Rain slicked streets gleamed under the neon glow of the city's streetlights, puddles reflecting the chaos above like broken mirrors. Daniel Vitale ran through the alleyways, his coat soaked, clinging to his lean frame as he pushed past garbage bins and overturned crates. The city had never felt colder, never more alive with danger, than this night—the night everything changed.
His father, Jack, Vale Ethan's longtime driver and trusted confidant, had called him earlier with urgency in his voice. "Danny… stay in the car tonight. Something doesn't feel right," Jack had said, gripping the steering wheel like his life depended on it. Daniel had ignored it. He was seventeen, defiant, impulsive, and stubborn. He thought he could outrun fate.
But fate, as he would soon discover, was waiting.
The sound of distant sirens echoed through the streets, but they were too far to matter. Daniel's mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of a night turned nightmare. One moment he had been walking home from the small grocery store, the soft drizzle tapping on his jacket, the next he had heard the roar of engines, shouts, and gunfire.
He reached the corner of Maple and 7th, and there they were—men in black suits with dark sunglasses even in the rain, guns gleaming under the streetlights. They moved like predators, coordinated, silent in their purpose. Daniel froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. He recognized one of them—a man who worked under Vale Ethan, someone loyal… or so he thought.
"Danny!" Jack's voice rang out, sharp and panicked. Daniel turned to see his father struggling against two of the men. His hands were bound, face contorted in fear and pain. Before Daniel could rush to him, a sharp gunshot cracked through the night. Jack slumped, hitting the wet pavement with a sickening thud. Blood spread across the cobblestones, mixing with the rain. Daniel's stomach lurched, bile rising.
"No!" His scream was drowned by another burst of gunfire. Men shouted in harsh, foreign tongues as Daniel dove behind a dumpster, heart pounding. He peeked, catching glimpses of men dragging his father's body into a black SUV. The license plate was unfamiliar, the vehicle disappearing into the night like a shadow melting into darkness.
Daniel's legs trembled as he forced himself to stay low. Tears blurred his vision, but fear sharpened his senses. This wasn't random violence. Someone had planned this—carefully, meticulously. And he, Daniel Vitale, had just become a target.
The rain continued to fall, masking his movements as he darted from one alley to another. The city seemed to hold its breath, waiting. The shadows pressed in from every angle, hiding unseen threats. Every heartbeat felt like a countdown to the next horror.
He remembered what his father had told him years ago, just before Daniel's life had begun its downward spiral. "In this world, Danny… trust is a luxury you can't afford. People will kill without a second thought. You survive, or you die. That's the choice."
Tonight, the lesson was being carved into him with bloody precision.
***
Meanwhile, miles away in a luxurious, dimly lit penthouse, Viviana Ethan sat by the large bay window, staring at the city below. The rain traced thin rivulets down the glass as her fingers traced patterns on the polished mahogany desk. Her mother, Helena, had always warned her about the dangers lurking beyond their wealth. But Viviana had never known true danger—at least, not until now.
Her phone vibrated on the desk. A message from an unknown number flashed:
"Your father is in danger. Stay inside. Do not call anyone."
Viviana's breath caught. Her fingers hovered over the phone. Her father, Vale, was meticulous, careful, untouchable—or so she thought. But something about this message, the timing, and the tone sent shivers down her spine.
And then the explosions started.
Not literal explosions yet—just the chaos that came before it: the shattering of glass, the distant rumble of sirens, screams piercing the night. Viviana's heart raced as instinct took over. She bolted to the door, peering into the hall. It was empty, silent, too silent. The city was under attack, and she was vulnerable.
***
Back in the alleyways, Daniel had stumbled into a deserted construction site, gasping for breath. He felt the weight of the world pressing down on him: his father gone, Vale Ethan targeted, and the city alive with predators. His mind raced through options, but the choices were slim. Stay and fight? Run and hide? Seek help? There was no one he could trust.
Then he saw it—a sleek black sedan parked across the street, engine running, rain dripping from its polished hood. A figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, imposing, with a cold, calculating stare that froze Daniel in place.
"Daniel Vitale." The voice was smooth, deep, dangerous. "You're too late to save him."
The man stepped closer, rain soaking his coat but not dampening the aura of authority surrounding him. Daniel recognized him instantly—not as a stranger, but as someone who had been watching, waiting. Someone powerful.
"Who… who are you?" Daniel stammered.
"I am Damilo Vitale," the man said, lips curling into a faint smile. "And from tonight onward… you're going to learn what it means to survive."
Before Daniel could respond, the man turned, vanishing into the rain-soaked shadows. Daniel's mind whirled. Was this a friend or a foe? An ally or another predator? Questions collided in his head, leaving him dizzy with uncertainty.
And then he heard it—a faint cry echoing from across the street. A child? A woman? He moved cautiously toward the sound, every nerve on high alert.
Peering through a broken chain-link fence, Daniel saw her. A young girl, no older than twelve, soaked from the rain, trembling as a drunk driver's car swerved dangerously close to her. Daniel acted without thinking. He sprinted, lunging, grabbing her just as the car screeched inches past. Tires screeched, and the vehicle vanished around the corner.
The girl looked up at him, eyes wide with terror. "Thank… thank you!" she whispered, voice quivering.
Daniel swallowed hard, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had saved her, but the night wasn't over. He could feel it—danger was all around, the predators of the city circling like sharks. Somewhere in the distance, his father's fate waited, and the web of violence had only just begun.
He glanced back at the street, rain pouring over his face. His life had changed forever. His father was gone, Vale Ethan and his family were under threat, and the streets were a jungle where only the cunning survived.
Daniel Vitale clenched his fists, teeth gritting against the pain in his chest. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but one thing was certain: he would not run. Not tonight. Not ever.
Somewhere, in the shadows, eyes followed him—calculating, unyielding, and cold. A storm was coming, and Daniel was about to be swept into it.
The first gunshot of the night echoed again, closer this time, and Daniel realized with a chilling certainty: the hunt had begun.