20:00
Sohel gripped the steering wheel tightly, driving full throttle toward the town. His face was tense, eyes flicking constantly to the rearview mirror where three cars pursued them relentlessly.
Suddenly, a hail of bullets shredded the night air—5.56x46mm NATO rounds smashing into their car. The rear windshield exploded in a shower of glass. Sohel ducked instinctively.
"What are you waiting for? Fire back!" he shouted at Naomi.
She silently obeyed, grabbing her MP5 from the backseat and returning fire through the window.
"Aria, call 999—emergency services," Sohel ordered, his voice sharp.
"Hello, this is the national emergency hotline. How may I help you?"
"This is Bravo 2-1, SNA. Connect me to Pabna Police Station—urgent backup needed on the Pabna-Ishwardi Highway. We're under heavy fire!"
There was a pause before a gruff male voice responded, "OC Manik speaking, Pabna Police Station."
"Sohel's voice was strained but calm. "OC Manik, this is no prank. We are being attacked. Send help now."
"Look kid, I'm not in the mood for jokes. No one's under fire on a national highway. Don't waste my time."
Sohel's frustration burned hot, but he held steady. "Aria, cancel noise cancellation."
Suddenly, the comm line crackled with the unmistakable sound of gunfire and roaring engines.
"Now do you believe me? Send reinforcements. Or you can hang up."
"...Gear up. We're moving out," the OC snapped.
Sohel cut the call and glanced in the mirror—only one car still chased them.
"What happened to the other two?" he asked Naomi.
"They're disabled. I shot the front tires."
"How much ammo?"
"One magazine left after this."
"So…"
Before he could finish, bullets slammed into Naomi's side, nearly throwing her from the vehicle. Sohel grabbed her vest, yanking her back inside.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. Armor did its job."
Relieved, Sohel kept his eyes on the road but almost clipped a truck barreling the opposite way. Swerving sharply, he lost control, scraping along the safety barrier before the car finally ground to a halt.
He slammed the steering wheel in frustration and tried to restart the engine—nothing.
"No time." They jumped out and took cover behind the car's battered frame.
The hostile vehicle pulled up, and four gunmen spilled out, weapons raised.
Sohel drew his pistol, voice low but firm: "Take them alive. No unnecessary kills."
Naomi stared at him, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "After they just tried to kill us?"
He didn't answer, but she complied.
The goons approached cautiously. Naomi rose and called out, "Drop your weapons! Surrender now!"
Sohel tensed to follow her lead when Aria interrupted.
"Sir, Blast and three others are inbound."
He barely registered the news—those three were his friends.
He keyed his comm: "Connect me to Jacob."
Meanwhile, he shouted to the attackers, "Stand down!"
The gunmen hesitated—until one leveled a rifle at Naomi.
Sohel yanked her down just as gunfire erupted. One bullet grazed Naomi's arm.
They scrambled behind the car again as the attackers returned fire.
Jacob's voice crackled through the comms: "Blast to Ghost, comms clear?"
"Clear. What are you doing on the highway? Turn back!"
"I'm hearing heavy gunfire ahead. Are you okay?"
"Nothing's okay. Get out of there now!"
Suddenly, a car screeched to a halt behind them.
Sohel's heart sank—his friends were inside.
Tahmid was behind the wheel, panic etched on his face.
Sohel spun back to the enemies, firing warning shots to force them back, then screamed, "Get out of here!"
Tahmid reversed sharply and sped off—but a stray bullet tore through the rear tire. The car fishtailed and slammed into the safety barrier.
Sohel's anxiety skyrocketed. He fired again, pushing the goons to retreat.
Seizing the moment, Naomi slipped closer and delivered swift, crushing blows to the backs of the gunmen's heads. All four collapsed unconscious.
Sohel rushed to the damaged car and pried open the driver's door. Tahmid lay slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious but alive. Beside him, Jacob was out cold, bleeding from minor wounds.
He quickly checked them both and breathed easier—just cuts, nothing serious.
Turning, he found Mitali and Ovi in the backseat, eyes wide with shock. Mitali adopted a protective stance.
Sohel raised his hands calmly, "I'm not a threat. You're safe now."
Naomi appeared behind him, confirming, "All four goons are down."
As relief settled, flashing police lights cut through the night. Officers swarmed the scene.
A middle-aged officer approached, uniform crisp but eyes sharp.
"You the one who called us?"
"Sohel nodded. "Lieutenant Ghost, Seven Nation Army."
"This is Sergeant Medusa. And you are?"
"OC Manik Das, Pabna Police. What happened here?"
"These men worked for Lu Shen, a wanted criminal. We found their safehouse and came to investigate. They attacked us."
"Lu Shen? Never heard of him. Who are you guys?"
"We're with SNA. Your DC should've notified you to cooperate."
Manik's expression shifted. "Wait here."
Before stepping away, Sohel called out, "Send medics to the car—passengers need attention."
Two medics quickly moved in. The OC spoke privately on his phone, then returned.
"Sohel, I'm confirmed to assist you in this operation. Just say the word."
He nodded and gave Manik details on the safehouse. "Take care of the injured and the prisoners separately."
Turning to Naomi, Sohel said, "Let's head back to the hotel. You need treatment. And I don't want my friends beating me there when I told them I was staying here."
Naomi nodded, wincing slightly as she rubbed her scratched arm.