Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The door to the club burst open. Loud music and the strong scent of alcohol and cigarette filled the air.
On stage, a pole dancer spun seductively, her curves drawing the hungry eyes of men. I scoffed loudly, almost getting hit by a drunken slut who stumbled past.
I shook my head in frustration. I was only here for James, and that was it.
“A glass of tequila. Not mixed,” I told the bartender curtly.
My eyes roamed over the crowd of dancers. James was at the other end of the room, talking to a blonde girl with bright yellow hair. They were close, discussing something, and exchanging something, I couldn’t quite see.
The bartender handed me the drink. I collected it and turned back to see James approaching.
“Hey, babe,” he greeted casually.
“Who was that?” I asked immediately.
“No one,” he said without hesitation.
I gave him a stern look. “Quit the act, James. I saw you back there.”
“Babe, come on.” He chuckled. “Are you seriously thinking that?”
I didn’t respond. I simply drank the tequila in one long swallow.
“Alright, alright,” he said with a shrug. “She wanted a night with me, which I refused. You know I don’t do such things. Besides, this is a club, Ariel, they don’t give a shit.”
“How far with the stuff? Did you get him?” I asked, changing the topic.
“Yeah. Shahzad will be leaving the club soon. We have to catch him before he leaves for Oakland,” James said, checking the tracker on his phone.
I downed the rest of my drink in one go.
“Let’s go.”
Just as I stood up, I felt a sudden wave of dizziness. My eyes darted to the empty glass, then to the bartender. He was cleaning another glass, but the shift of his eyes gave him away, something was off.
“Get down!” I shouted at James.
A gunshot rang out.
“We’ve been caught,” I groaned, drawing my pistol as we ducked behind the bar counter. I cocked my gun, looked at James, and nodded.
We both rose at once, returning fire as bullets flew everywhere. Chaos erupted throughout the club. People screamed and scattered. James ran toward the other side.
“Shahzad is escaping!” he shouted, dashing into the inner room.
I spotted the blonde girl from earlier chasing after him. I wanted to follow, but the gunfire surrounding me was relentless.
I ducked behind a chair, shielding my ears as bullets rained down. When it died down a little, I sprang up and opened fire with fierce determination.
Within minutes, they were all down.
I reloaded quickly and made my way through the inner room. I pulled open the first curtain and was met with the sight of a man getting his dick sucked.
I groaned in disgust and opened the next, a naked man screamed.
Then I saw him, Shahzad.
He was up ahead running.
I tried calling James, but the call wouldn’t go through.
I didn’t hesitate. I followed him as he exited the building and entered a vehicle. My car was parked on the other side of the road. I sprinted across, jumped in, and fired up the engine, swerving into traffic to catch up with him.
His men opened fire. I twisted the steering wheel, dodging bullets.
“Shit,” I muttered as one bullet shattered my side glass.
I pushed the pedal harder and caught up. Glancing to my left, I swerved the car into theirs, metal smashed against metal.
They fired again. I ducked slightly, then raised my gun, aimed at their tires, and pulled the trigger.
The shot hit.
Their car swerved wildly, lost control, and overturned in a loud crash.
I braked hard and stepped out of my vehicle, gun raised toward the wreck.
“This is the FBI! Do not move!” I called out, walking slowly toward the wreck.
Shahzad emerged from the broken car, blood dripping from a wound on his head. He raised his hands, a smug smirk on his lips.
“On your knees, Shahzad. It’s over.”
I moved closer, keeping my gun trained on him. I bent his arms behind his back and pulled out my handcuffs. But he fought back suddenly, slipping free.
I pulled the trigger.
Click, it was empty.
I cursed, threw the gun aside, and sprinted after him. He darted into a nearby street, knocking over anything he could to slow me down.
We raced into a narrow alley. I spotted a rod, threw it, and it smacked the back of his head. He stumbled and fell.
I reached him, but he rose quickly and attacked. We exchanged blows. I dodged most of them until he wrapped his arm around my neck, choking me.
I gasped, clawing at his arm.
He laughed in my ear, tightening the hold. “You people thought you could get me. I’m not done with you all.”
My vision blurred. I struggled to breathe.
Then I saw him.
A man walking toward us. Shahzad laughed harder.
Must be one of his men.
The man raised a
gun, pointed straight at me.
I thrashed in Shahzad’s grip trying to set free.
Then, I heard a loud BANG.