Keifer's POV
The engine roared.
My hands were tight on the steering wheel.
Ciel and Endrix were on speaker, tracking the location.
"Keif," Endrix's voice came through, sharp and focused, "there's traffic ahead."
I honked twice at Luke's car in front of me.
He rolled his window down slightly.
"Don't worry," he called out calmly. "He's already there."
I frowned. "Who?"
Luke just smirked and drove forward.
A few seconds later, I saw him.
A guy on a black motorbike, parked slightly ahead of us.
Cars were slowly shifting, creating space.
Then they moved.
Like someone had ordered the road to open.
The biker rode ahead.
We followed.
Highway.
Speed increasing.
The motor guy slowed slightly to match my car.
He turned his head.
I froze.
"Elian."
Ci-n blinked from the backseat. "Who's Elian?"
"Eli. The one we met at the hotel."
"Oh," Ci-n said slowly. "The one you thought had something to do with Jay?"
"He's also Luke's brother."
Ciel, David, and Endrix all reacted at once.
"What?!"
"Believe me," I muttered, eyes back on the road. "I was surprised too."
"Turn left," Endrix said quickly. "You're almost there."
I turned left.
And then I saw it.
Even before we got close.
Jay.
In the air.
Hanging.
My chest burned.
"They will regret this," I said quietly.
I slammed the brakes.
Everyone else stopped behind me.
Doors opened.
Weapons were needed.
I looked at Adrian. "You always keep your weapons in your trunk?"
He gave me a look. "Always."
He opened it.
Bats.
Knives.
Guns.
Everyone grabbed their choice.
Eli walked over, calm as ever. "You guys go. I'll need only a knife. And don't let them know I came."
I nodded.
He disappeared behind a wall like a shadow.
I inhaled once.
"Let's go."
We moved.
And then—
War.
Gunshots cracked through the air.
Men rushed toward us.
Metal clashed.
Fists collided.
I didn't think.
I just moved.
Two pistols in my hands.
And I loved how steady they felt.
Controlled.
Accurate.
One down.
Two down.
Three.
Then I saw her.
Jay.
Still hanging.
The crane operator laughed and shifted the controls slightly.
I aimed.
Shot.
The man jerked.
Jay shouted from above, "YES! Next time don't tease me!"
Even in danger.
She was still Jay.
"I'm coming!" I shouted.
I ran toward the crane, shot the man again to make sure he stayed down.
"You wanted to kill my wife?" I growled.
Then I shoved him.
He fell from the crane platform.
I climbed into the operator's seat.
And froze.
I had no idea how to use this thing.
"Jay!" I shouted. "How do we operate this?"
"How will I know?!" she yelled back. "I'm hanging here!"
"KEIF!" Adrian shouted from below while fighting someone. "Find the key first! Then look for buttons. Red, green, yellow!"
He shot someone mid-sentence.
"Red is stop! Green is drop! Yellow is raise!"
A man rushed toward me.
I shot him.
Then searched for the keys.
Nothing.
I saw the keyhole.
"Jay! Have you seen the keys?"
She stared at me in disbelief. "I'm tied in the air! Do you think I know? Check the man's pocket!"
Right.
I jumped down.
Ran to the fallen operator.
Checked his pockets.
Found the key.
As I stood—
Three men rushed toward me.
I raised my gun.
Click.
Empty.
"Damn."
Now it was fists.
I swung the gun itself, smashing it against someone's face.
Kicked another.
Elbowed one.
But more were coming.
"Keifer, behind you!" Jay screamed.
I turned.
A man with a knife.
Charging.
Another one grabbed my leg from behind.
I punched him.
He didn't let go.
I punched again.
The knife guy got closer.
Closer.
The one holding my leg tightened his grip.
I punched him again.
Then suddenly—
Sand flew into my eyes.
I cursed, vision burning.
Footsteps rushing.
Knife coming.
Then—
Gunshot.
Silence.
The grip on my leg loosened.
I blinked the sand out of my eyes.
The man with the knife was on the ground.
Bleeding.
I looked up.
Yuri.
Standing.
Free.
Gun in hand.
And beside him—
Eli.
Calm.
Knife dripping.
I exhaled slowly.
"Nice."
The war wasn't over.
But we were no longer losing.
End of Chapter.