Chapter 4: Into the Fire

The night was thick with fog as Evelyn and I made our way through the back alleys of the city. She led with a quiet confidence, her hand resting near the weapon at her side. I could tell she was used to danger — but this was different. There was a tension in the air, like a wire pulled too tight.

"Where are we going?" I asked, scanning every shadow for movement.

"Safehouse," she replied without looking back. "Or at least, it was safe until recently."

That didn't do much to ease my mind.

We reached a run-down building tucked between two towering warehouses. Evelyn punched in a code at the door, and it creaked open. The smell of dust and gun oil hit me as I stepped inside. It was a place built for survival — walls lined with weapons, monitors flickering with security feeds. But the feeling of safety was long gone.

"Nice place," I muttered, running a hand over a rifle laid on the table.

"It was Blackwell's," Evelyn said softly. "Before he disappeared."

I turned to her. "You really think they’re coming after him? After us?"

She gave me a sharp look. "I don’t think — I know. You saw that man on the roof. They’re already watching you. And now that you’re involved, they won’t stop until we’re all dead."

I paced the room, trying to piece it all together. "What did Blackwell steal? What could be so important they'd risk this much heat?"

Evelyn hesitated, then walked over to a locked drawer. She opened it and pulled out a flash drive.

"This," she said, holding it up. "I don’t know exactly what’s on it, but Blackwell said it was the key to everything. He told me to protect it — and to find you if anything went wrong."

I took the drive, turning it over in my hand. It felt heavier than it should, like it carried the weight of everything I’d been running from.

"What's on here that’s worth killing for?" I murmured.

She shook her head. "You’ll have to find out. But if Blackwell was willing to risk everything, it’s bad. Real bad."

Suddenly, an alert beeped from one of the monitors. Evelyn rushed over, her face going pale.

"They found us," she whispered.

The camera feed showed two black SUVs pulling up outside, men in tactical gear pouring out. Guns ready. Movements sharp and efficient — professionals.

"Looks like we’ve got company," I said, sliding a pistol from the table and checking the mag.

Evelyn grabbed a rifle, her hands steady despite the tension. "We can’t let them get this drive."

I smirked, adrenaline pumping. "Then let's make sure they don’t."

As the first shots rang out, I knew one thing — there was no turning back. Whatever secrets Blackwell had uncovered, they were now mine to protect. And if these people wanted a fight, they were about to learn that Damien Black doesn’t go down easy.

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