The gunfire rang out, sharp and unrelenting, the sound echoing off the cold metal walls of the warehouse. Sophie's instincts took over as she dove for cover behind a stack of crates. The woman, the one from the alley, stood in the center, a sinister grin on her face as the chaos unfolded around them.
"Stay down!" Kellen's voice cut through the noise as he grabbed Sophie by the arm, pulling her behind another row of crates. Aiden, ever the calm presence, had already moved to a higher vantage point, his weapon raised, scanning the room for targets. The Ghost Syndicate wasn't going to go down without a fight.
Felix's voice crackled through the earpiece in Sophie's ear, his voice frantic. "I've got the security feed! They're bringing in reinforcements from the back exit. You need to move now, or you'll be surrounded!"
Sophie gritted her teeth, her hand instinctively gripping the handle of the knife hidden at her side. She knew the stakes. This was more than just a raid; it was a battle for survival. "Kellen, cover me. I'll go after her," she ordered, her voice firm despite the growing tension in the air.
Kellen hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Are you sure about this? She's not just some flunky. She's got connections, and she's got training."
"I've dealt with worse," Sophie said, her tone unwavering. Without waiting for a response, she bolted from cover, moving swiftly toward the woman at the center of the chaos.
The woman's laugh rang through the room, mocking and cold. "You think you can beat me, Sophie? You've already lost."
Sophie's heart pounded as she closed the distance between them, dodging gunfire and weaving through the chaotic scene. The woman's figure grew clearer as Sophie neared, her dark, flowing hair and piercing eyes locked on Sophie with unsettling intensity. She was a vision of dangerous elegance, but Sophie wasn't intimidated. Not anymore.
"You've been a thorn in my side for far too long," the woman said, her voice dripping with venom. "But now, the game's over."
Sophie reached the woman, moving with lightning speed. She drew her knife in one swift motion, slashing it toward the woman's face. But the woman was faster. She ducked low, grabbing Sophie's arm mid-swing and twisting it behind her back.
Pain shot through Sophie's shoulder, but she gritted her teeth and used the momentum to throw the woman off balance. With a swift kick, she forced the woman back, creating the space she needed to reset. The fight had just begun.
Behind her, the sound of gunfire intensified as Kellen and Aiden engaged with the Syndicate's operatives. Sophie knew they couldn't hold out forever. They had to end this, and fast.
"You're not leaving here alive," the woman spat, her eyes blazing with fury. She lunged at Sophie with inhuman speed, throwing punches aimed at Sophie's head. Sophie ducked and dodged, narrowly avoiding each strike. The woman was relentless, but Sophie was no stranger to the fight.
With a sudden burst of energy, Sophie disarmed her opponent, knocking the woman's weapon to the ground. She wasn't done yet, though. With one swift movement, Sophie grabbed the woman by the throat, slamming her into the side of a crate.
"Who are you?" Sophie demanded, her voice low and menacing. "What's your connection to Voss? To the Syndicate?"
The woman's eyes flickered with something like fear, but she quickly masked it with a cruel smile. "You think I'll tell you anything? You think Voss will let me talk?" She spit in Sophie's face, her eyes blazing. "You're nothing. You'll never win."
Sophie tightened her grip, her patience wearing thin. "You're going to tell me everything. Or I'll make sure you never speak again."
Before the woman could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind Sophie. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see a group of Syndicate operatives storm into the room, their weapons aimed directly at her.
The odds had just shifted drastically.
"Drop the woman, now!" one of them barked.
Sophie's heart raced, but her mind remained clear. She had no choice. She had to make a decision — and she had to make it fast. She released the woman, but as she did, she grabbed a metal rod lying nearby and swung it toward the incoming operatives, knocking the nearest one off balance.
Kellen's voice came through her earpiece, sharp and urgent. "Sophie, they're flanking you! Get out of there!"
Sophie didn't need to be told twice. She turned and ran, moving quickly toward a back exit, her mind racing. The woman was still there, now struggling to her feet, but Sophie couldn't afford to waste any more time. She'd already bought them a window to escape.
As Sophie reached the back exit, a gunshot rang out, narrowly missing her as she dove through the door. She rolled across the ground and came to her feet, spotting Aiden and Kellen waiting by a black SUV. They weren't alone — a handful of Alistair's operatives had already secured the perimeter.
"You good?" Kellen asked, his eyes scanning the area.
Sophie nodded, her chest heaving with exertion. "For now."
Aiden didn't say a word, but his gaze softened slightly as he nodded toward the woman still trapped inside the warehouse. "What about her?"
Sophie hesitated, looking back at the building. The woman would be a problem — but for now, the most important thing was getting out. They had the information they needed, and they couldn't afford to linger any longer.
"She'll survive," Sophie said coldly. "But we won't."
With that, they piled into the SUV, speeding off into the night as the warehouse behind them burned, the flames casting an eerie glow against the dark sky.
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