace, knowing they had survived the night—and that they would continue the fight together.

The game had changed. And the stakes were higher than ever.