Chapter 5 - The Unlikely Ally
Alexei cocked the heavy shotgun, the metallic click echoing loudly in the empty auto shop.
Elias stepped firmly in front of Nakia, shielding her from the weapon with his own body.
He reached for his empty shoulder holster, cursing himself for dropping his gun during the street fight.
Alexei lowered the barrel of the shotgun slightly, holding his hands up in a gesture of temporary peace.
He looked nervously at Nakia, his face bruised and bleeding from a recent beating.
He confessed that he had actually abandoned the Volkovs' plan because he genuinely liked Nakia.
He claimed that Marcus had brutally beaten him for fleeing the restaurant and leaving the trap unsprung.
Alexei had broken into the auto shop to hide, knowing it was the only place Nakia might eventually seek refuge.
Elias laughed a dark, humorless laugh, completely refusing to believe a single word from the rival scout.
He stepped toward Alexei, fully prepared to disarm him and snap his neck with his bare hands.
Nakia grabbed Elias by the arm, pleading with him to stop and listen to reason.
She argued that they had absolutely no weapons and needed every ally they could get right now.
Alexei tossed a spare handgun from his belt directly to Elias as a show of good faith.
He warned them that Marcus had placed a massive bounty on both of their heads.
The Volkovs and the rogue Mercer enforcers were currently tearing the city apart to claim the prize.
Alexei pointed to a set of heavy steel shutters covering the front windows of the shop.
He said they needed to reinforce the doors because the hit squad was tracking the stolen truck's GPS.
Elias immediately shifted into a ruthless tactical mindset, completely taking command of the room.
He ordered Nakia to gather any chemicals, tools, or flammable liquids she could find in the garage.
He and Alexei began pushing heavy engine blocks in front of the main entry points to create barricades.
They worked in tense, suffocating silence for twenty minutes.
Suddenly, the unmistakable screech of tires echoed from the dark alleyway outside.
Headlights cut through the cracks in the steel shutters, illuminating the dust in the air.
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A voice blared through a police megaphone, demanding that Elias surrender the girl and walk out empty-handed.
It was Marcus, and he had brought an entire army to finish the job.
