The old railway station was drenched in shadows, its rusting tracks whispering stories of a forgotten past. Adrian Knight stepped out of the black SUV, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Nathaniel followed, keeping a safe distance but ready for anything.
"She's inside," Nathaniel murmured, nodding towards the abandoned platform. "No signs of backup, but I don't trust it."
Adrian smirked. "Scarlett never comes alone."
He adjusted his black gloves before striding forward, his steps echoing in the eerie silence. As he entered the station, a single dim light flickered overhead, illuminating the woman waiting for him.
Scarlett stood at the center of the platform, draped in a crimson coat, her signature smirk firmly in place. "You're late, Adrian."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "You put a bounty on Elena."
Scarlett tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I knew that would get your attention."
Adrian took a step closer, his voice laced with quiet menace. "Call it off."
Scarlett chuckled, taking a slow step towards him. "Why would I do that? You know how this works. Everyone has a price."
Adrian clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. "I won't ask again."
Scarlett sighed dramatically. "You're so predictable. Protecting her, fighting battles for her—tell me, Adrian, is she really worth it?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "More than you'll ever understand."
Scarlett's expression flickered for a brief moment before she smiled again, this time with a hint of something darker. "Then let's play a little game."
Nathaniel's voice crackled in Adrian's earpiece. "Boss, we have a problem. There's movement on the east side—multiple hostiles."
Adrian barely reacted, his focus still on Scarlett. "You brought company."
Scarlett grinned. "Of course. Did you really think I'd come alone?"
Before Adrian could respond, the lights overhead flickered twice—his signal that they were officially walking into an ambush.
He smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Then let's get started."
—
The moment Adrian heard the telltale click of a gun's safety being released behind him, he knew Scarlett had planned this ambush well.
Nathaniel's voice came through the earpiece, sharp and urgent. "Boss, we're surrounded. Five men, heavily armed."
Adrian didn't turn. He didn't need to. He could feel the presence of Scarlett's men closing in, their boots crunching softly against the dusty floor.
Scarlett tilted her head, amusement dancing in her dark eyes. "You walked right into it, Adrian. I expected better."
Adrian smirked, his voice deathly calm. "And I expected more from you, Scarlett. This is sloppy."
Scarlett's lips twitched, but before she could respond, Adrian moved.
Faster than the guards could react, he spun, grabbing the wrist of the man closest to him and twisting it sharply. A gunshot rang out, but the bullet went wild as the man crumpled to the ground.
Nathaniel had already drawn his weapon, firing two precise shots that took out the men blocking their exit. Chaos erupted as more of Scarlett's men poured in.
Scarlett stepped back, her smirk now replaced with a calculating expression. "You always did like to fight your way out of things, didn't you?"
Adrian ducked behind a pillar as bullets sprayed past him. "It's more fun that way."
Nathaniel kicked over a crate, using it for cover. "We need to move, boss!"
Adrian's gaze flickered to Scarlett, who was now retreating towards the exit. "Not without finishing this."
Before he could go after her, an explosion rocked the station, sending debris flying. Adrian barely had time to react before Nathaniel grabbed his arm. "It's a setup! We need to go, now!"
Smoke filled the air as alarms blared in the distance. Scarlett's laughter echoed through the chaos. "You'll have to do better than that, Adrian."
Grinding his teeth, Adrian turned and followed Nathaniel through a side exit, gun still clenched in his fist. This wasn't over.
Not even close.
—
Adrian stormed into the safe house, his face a mask of controlled fury. Nathaniel followed closely behind, checking the security monitors. The escape had been too close, and Adrian hated playing defense.
Elena was already there, waiting. The moment she saw Adrian's blood-streaked sleeve, she stood up, her eyes flashing with concern. "You're hurt."
Adrian barely acknowledged the wound. "It's nothing."
Elena crossed her arms. "You always say that."
Nathaniel smirked, but his amusement faded as the security alarm beeped. He turned to the screen, his expression darkening. "Scarlett's not done yet."
Adrian's gaze snapped to the monitor. A black SUV had stopped outside the perimeter, its tinted windows concealing whoever was inside. A single message flashed across Adrian's phone:
Checkmate.
Elena frowned. "What does that mean?"
Nathaniel cursed under his breath. "She's playing with us."
Adrian exhaled sharply, his grip tightening around his phone. "No. She's warning us."
Before anyone could react, the front door burst open. One of their men stumbled inside, blood staining his shirt. "They took her."
Elena's breath caught. "Who?"
The guard's voice was weak. "Lily. Scarlett has your sister."
The room went silent.
Elena staggered back, shaking her head. "No. No, that's not possible."
Adrian's jaw clenched, his mind already working through the possibilities. Scarlett had shifted the game. This wasn't about him anymore.
This was personal.
Nathaniel loaded his gun. "What's the plan, boss?"
Adrian's voice was lethal. "We end this. Now."
---
The tension in the room was suffocating. Adrian Knight stood motionless, his mind racing as Scarlett's message burned into his thoughts. She had Lily. This was no longer just a battle for survival—it was war.
Elena gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white. "We need to go after her. Now."
Nathaniel holstered his gun, his voice calm but firm. "We can't just rush in. That's what she wants."
Adrian turned to him, his voice like steel. "And if we wait, Lily dies."
Nathaniel exhaled sharply but didn't argue. He knew Adrian was right.
Elena stepped closer to Adrian, her voice shaking with fury. "You know where she is, don't you?"
Adrian's jaw clenched. "Yes. But getting to her won't be easy."
Nathaniel glanced at the security monitors. "Scarlett's expecting you. This is a trap."
Adrian's lips curled into a dangerous smirk. "Then let's make sure she regrets setting it."
—
Scarlett's Hideout – Midnight
The warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Scarlett stood near the center, her crimson lips curving into a taunting smile as she trailed a knife along Lily's cheek. The young girl trembled but held her ground.
Scarlett sighed dramatically. "You'd think Adrian would be here by now. Maybe you're not as important to him as you thought."
Lily glared. "He's coming."
Scarlett chuckled. "Oh, I know. That's the fun part."
A sudden explosion shook the building. The lights flickered, and the guards scrambled for their weapons.
Scarlett turned just as the metal doors burst open.
Adrian Knight walked in, his gun raised, his expression murderous.
"Let her go, Scarlett."
Scarlett smirked, pressing the knife closer to Lily's throat. "Or what?"
Adrian took a slow, deliberate step forward. "Or I'll show you exactly why you should have killed me when you had the chance."
A single gunshot echoed through the air.
And the war truly began.
—
See you in next chapter....