Chapter 6: The Convergence
The black SUV screeched to a halt outside the Maple Street apartment building, the tires kicking up a spray of loose gravel against the curb. Before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop, the rear door swung open. Jax stepped out into the humid afternoon air, his tall frame moving with lethal, urgent purpose. He had thrown on a dark trench coat over his white shirt, concealing the mud stains, but the heavy gold watch on his wrist gleamed ominously in the fading light.
Two guards flanked him instantly, their hands resting near their waistbands, sunglasses masking their eyes even as the sun dipped below the horizon.
"Secure the perimeter, Miller," Jax instructed in a low, dangerous tone. "Check all exits, the alleyway, and the fire escape. I want to know who was here five minutes ago."
"Copy that, boss," Miller replied, motioning to the other men.
Jax didn't wait for them. He pushed open the glass lobby door, taking the stairs two at a time. His chest throbbed where he had bruised his ribs hitting the riverbank, but adrenaline masked the pain. He reached the third floor, strode down the narrow corridor, and found apartment 3B with its door standing slightly ajar.
He pushed it open fully, stepping into the ruined living room. Leo was sitting on the edge of the sofa, his knees pulled up to his chest, staring blankly at the floor. When he heard the footsteps, the boy looked up, his hazel eyes wide and filled with a mixture of fear and fragile relief.
"You came," Leo whispered.
"I said I would," Jax replied, crossing the room in long strides. He knelt down in front of the boy, bringing himself down to Leo’s eye level. He looked past him, scanning the forced entry marks on the door frame. Professional work. Clean, quiet, and fast.
"Did you see anything? Hear anyone?" Jax asked gently, placing a firm, steady hand on the boy's shoulder.
Leo shook his head, his wet hair finally starting to dry into a messy tangle. "I was at the river. When I got back, she was already gone. Everything was tossed."
Jax stood up, his jaw set in a hard line. He pulled out his encrypted phone and dialed a direct satellite frequency. "We have a secondary target compromise. Target's mother, Sarah Vance—no, wait, Sarah Miller. Check local traffic cameras within a two-mile radius of Maple Street. Look for a gray panel van or a late-model sedan without plates."
He listened to the voice on the other end for a moment, barking orders with absolute authority. This wasn't just corporate espionage anymore. This was personal, and it meant someone from his own inner circle had leaked the connections.
"We need to move, Leo," Jax said, turning back to the boy. "This place isn't safe anymore. They know you live here, which means they might come back."
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Leo stood up slowly. He looked around the living room one last time, realizing his entire world had just been upended in the span of a single afternoon. "Where are we going?"
"To a place where nobody can find us," Jax said quietly, holding out his hand. "Trust me."
