The new location wasn't luxurious. Concrete walls, low lighting, minimal furniture — exactly the kind of place that screamed "stay alert." The old safe house had been compromised; this was Billy's fallback spot, stripped down and secure.
Everyone dropped onto the metal chairs and worn sofas like exhausted gladiators.
"Okay… what the hell was that about?" Mira burst out, pacing the small room. "You didn't tell us this job was basically a death sentence!"
"I could've died!" Kris added, rubbing his side. "Or at least gotten my head blown off if Mira hadn't flipped the car at exactly the right second!"
James slumped against the wall, shoulder still throbbing. "And I'm basically useless now thanks to your little stunt!"
Billy, however, wasn't paying attention to the complaints. His eyes were locked on Charlie, the sniper, who stood silently in the corner, arms crossed, jaw tight. The calm, collected marksman had walked out immediately after the ambush, and Billy knew exactly why: he had been the target.
"Charlie, we need to talk," Billy said firmly. "You could've—"
"I'm not talking," Charlie snapped, cutting him off. Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
Billy pinched the bridge of his nose. The crew was panicking, angry, and exhausted—but the real danger still lingered: whoever had been gunning for Charlie could return at any moment, and that had almost jeopardized everyone.
Flashback — The Escape
Before the third shot could hit, Mira yanked the wheel, sliding the car behind a low concrete barrier. Bullets pinged off the metal, sparks flying.
Kris leapt from the hood, rolling to his feet. The lone shooter advanced, weapon raised. Without hesitation, Kris charged, fists flying. He dodged a swing, landed a solid punch, and sent the attacker staggering back.
Charlie, positioned on a nearby rooftop, adjusted his aim carefully. Every shot had to be precise — one mistake and he could hit Kris instead.
"Move left!" Charlie shouted.
Kris pivoted, landing another blow. Charlie fired a clean shot. The shooter collapsed.
Mira slammed the gas, tires squealing as they sped away from the danger.
James leaned back in the car, shoulder throbbing. "Finally."
Kris wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, bruised but smiling. "Could've been messier."
Billy exhaled slowly, still calculating the attack. "Why target Charlie first?"
Rio, leaning back in the seat, shook his head. "Never a dull moment."
The city blurred past as they drove home, alive, shaken, and wary.
'back at the bunker'
The bunker fell into a heavy silence after Charlie's door clicked shut.
"Seriously?" Mira flopped onto a crate, throwing her hands up. "He just walks out? No explanation, nothing?"
Kris rubbed his jaw, still catching his breath. "He's always like this… calm, collected, disappears when things get messy. But this time… it actually hit close to home."
Mira jabbed a finger at him. "Calm, collected… right. Meanwhile, we almost got killed out there! Someone could've actually died!"
Billy ran a hand over his face, voice low but tense. "Focus. I know you're angry, but the real problem isn't Charlie leaving. It's why he was targeted first. Someone knows him. Someone knows us."
Kris, still bruised, muttered, "Yeah… well, I hope he comes back soon. Because if that shooter gets another chance, I'm not letting him reach Charlie again."
Mira crossed her arms, glaring at Billy. "So what's the plan? We just sit here and wait for them to show up again?"
Billy shook his head. "No. We gather intel, regroup, and make sure we're not caught off guard next time. But first… we figure out who knows Charlie and why they want him dead."
Cecil, who had been quiet, added sharply, "And we stay ready. This is far from over."
Rio, perched on a crate in the corner, smirked. "Finally, someone talking sense. Though I'm hoping for fewer bullets next round."
The room fell quiet again, tension heavy in the air. Charlie's absence wasn't just noticeable, it was a warning.
Billy stood in the center of the bunker, arms crossed, voice calm but firm. "Alright. That's enough for tonight. Everyone, go home. Rest. We'll regroup in a couple of weeks and discuss our main mission properly."
He turned to Rio. "You stay behind. I want you gathering intel, digging into anything you can find about who targeted Charlie."
Rio nodded, smirking slightly. "Finally, some fun work. No whining this time?"
Billy gave him a tight smile. "Keep it professional."
James, leaning against the wall, rubbed his shoulder. "I'll be resting. Don't expect me to do anything heroic for a bit."
"Good," Billy replied. "Heal up. You're out of the next round."
Kris, still bruised but grinning, straightened his posture. "And me?"
Billy looked at him with a small, approving nod. "Kris… tonight, you were fearless. Smart, fast, and damn good in the field. Your moves… your nickname suits you perfectly."
Kris smirked, brushing a lock of hair back. "Acrobat, huh? I can live with that."
James and Cecil started toward the door, James groaning slightly with every step. "Don't make too much trouble while we're gone," Cecil teased.
Mira followed, tossing a sharp glance over her shoulder. Kris trailed her, giving Billy a quick nod before leaving.
That left Billy and Rio alone in the dimly lit bunker.
Billy exhaled, leaning against a crate. "Alright, Rio… let's see what the night has in store for us."
Rio grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I was born ready."
The room was quiet except for the hum of computers and the faint echo of the outside world. Somewhere out there, danger still lurked, and now it was just the two of them facing it.
Time passed slowly in the bunker, each tick of the clock stretching longer than the last.
Finally, a voice broke the silence.
"Got these mfs!" Rio shouted, punching a fist in the air.
Billy turned sharply. "Already? Who?"
Rio tapped at the screen, eyes narrowing. "The shooters from earlier. One, cleanly down. The other…" His voice faltered for a second, then he scrolled through the data. "Looks like they weren't just random thugs. Heavy gear, professional, and their MO…"
Billy's brow furrowed. "Their MO?"
"They did something… to Charlie," Rio said quietly, almost to himself. "Something bad. Something personal."
Billy's stomach tightened. "Personal? What…?"
Rio shook his head. "I don't know all the details yet. But whatever it was, Charlie didn't just survive it… he swore revenge. And now, they're back for him."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Billy sank onto a crate, mind racing. "Back for him…? How bad is he willing to go?"
Rio hesitated, then said, almost in awe, "Worse than we thought. I mean… the way he handled that shooter earlier, the moves, the precision, the calm in the middle of a fist fight… Billy, he planned it. He knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't just defending himself, he was sending a message."
Billy leaned back, swallowing hard. "Charlie… went full predator."
Rio's eyes met his. "Yeah. And if they ever find out how far he's willing to go…"
Neither of them spoke for a long moment, the weight of it settling in. Outside the bunker, the world kept moving, unaware. Inside, two men stared at a screen, stunned by the depths of Charlie's actions, and the storm that was surely coming.