Jackson stormed out of the warehouse, his mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and anger. He had trusted Aleksander, and now that trust was shattered. As he reached the edge of the parking lot, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He turned to see Jacob approaching, a sinister look in his eyes.

“Where the fuck you think you’re going?” Jacob stepped closer, his expression cold and calculating. “You can’t just walk away from this. We need you to finish the mission.” Jackson stopped, his body tense, ready for whatever was coming next. He turned to face Jacob, his eyes narrowed, his silence speaking volumes. He shook his head, making it clear he was done with this deceitful operation.

Jacob’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You think you can just leave? Fucking think again. If you don’t complete the mission, I’ll make sure your precious daughter, Emily, pays the price.”

The mention of Emily’s name was like a spark igniting a powder keg. Jackson’s eyes blazed with fury, his fists clenching at his sides. Without a word, he lunged at Jacob, his movements fueled by pure rage.

The two men collided with a force that sent them both sprawling to the ground. Jackson’s fists flew, each punch driven by the primal need to protect his daughter. Jacob fought back, but he was no match for Jackson’s silent fury. The warehouse echoed with the sounds of their struggle, the air thick with tension. Aleksander and Gabriel rushed out of the warehouse, their eyes widening at the sight of the brutal fight.

“Jackson, stop!” Aleksander shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Gabriel grabbed Jackson’s arm, trying to pull him off Jacob. “Enough, Jackson! You’re going to kill him!”

Jackson couldn't contain his rage. He shook off Gabriel’s grip and continued his assault, his eyes locked on Jacob’s terrified face. It was only when Aleksander tackled him from behind, pinning his arms to his sides, that Jackson finally stopped.

“Jackson, listen to me!” Aleksander pleaded, his voice desperate. “This isn’t the way. Think of Emily.”

At the mention of his daughter’s name, Jackson’s fury began to subside. He took a deep breath, his body trembling with the effort to control himself. He looked down at Jacob, who was gasping for breath, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. Gabriel helped Jacob to his feet, his expression a mix of anger and concern.

“We need to figure this out, without threats and violence.” Aleksander released Jackson, stepping back cautiously.

“Jackson, I’m sorry. I should have been honest with you from the start. But we need you. We can’t do this without you.” Jackson’s eyes were still filled with anger, but he nodded slowly. He pulled out his notepad and scribbled a message, holding it up for them to see.

No more lies. No more threats. We do this my way, or not at all. I’ll wait outside for Gabriel.

Aleksander and Gabriel exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement. Jacob, still shaken, managed a weak nod as well. The tension in the air began to dissipate, replaced by a fragile sense of understanding.

Jackson knew the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to protect Emily at all costs. He would complete the mission, but on his terms. And he would never again let anyone threaten his daughter’s safety.

Fractured Loyalty

The night air was cool as Jackson stepped out of the warehouse, pulling his jacket tighter around himself. His mind raced with doubts. Something about the way Aleksander and Jacob had handled the situation didn’t sit right with him. He could feel it in his gut—there was more to this witness than they were letting on.

Jackson had always lived by a code. In their line of work, it was easy to lose yourself, to become numb to the blood and the violence. But he had his limits, lines he refused to cross. Involving innocents was one of them. If this witness was who he suspected—a civilian, someone who had no part in their world—then Jackson would have to make a choice. And that choice might mean turning against his own crew.

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Almost forgetting that Dimitri remained unaware of the situation, Jackson pondered whether it would be wise to inform him. A plan formed in his mind, but he knew he had to tread carefully—any misstep could endanger both his life and that of his daughter. First things first, he needed the information on this witness he supposed to kill.

Back in the warehouse, the mood had shifted. With Jackson gone, Aleksander and Jacob were left to confront Lenny, whose carefree attitude was wearing thin. Aleksander’s patience had reached its limit, and the tension in the room was palpable.

“Do you even realize what you’ve done?” Aleksander hissed, his voice low but dangerous. He stepped closer to Lenny, his eyes blazing with fury.

Lenny looked up lazily, still spinning the coin between his fingers. “Relax, Aleks. It’s just one kid. We take care of it, and it’s over.”

“Just one kid?” Gabriel echoed, incredulous. He leaned forward, his calm demeanor cracking. “That kid is a nine-year-old boy. Do you have any idea what will happen if Jackson finds out?”

Lenny finally seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, his grin fading. He sat up, the coin slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the floor. “Nine years old?” he muttered, a hint of concern in his voice. “How was I supposed to know?”

Aleksander’s fists clenched at his sides. “You weren’t supposed to know because you weren’t supposed to be seen in the first place! This is your mess, Lenny, and now we’re all stuck cleaning it up.”

Jacob, who had been quietly observing, stood up and moved between Aleksander and Lenny. “Enough,” he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. “We can’t afford to fall apart now. We need to focus on the task at hand. The boy needs to be silenced, and we need to make sure Jackson never finds out.”

Lenny looked between them, panic starting to seep into his expression. “You’re not seriously thinking about… I mean, the kid’s just a kid. There’s got to be another way.”

“There isn’t,” Jacob said coldly. “You think we haven’t thought about this? If the kid talks, we’re all finished. This isn’t just about you, Lenny. It’s about all of us.”

Aleksander nodded in agreement, his tone deadly serious. “We’ve crossed lines before. This isn’t any different. We do what we have to do.”

Lenny swallowed hard, realizing he was in way over his head. His usual bravado had vanished, replaced by a growing sense of dread. “And if Jackson finds out?”

Aleksander’s expression hardened. “He won’t. We make sure of that.”

Jacob glanced at the door, then back at the others. “Jackson’s good, but he’s not invincible. We just have to stay one step ahead. If he gets too close, we’ll deal with it.”

Lenny nodded, but his unease was clear. The stakes had never felt higher, and for the first time, he understood the true cost of his carelessness. “Alright,” he said quietly. “I’m in. Whatever it takes.”

Aleksander didn’t respond. He simply turned away, walking to the window and staring out into the darkness. They were playing a dangerous game, one where any wrong move could be fatal. But there was no turning back now. The plan was set in motion, and all they could do was hope they could keep their secrets hidden.

But as Aleksander stood there, he couldn’t shake the feeling that their time was running out. Jackson was too smart, too perceptive. If he even suspected the truth, everything they had worked for would come crashing down.

Gabriel stood silently, his thoughts locked away. He needed to inform Jackson about the conversation that had unfolded. Retrieving the information from the table, he opened the folder and began to read. The words on the page sent a chill down his spine.

“We’ll update you once the job is complete,” he said calmly.

“Keep us informed,” Alek added, still gazing out the window. Gabriel exited the room discreetly, heading toward the car where Jackson waited in the passenger’s seat. The tension in the air was palpable, and Gabriel wondered what secrets lay hidden in those documents.

As Gabriel drives to their next destination, it begins to rain. The silence in the car was tense. Drops of water pelted the windshield, blurring the world outside into a watery haze. Gabriel gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white, as the wipers swished back and forth. Jackson sat in the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The tension in the car was palpable, suffocating.

Gabriel glances at Jackson, his jaw clenched. Aleksander—the man who had once been their ally, their brother-in-arms—had turned against them. Betrayal hung heavy in the air, like the scent of gunpowder after a firefight. Something is going on, and they needed to find out what that was. All Gabe knows is that Jacob is involved somehow.

“Jackson, we need to talk.” Jackson turns his head, staring at Gabe, who sighs in frustration at this situation. “I know what Aleks is keeping from you.” He pauses, then continues, “The witness you’re supposed to kill is a 9-year-old boy. A kid.”