Chapter 6 - The Neon Speakeasy
The speakeasy was hidden behind a false wall in a decommissioned subway station. It was a sensory overload—neon lights bleeding through thick clouds of cigar smoke, the heavy, thumping bass of electronic music vibrating through the floorboards. It was a haven for the city's criminal elite, a place where information was the most valuable currency.
Elias led Clara through the crowded dance floor, keeping her close, his hand resting on the grip of his concealed weapon. He spotted Jax sitting in a VIP booth elevated above the floor, surrounded by heavy servers and glowing monitors.
Jax was a slender man with cybernetic implants lining his jaw, tapping away at a keyboard. He looked up as Elias approached, a slick, dangerous smile spreading across his face.
"Elias Vance," Jax purred, his voice synthesized and smooth. "I heard a ghost broke Arthur Thorne's hand tonight. I should have known it was you. And you brought the prize." He looked hungrily at Clara.
"I need a terminal, Jax," Elias said, slamming a stack of blood-stained cash onto the table. "Ten minutes. No questions."
Jax looked at the cash, then back at Elias. "Ten minutes? Sure. But the price of admission just went up, my friend."
Jax tapped a button on his console. Instantly, the electronic music cut out. The neon lights shifted to a harsh, blinding red. The heavy steel doors of the speakeasy slammed shut, locking them inside.
"What did you do?" Clara panicked, grabbing Elias's arm.
"I sold you out, darling," Jax laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Thorne’s bounty is two million. Your cash is a nice tip, but I prefer the big payout."
From the shadows of the club, a dozen heavily armed enforcers stepped forward, weapons drawn and aimed directly at Elias and Clara.
May you like
Elias didn't look surprised. He looked disappointed. "You always were a greedy rat, Jax."
Without warning, Elias kicked the heavy metal table upward, sending Jax's monitors crashing to the floor in a shower of sparks, using the table as temporary cover. The club erupted into a warzone.
