The drive back from the restaurant was unusually quiet.
Amara sat at the back seat with Ethan while his driver drove the car. Her mind kept replaying everything that had happened that night.
Daniel' appearance.
His strange warning.
And the fact that someone had accessed the Helix servers while they were at dinner.
It felt too calculated to be a coincidence.
"You're thinking too hard," Ethan said suddenly.
She glanced at him.
"You noticed?"
"You've been staring out the window for ten minutes."
She sighed softly.
"I can't stop thinking about Daniel."
"Neither can I."
The car slowed as they approached a traffic light.
Amara hesitated before asking the question that had been sitting in the back of her mind.
"Do you think he's working alone?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
"No," he said finally.
The simple response made her stomach drop.
"You sound very sure."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because Daniel doesn't have the resources to do this alone," Ethan explained calmly.
"Accessing Helix, manipulating internal security logs, and appearing at the dinner tonight…of all it suggests someone else helping him.
"Someone inside the company?"
"Possibly."
The light turned green.
The driver pressed the accelerator.
Amara folded her arms.
"So we have a corporate spy and a mystery mastermind."
"Essentially."
She gave a dry laugh.
"Great."
But something else was bothering her.
"Ethan…"
"Yes?"
"Earlier tonight, when Daniel looked at you…it didn't feel like he was afraid."
Ethan glanced at her briefly.
"Why would he be?"
"Because he's threatening one of the most powerful CEOs in the city."
"That doesn't mean he's afraid."
Amara frowned slightly.
"What does it mean then?"
Ethan's voice was quiet.
"It means he believes someone is protecting him."
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Before she could respond, a pair of headlights suddenly appeared in the rearview mirror.
Bright.
Too bright.
The vehicle behind them accelerated.
Fast.
"Ethan," she said slowly.
"I see it."
The black SUV behind them closed the distance quickly.
Too quickly.
"Are they following us?" Amara asked.
"Possibly."
The SUV suddenly switched lanes and pulled beside them.
For a split second, Amara caught a glimpse of the driver.
A man wearing a dark cap.
Then the SUV sped ahead.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Maybe we are just being paranoid," she murmured.
But Ethan didn't look convinced.
The driver continued driving.
Five minutes later, the SUV appeared again.
This time behind them.
Closer.
Much closer.
Amara's heart began to race.
"Okay," she said quietly. "That's definitely the same car."
Ethan's voice remained calm.
"Yes."
"Should we be worried?"
"Maybe."
The SUV suddenly swerved forward again, cutting sharply into their lane.
Ethan's driver reacted instantly, braking hard.
Amara grabbed the passenger's seat in front of her as the car jolted.
"What the…"
The SUV slowed just enough to block them.
Then something terrifying happened.
The driver's window rolled down.
Amara's breath caught.
The man inside lifted his arm.
And she saw the glint of metal.
"Ethan…!"
The sound of gunshot exploded through the night.
Ethan's driver let out a sharp groan.
Amara lifted her head slightly and froze.
There was blood spreading across the driver's shoulder.
"Oh my God!"
"Stay down!" Ethan ordered, pulling her lower.
The driver gritted his teeth and pressed harder on the accelerator.
Despite the injury, he forced the car forward, weaving through traffic.
Behind them, the SUV tried to keep up.
Another shot fired.
The bullet hit the road behind them.
The driver made a sharp turn into a crowded street.
Cars honked loudly as he sped past them.
Within seconds, the SUV disappeared behind traffic.
The driver finally slowed the car and pulled over to the side of the road.
His breathing was uneven now.
"Sir…I've been hit."
Amara's heart pounded.
Ethan had already taken out his phone.
"I'm calling emergency services."
His voice was calm but urgent.
Within minutes, the sound of sirens filled the air.
Police cars arrived first, followed closely by ambulance.
Red and blue lights flashed across the street.
Paramedics rushed to the car.
"Gunshot wound," Ethan said immediately as they opened the driver's door.
The paramedics carefully helped the injured driver out and placed him onto a stretcher.
Amara watched helplessly as they rushed him into an ambulance.
"Is he going to be okay?" She asked one of the paramedics.
"We are taking him to the hospital, they'll take it from there," the man replied before the ambulance doors closed.
The vehicle sped away.
Amara wrapped her arms around herself, still shaking.
A police officer approached Ethan.
"Sir, we need a statement."
Ethan nodded.
For the next half hour, they explained everything.
The black SUV.
The gunshots.
The driver being hit.
"Did you recognize the shooter?" the officer asked.
"No," Ethan replied.
"Do you believe you were specifically targeted?"
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The officer scribbled something in his notebook.
"We'll investigate immediately."
Eventually, after finishing the report, the police allowed them to leave.
Ethan made a quick call.
Ten minutes later, another black car pulled up beside them.
One of Ethan's security men stepped out.
"Sir."
"Take us home," Ethan said.
Amara climbed into the car beside him.
The door closed.
The car pulled away from the flashing police lights.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Amara whispered.
"That man got shot because of us."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Her chest felt heavy.
"Someone tried to kill you tonight."
Ethan stared out the window, his expression dark.
"Yes."
Amara looked at him slowly.
Silence filled the car again.
But Amara couldn't shake the terrifying thought forming in her mind.
Someone had just opened fire on them in the middle of the city.
Someone powerful.
Someone dangerous.
And whoever it was…
They clearly weren't finished yet.