The first gunshot cracked through the night like thunder, and Ethan's whole body froze. His foot hovered over the gas pedal, but he couldn't move. Another shot followed...then another...fast and angry, coming from somewhere just ahead on the dark street. Screams cut through the air. Car horns blared. Headlights swung wild as drivers tried to escape.
Ethan ducked low, heart slamming against his ribs. His hands shook on the steering wheel. He had never heard real gunshots before...not this close, not like this. On TV it sounded fake, but these were sharp and real and terrifying. Glass shattered somewhere nearby. A man shouted curses in Spanish. Tires screeched as a dark car sped past him, almost clipping his bumper.
He had to move. Now.
Ethan sat up just enough to see through the windshield. Chaos filled the street. People ran in every direction, some diving behind cars, others sprinting toward alleys. Two groups of men stood maybe fifty feet away, flashing guns under the streetlights. One wore red bandanas, the other blue. Ethan didn't know gang colors, but he knew this was bad...really bad.
More shots rang out. Bullets pinged off metal. One hit a street sign right in front of his car, sparking bright. Ethan flinched hard, covering his head. His breath came in short gasps. He pressed the gas a little, trying to turn around, but cars blocked him from behind now. He was stuck.
"Come on...come on..." he whispered, eyes darting for any way out.
That was when he saw the tall man on the sidewalk.
The guy was big...really big...wearing a dark hoodie pulled up, moving fast but calm through the mess. He waved his arms at Ethan, motioning hard toward a black SUV parked across the street near the arena exit. His voice boomed over the noise.
"Hey! You in the silver car! Get out! Run! Come this way...now!"
Ethan stared for a split second. The man's face was in shadow, but something about him felt safe...strong...like he knew what he was doing. Another bullet whizzed past, too close. Ethan didn't think anymore. He threw his door open and jumped out, leaving everything behind...phone, jacket, keys still in the ignition.
His legs moved before his brain caught up. He sprinted across the street, dodging a fallen trash can and jumping over broken glass. The tall man grabbed his arm as soon as he got close, pulling him behind the SUV for cover.
"Get in! Passenger side...go!" the man shouted, voice deep and sure.
Ethan yanked the door open and dove inside. The tall man ran around the front, slid into the driver's seat, and slammed his door shut just as more shots popped behind them. He turned the key hard...the engine roared to life...and he threw the SUV into drive.
"Stay down!" he ordered.
Ethan curled low, hands over his head. The SUV lurched forward, tires spinning for a second before grabbing the road. They shot out of the parking lot, weaving around abandoned cars and running people. In the rearview mirror, Ethan saw flashes of light...more gunshots...men chasing for a moment before giving up.
The SUV sped onto a main road, putting distance between them and the danger. Streetlights blurred past. Ethan's heart still raced, but the shooting sounds faded behind them. After a minute, the tall man slowed down a little and glanced over.
"You okay, man? You hit?"
Ethan sat up slowly, breathing hard. His hands shook, but he didn't feel any pain. "I...I think so. Yeah. Just scared out of my mind."
The man nodded, eyes back on the road. "Good. That was too close. Those fools were settling some old beef right there in the open. Crazy."
Ethan looked at him for the first time in the light of passing streetlamps. The guy was handsome...really handsome...with warm brown skin, strong jaw, dark eyes focused ahead. His hoodie had the California Suns logo on it. Ethan's brain clicked.
"You're...you're Alex Ramirez. The basketball player."
Alex glanced over again, a small smile breaking through the tension. "Yeah. That's me. And you are...?"
"Ethan. Ethan Hayes." He let out a shaky laugh. "I...I just left work. I'm a dentist. I took a wrong turn or something...I don't even know how I ended up there."
Alex shook his head, turning onto a quieter street. "Bad luck, man. That spot's been hot lately. Gangs fighting over nothing. You're lucky I saw you stuck in the middle."
Ethan leaned back against the soft leather seat, finally starting to breathe normal again. The SUV smelled clean...like new car and a hint of cologne. The dashboard glowed with fancy screens. Music played low from the speakers...some smooth R&B that helped calm his nerves.
"Thank you," Ethan said quietly. "Seriously. I didn't know what to do. If you hadn't yelled...I might still be there."
Alex waved it off, but his eyes were kind. "No problem. I grew up around that kind of mess. I know how fast it turns bad. Couldn't leave you sitting there like a target."
They drove in silence for a minute, heading west toward the ocean. Alex seemed to know where he was going...away from the city lights, toward open roads where it felt safer. Ethan watched the city slide by outside the window...palms trees swaying, billboards flashing ads for movies and drinks.
His mind raced with what just happened. He could have been shot. Or worse. But this stranger...this famous basketball star...saved his life without even thinking twice.
"You want me to drop you somewhere?" Alex asked, breaking the quiet. "Home? Police station? I can take you wherever."
Ethan thought about it. Home sounded good, but he wasn't ready to be alone yet. His hands still trembled a little. "Honestly...I just need to calm down first. My heart's still going a million miles an hour."
Alex nodded like he understood. "Tell you what...there's a quiet spot by the beach not far from here. No people this late. We can park, get some air, make sure you're good before I take you home. Sound okay?"
Ethan looked at him. Alex's face was calm now, strong, no sign of fear even after what they just went through. Something about being near him felt safe. Really safe.
"Yeah," Ethan said softly. "That sounds perfect."
Alex turned toward the coast, the road opening up. The sound of waves grew louder as they got closer. Ethan stole another glance at the man who saved him...tall, confident, moving with easy strength even while driving. Butterflies mixed with the leftover fear in his stomach.
Neither of them said it out loud, but something had already started between them tonight. Something bigger than the danger they just escaped.
The SUV rolled toward the dark ocean, moonlight sparkling on the water ahead. For the first time all night, Ethan felt like he could breathe easy.
But the night wasn't over yet.