CHAPTER 2: THE RETURN

The stench of damp concrete filled Jason Kade’s nostrils as he pressed his back against the cold wall of an abandoned subway tunnel. It had been hours since the ambush at the docks, but the city was still crawling with men looking to put a bullet in him. He had spent the night moving through the underbelly of Titan City, avoiding security cameras, patrol drones, and street-level informants.

They wanted him dead.

That much was clear.

Jason flexed his fingers, feeling the bruises forming along his ribs from his rough escape. His mind was still processing the impossible—Alexander Graves was alive. That meant everything he had believed for the past five years was a lie.

He took a slow breath, checking his gear. His sidearm had three rounds left. His knife was still secured at his waist. No phone, no cash, and no backup. He was in the wind, alone.

Good.

Jason had always worked best that way.

The distant rumble of a subway train vibrated through the walls. He pushed off the concrete and moved through the tunnels, following the old maintenance pathways until he reached a service exit. When he emerged, the sky was starting to lighten, casting a dim gray glow over the alleyway.

Titan City was waking up. And so was he.

The Ghosts of the Past

Jason knew exactly where to go first.

Fifteen minutes later, he was perched on a rooftop in the East District, overlooking a small pawn shop sandwiched between two rundown apartment buildings. To most people, it was just another hole-in-the-wall business, but Jason knew better. The owner, Benny Ruiz, had his fingers in every underground deal in the city. If anyone had heard whispers about Graves or the setup at the docks, it was him.

Jason waited, watching as Benny unlocked the shop’s front door and shuffled inside. The moment the old man turned the sign to OPEN, Jason dropped down from the rooftop, landing silently in the alleyway. He moved fast, slipping through the side entrance before Benny could react.

The bell above the door jingled as Jason stepped inside.

Benny looked up, his cigar nearly falling from his lips. “What the—”

Jason moved in an instant, grabbing Benny by the collar and shoving him against the counter. “Tell me what you know.”

Benny wheezed. “Jesus, Kade! I thought you were dead.”

Jason didn’t loosen his grip. “You’re about to be if you don’t start talking.”

The old man coughed, eyes darting toward the security cameras in the corner of the shop. “Relax, man. I don’t need this kind of heat.”

Jason grabbed a switchblade from the counter and flicked it open, pressing the tip against Benny’s throat. “Neither do I.”

Benny swallowed hard. “Alright, alright! What do you wanna know?”

Jason leaned in. “The docks. The ambush. Who set it up?”

Benny hesitated, sweat forming at his brow. “Word is, it wasn’t a gang hit. This came from high up. Someone pulled major strings to make sure you were there when the fireworks started.”

Jason’s jaw tightened. “Who?”

Benny licked his lips. “I don’t know exactly. But I heard a name floating around last night.” He swallowed. “Graves.”

Jason’s blood ran cold. He already knew the truth, but hearing it confirmed made it worse.

Graves had set him up.

Jason released Benny and stepped back. The old man rubbed his throat, muttering curses under his breath.

“Look,” Benny said, rubbing his neck. “If you’re serious about finding answers, you need to talk to Elena Vasquez. She’s been digging into some real dangerous shit lately. If there’s a bigger play happening in this city, she’s got the pieces.”

Jason frowned. Elena Vasquez.

A name he hadn’t heard in a long time.

Old Flames and Deadly Truths

Tracking down Elena was easier than Jason expected. She was still working as an investigative journalist, writing exposés on government corruption and organized crime. She had always been stubborn, always chasing the next big scandal, even when it put her life in danger.

Jason found her at a café in Midtown, sitting alone with her laptop open, typing furiously.

He took a slow breath and approached her table.

She sensed him before he even spoke.

“You’re a ghost,” she said without looking up. “I should’ve known you’d come crawling out of the shadows eventually.”

Jason smirked. “Miss me?”

She finally glanced up, her dark eyes scanning him. “No. But I heard about what happened at the docks.”

Jason pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. “Then you know why I’m here.”

Elena leaned back, folding her arms. “You’re looking for Graves.”

Jason nodded.

She sighed. “It’s bigger than just him, Jason. Whatever’s happening in this city, it goes deep. I’ve been following money trails, shell corporations, military contracts disappearing off the books. And now, all of a sudden, people are dying. People who were asking the same questions I was.”

Jason clenched his jaw. “Why would Graves fake his death? What’s his endgame?”

Elena hesitated, then slid a USB drive across the table. “This is everything I’ve got. It’s not much, but it points to something big. A power shift. Someone’s consolidating control, and they’re willing to kill anyone in their way.”

Jason picked up the drive. “And you think Graves is at the center of it?”

Elena exhaled. “I think Graves is just the beginning.”

Nowhere Left to Run

Before Jason could respond, he noticed the reflection in the café’s window—a black SUV pulling up across the street. His gut tightened.

“Elena,” he said quietly. “We need to move. Now.”

She frowned. “What are you—”

The first shot shattered the café’s window.

Jason grabbed Elena and yanked her down as more gunfire tore through the space. Customers screamed, diving for cover as masked gunmen poured out of the SUV, weapons blazing.

Jason reached for his sidearm, cursing under his breath. Three bullets.

Not enough.

He grabbed Elena’s hand. “Run!”

They bolted through the back exit, Jason kicking open the door as more shots rang out behind them. The alley was tight, lined with dumpsters and fire escapes. No cover.

“Keep moving!” Jason shouted, dragging Elena forward.

A bullet whizzed past his ear.

They needed an escape. Fast.

Jason spotted an old motorcycle near the alley’s entrance. He sprinted toward it, hotwiring the engine in seconds. “Get on!”

Elena didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he gunned the throttle, tires screeching against the pavement.

The gunmen weren’t far behind.

As Jason weaved through traffic, his mind locked onto one thought.

Someone wanted him dead.

And they weren’t going to stop until he buried them first.

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