Yuna:
The moment we stepped inside the factory, the air changed.
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Cold.
Heavy.
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The kind that pressed against your lungs and reminded you that this place had seen things—violence, secrets, endings.
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Broken metal sheets hung from the walls, rust covering almost every surface. The smell of oil, dust,and drugs and something darker lingered in the air. Every step echoed slightly, too loud in the silence.
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Ethan didn't slow down.
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He walked straight toward the center.
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And I followed.
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Exactly like he told me.
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Close.
Alert.
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My eyes moved constantly—corners, shadows, broken windows, elevated platforms. Every place someone could hide.
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And then—
They appeared.
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From the shadows.
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Viktor.
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And beside him—
Alejandro.
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Men surrounded them, armed, watching, waiting.
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My grip tightened slightly.
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Viktor looked… worse than before.
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But not weak.
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Never weak.
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His eyes locked onto Ethan first.
Then—
Shifted to me.
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A slow, mocking smile spread across his face.
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Alejandro stepped forward slightly, clapping his hands slowly, the sound echoing through the empty factory.
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"Well, well…" he said, his voice smooth but filled with something sharp underneath. "Three days."
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He tilted his head slightly, studying Ethan.
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"You found us faster than expected," he continued. "I thought we'd get at least a week before you came crawling back."
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His gaze shifted to me for a brief second.
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"But I guess I underestimated how desperate you are."
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Ethan didn't react.
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Didn't even blink.
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Alejandro smirked slightly.
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"Or maybe," he added, his tone dropping, "you just couldn't stay away from unfinished business."
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A pause.
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Then he laughed softly.
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"I'll admit," he said, "it's impressive. Not many people can track us this quickly. Not many people even try."
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His eyes hardened slightly.
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"But coming here like this?" he added. "That's not impressive."
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A small pause.
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"That's stupid."
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The word hung in the air.
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And that's when Ethan spoke.
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"You're talking too much," he said, his voice calm.
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Too calm.
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Then his gaze lifted fully to Alejandro.
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"That's why we found you so fast," he added. "You're stupid."
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A faint smirk touched his lips.
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"…Motherfucker."
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The tension snapped.
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Alejandro's expression changed instantly, his jaw tightening as his hands curled into fists.
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"You think you're untouchable?" he snapped, stepping forward slightly. "You walk into my territory and talk like that—"
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But Viktor raised his hand.
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And Alejandro stopped.
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Reluctantly.
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Viktor stepped forward slowly instead, his movements measured, controlled.
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His eyes stayed on Ethan—
Then shifted to me again.
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That same mocking smile returned.
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"So," Viktor said, his voice lower, rougher. "This is her."
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My body tensed.
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He took another step forward.
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"The one who shot me," he added.
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His hand moved slightly toward his side, where the injury had been.
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"…From behind."
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The way he said it—
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Like an insult.
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Like a challenge.
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"Looks like she doesn't have the guts to face me properly," he continued, his eyes locking onto mine. "Had to shoot me when I wasn't looking."
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My chest tightened.
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Anger rose instantly.
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I stepped forward.
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But before I could say anything—
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Ethan's arm came out in front of me.
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Stopping me.
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Firm.
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"Stay back," he said quietly.
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I looked at him.
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"I—"
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"Stay."
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His tone left no room.
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Then—
He stepped forward.
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Putting himself between me and them.
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Completely.
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Like a wall.
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Like a shield.
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His presence shifted.
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Darker.
More dangerous.
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"You want someone to face you?" Ethan said, his voice low now.
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His eyes locked onto Viktor.
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"Then look at me."
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Silence fell again.
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Heavy.
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Charged.
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Because everyone in that room knew—
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This wasn't just a confrontation anymore.
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It was about to explode.
The silence stretched, tight as a wire ready to snap.
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No one moved.
No one spoke.
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Even the air felt still.
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My eyes moved again, just like Ethan had told me—corners, shadows, the men standing behind Viktor and Alejandro. Some held rifles, some pistols, all of them watching closely, waiting for a signal.
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And then—
Viktor laughed.
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A low, rough sound that echoed through the factory.
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"You always talk like this?" he said, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Ethan. "Or is this your way of hiding fear?"
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Ethan didn't react.
