BLOOD & BETRAYAL

The world spun wildly. The sharp screech of metal on metal, the crumpling of the car's frame, and the sickening thud of impact overwhelmed Alex's senses. For a moment, everything went black, then slowly came back into focus, disjointed and chaotic.

His head slammed against the wheel, the blinding pain sending shockwaves through his skull. He groaned, fighting against the haze in his mind.

"Alex!" Maya's voice, frantic, cut through the fog.

He blinked, shaking his head to clear the disorientation. The car was off the road, its back end crushed in. The rearview mirror was shattered, and the smell of burning rubber and gasoline filled the air. He could hear Ellie cursing from the backseat, her voice muffled.

"Stay down," Alex muttered, trying to focus.

He turned to Maya, who was staring at him with wide, terrified eyes. She was clutching her seatbelt, visibly shaken but unharmed.

"You good?" Alex asked, forcing himself to sit up straighter despite the dizziness.

"I—I think so," she said, her voice trembling.

Ellie's voice came again, more urgent this time. "We've got company! Get your head in the game!"

Alex snapped to attention, pulling his seatbelt off and pushing the door open. It was a struggle, but he managed to force his body out of the car, his legs unsteady.

The cool night air hit him like a slap, sharpening his senses. The enemy car had come to a stop a few yards behind them, its headlights glaring down on him like a spotlight. Three men had emerged from the vehicle, guns raised.

"Get to cover!" Alex shouted to Maya, pushing her down to the ground.

Ellie was already on her feet, weapon in hand, scanning the enemy with a sharp, deadly focus. She didn't hesitate.

"Left side, two men," she said, her voice calm but strained.

Alex didn't need to be told twice. He crouched low, his gun ready, his instincts kicking in. The men in front of him were making their way toward the wrecked car, clearly not expecting any resistance.

"Come on, you fuckers," Alex muttered under his breath. "Let's see what you got."

He took a breath, steadying himself, and popped up from behind the car's wreckage. His gun fired in a smooth, practiced motion, the shot ringing out. The first man went down, his body jerking back as the bullet hit.

Ellie took the other one down almost simultaneously, her shot so clean it was almost effortless.

The third man hesitated, realizing his two companions were already down, but then he fired in a panic, a wild shot that whizzed by Alex's ear.

"Too slow," Alex said with a grim smile, and with one clean shot, the third man dropped to the ground, his weapon clattering against the pavement.

The fight was over in a matter of seconds, the silence that followed almost deafening.

"Is everyone okay?" Alex called, turning to look at Maya and Ellie.

Maya was still crouched behind the wreckage, her hands trembling as she clutched her gun, but she nodded. "I'm fine."

Ellie was already checking over the fallen men, making sure they weren't getting back up. She wiped the blood from her hands, not a trace of emotion on her face.

"We need to move. Now," she said, scanning the horizon for any other threats.

Alex glanced back at the wreckage of the car, his stomach sinking. "We can't stay here."

Ellie gave him a grim look. "No shit. The longer we linger, the more time we give Luis and his people to catch up. We've got to hit the road, and fast."

Alex nodded. He didn't need to be told twice.

They made their way back to the car, Alex pulling out a backup gun from the trunk, just in case. He checked it quickly—no time for mistakes now.

As he climbed into the front seat, Maya was already pulling her seatbelt on, her face pale but determined. "Where do we go now?" she asked, her voice tight.

"Portland," Alex said, his voice low but steady. "We lay low there for a while. Get in touch with some people who can help."

Ellie got in next, slamming the door shut behind her. "You sure you want to take that risk? We're in no position to trust anyone right now."

Alex gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. "I don't have a choice. We need allies if we're going to get through this."

Maya's eyes met his, a flash of understanding passing between them. "And if we don't make it?"

Alex didn't look at her right away. He knew the answer to that question. If they didn't make it—if they didn't reach safety—then it was game over.

"We'll make it," he said finally, his voice filled with determination. "We have to."

The road to Portland was long and fraught with tension. They didn't speak much along the way, each of them lost in their own thoughts, their minds haunted by the events of the night.

Every mile they traveled, Alex kept an eye on the rearview mirror. The thought of Luis still on their tail was never far from his mind. He knew the enforcer wasn't going to stop—he would track them down to the ends of the Earth if he had to.

But that wasn't what worried Alex the most.

It was the other players—the people pulling the strings behind all of this. He didn't know who they were yet, but he knew they were out there. The Disciples were just the beginning.

And with every passing moment, the net was closing in.

They arrived in Portland after a tense drive, the city skyline looming like a dark promise in the distance.

Alex didn't relax when they pulled into the rundown motel. He didn't feel safe, not yet.

But it was a start. And sometimes, that's all you could hope for in a world that wanted to swallow you whole.

They checked in quietly, their movements quick and practiced. Alex kept his gun close, his eyes constantly scanning the area. He knew better than to let his guard down now.

Inside the room, Ellie immediately moved to the window, pulling the blinds open just a crack to see what was outside.

"Anything?" Alex asked.

"Nothing," she muttered, her voice terse. "But they're coming. I can feel it."

Maya had already unpacked her bag, though she was keeping her distance from Alex, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

"Hey," Alex said, his voice low. "We'll figure this out."

Maya glanced at him, her eyes tired but resolute. "I know."

But even as she said it, Alex could see the doubt creeping into her eyes. And the truth was, he felt it too.

They weren't safe. Not yet.

But they would be. He would make sure of it.