The presence of heavily armed men outside the restaurant had turned the once lively reunion into a silent crowd of frozen bodies. Glasses were left half-filled, meals untouched as one by one, the people who had been laughing moments ago stepped outside to see what the commotion was about. The line of black SUV cars parked aggressively in front of the building made it clear—this wasn't a coincidence. It was an operation.
Jude was among the first to step out. His eyes scanned the scene, immediately locking onto Zane, who was standing in the middle of a tight formation of masked thugs. Their weapons were visible. Knives, machetes, and polished guns glinted under the streetlight. The atmosphere was thick, like something deadly was about to happen.
He couldn't hold it in.
"I told you," Jude said, loud enough for everyone around him to hear. "I told you guys earlier. Elias was right about Zane."
Some people glanced at him.