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Didn't blink.
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Which only made Viktor's smile grow wider.
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"You came all this way," Viktor continued, taking another slow step forward. "Brought your little… companion too."
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His eyes flicked toward me again.
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"Bold move."
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My jaw tightened.
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But I didn't move.
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Didn't speak.
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Because Ethan had told me—
Stay.
Watch.
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Alejandro let out a short scoff.
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"You really think you're walking out of here?" he added, spreading his arms slightly as if presenting the entire factory. "Look around."
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My eyes followed instinctively.
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Men.
Everywhere.
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Above.
Behind broken structures.
Hidden in shadows.
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More than I expected.
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More than I liked.
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"This place?" Alejandro continued. "It's sealed. No exits you can use. No backup getting in without us knowing."
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His lips curled into a smirk.
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"You walked into a trap."
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Ethan finally moved.
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Just slightly.
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His head tilted, his gaze sweeping the area once—quick, sharp, calculating.
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Then he looked back at them.
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"If this is your trap," he said calmly, "it's poorly built."
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Alejandro's expression darkened instantly.
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"You're still running your mouth—"
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"Because I can," Ethan cut in.
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Sharp.
Controlled.
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"And you still haven't done anything about it."
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That hit.
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Hard.
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I saw the shift—the irritation turning into anger, the confidence cracking just a little.
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Because Ethan wasn't reacting the way they expected.
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He wasn't nervous.
Wasn't defensive.
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He was… steady.
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And that made them uneasy.
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Viktor's smile faded slightly, replaced by something colder.
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"You think you're in control here," he said.
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"I know I am," Ethan replied.
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A beat of silence.
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Then—
A faint sound.
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Barely noticeable.
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But I caught it.
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Movement.
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Behind us.
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My eyes shifted quickly.
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Just for a second.
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A flicker of something—
Someone—
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Then gone.
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My heartbeat quickened.
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Ethan noticed.
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I saw it in the slight shift of his posture.
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He didn't turn.
Didn't look.
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But he knew.
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"You brought people," Viktor said slowly, his gaze narrowing.
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Ethan didn't answer.
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Which was answer enough.
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Alejandro laughed again, louder this time.
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"Of course he did," he said. "He never fights fair."
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"Neither do you," Ethan replied instantly.
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Another pause.
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The tension grew thicker.
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Heavier.
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Because now—
Everyone knew.
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This wasn't just a meeting.
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It wasn't just threats.
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It was seconds away from turning into something else.
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Something violent.
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My fingers tightened slightly at my side, my breathing controlled but faster now.
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I glanced at Ethan's back.
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Steady.
Unmoving.
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And for the first time—
I realized something clearly.
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He wasn't just protecting me.
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He was holding everything together.
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Every second.
Every movement.
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Waiting.
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For the exact moment.
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To strike.
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Viktor took one last step forward.
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"Let's stop wasting time," he said, his voice dropping lower.
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Alejandro's smile returned.
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"Finally," he muttered.
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And just like that—
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Everything shifted.
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The calm before the storm—
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Was over.
The air felt like it was about to explode.
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No one breathed too loudly.
No one blinked too long.
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Every second stretched, sharp and unbearable.
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My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stay still—just like Ethan told me.
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Then—
A faint signal.
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So small, most wouldn't notice.
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But Ethan did.
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His fingers twitched slightly at his side.
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And that was enough.
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From somewhere above—
A metallic sound echoed.
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Then another.
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Alejandro's head snapped upward.
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"What the—"
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Too late.
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Gunshots rang out.
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Loud.
Sudden.
Violent.
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Chaos erupted instantly.
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Men shouted, weapons raised, bullets tearing through the silence like it had never existed.
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I flinched slightly but stayed where I was, my eyes wide, my body tense.
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Ethan moved in front of me again in a split second, shielding me without even looking back.
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"Stay behind me!" he ordered sharply.
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I nodded quickly, my hands tightening.
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Across from us, Viktor cursed under his breath, grabbing a weapon as Alejandro shouted orders to his men.
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The factory turned into a battlefield in seconds.
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Smoke.
Noise.
Movement everywhere.
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And in the middle of it—
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Ethan stood steady.
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Like this—
Was exactly what he had been waiting for.