End game (2)

Chapter 47

The sound of the bullet was deafening in the still night air.

Elias's instincts kicked in before he even registered what had happened. One second, Collins was charging ahead, gun drawn, eyes locked on their target—the next, he was crumpling to the ground with a sharp, breath-stealing gasp.

"COLLINS!" Elias roared.

He didn't hesitate. The sniper had taken a clean shot, and Collins was down, his body crumpling at the edge of the alley. The city seemed to hold its breath. Elias' pulse raced as his eyes scanned the darkness, every shadow now a potential threat.

Elias dove toward Collins, pulling him behind the nearest cover. His heart was pounding in his ears, adrenaline flooding his veins. The stench of gunpowder lingered in the air, the sharp tang of it stinging his nostrils.

"Stay with me, goddamn it!" Elias hissed, his fingers trembling as he pressed them against Collins's wound.

Collins gritted his teeth, his breathing shallow. Blood stained his shirt, his pale face grimacing in pain.

"Didn't… see it coming," Collins muttered through clenched teeth. "Should've... been faster."

Elias's jaw tightened. "Don't talk like that. You're gonna be fine."

But deep down, Elias wasn't sure. The shot had hit him in the side, dangerously close to his lung. If they didn't get him help soon, he wouldn't make it.

"Elias…" Collins whispered, his voice weak. "You've got to finish this. You promised me. Don't let it all fall apart now. We're so close."

Elias swallowed hard, his heart heavy. He'd always known this was a risk—there were no guarantees. But seeing Collins like this, on the brink of death, it shattered something deep within him. The stakes had always been high, but now, it felt like he was standing on the edge of an abyss.

The sniper's shot had been precise, but Elias didn't have time to waste on regret. He wasn't going to let Collins die in some godforsaken alley.

He pulled Collins closer, dragging him behind the wall for better cover, his movements quick but deliberate. He reached into his jacket, pulling out his phone and dialing the only number that could help.

"Stay with me, goddamn it!" Elias growled as Collins's eyes fluttered closed for a moment.

He heard a muffled voice on the other end of the line, but it was drowned out by the sudden ringing in his ears. "I need help, now. Collins is hit, I need medical extraction, fast."

The words spilled out before he even realized it. His mind was racing, calculating, plotting a way out. He couldn't afford to lose Collins, not now. Not after everything they'd fought for.

"I'm going to get you through this," Elias muttered under his breath, his knuckles white as he gripped Collins's shoulder. "Just stay with me."

---

The world around them exploded in a flurry of gunfire as Elias ducked behind the cover with Collins. The sniper wasn't the only one in the area. No—Vale had known they were coming. This wasn't just a shootout anymore. It was an ambush.

"Shit," Elias hissed, pulling Collins up by his arm despite the blood pouring from his side. "You stay here. You keep your damn head down. I'll handle this."

Collins tried to protest, his lips parting weakly. "You can't—"

"I said stay," Elias snapped, his voice low and dangerous. "I'll get you out of this, but I need you to trust me."

As Elias moved, every step felt heavy, every breath felt like it could be his last. His mind was in overdrive, running scenarios through his head like a machine. He couldn't afford to hesitate. He couldn't afford to fail.

And he couldn't let Collins die.

Elias's hand was steady as he pulled out his gun, taking precise shots at the shadowed figures in the distance. His aim was true—one down, then another. But the sniper—he was still out there, waiting for the perfect shot.

A voice crackled through his earpiece. "We've got eyes on you, but you're on your own for now. Hang tight."

Elias's lips thinned. No backup. No reinforcements. Just him and Collins—and a city full of enemies.

The air was thick with the metallic taste of tension, every second dragging like a weight around Elias's chest. He fired again, the bullet finding its mark, but still, the sniper wasn't giving up.

But Elias wasn't going to wait. He had made his decision, and he wasn't going to let anything stop him.

He pulled Collins closer, his teeth gritted in determination. "I'm not leaving you behind."

A sudden explosion rocked the area, sending debris flying. Elias didn't flinch. He kept moving, firing on instinct, every step calculated. The sniper wasn't the only threat anymore. They were surrounded. And the only way out was forward.

But there was no more room for hesitation. No more time for doubt.

"Stay with me, Collins," Elias whispered, his hand clutching the other man's tightly as they moved, side by side. "We're almost there."