The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of mildew, giving the old warehouse, abandoned feel. 
Cassie pulled her coat tighter around her, the chill in the air a complete contrast to the adrenaline pumping through her veins. The place was dead silent except for the sound of her own breathing and the faint creak of the aging structure
Suddenly, the click of approaching footsteps echoed through the empty space, making Cassie tense. She spun around, eyes scanning the dimly lit area until she spotted a tall figure emerging from the shadows.
"Cassie," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You're early. I appreciate that."
She squared her shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "Didn't want to keep you waiting. Do you have it?"
Mr. Jaxon, with his ever-present thin smile, nodded. "Straight to business, I see. I like that."
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, unmarked package. Cassie felt a shiver of anticipation as he handed it to her. She weighed it in her hand, feeling the contents shift slightly.
"This better be the real deal, Jaxon," she said, her voice hardening as she narrowed her eyes. "I don't have time for games."
"Do I look like someone who plays games, Miss Delaney?" His tone was sharp, almost mocking, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous edge. "The merchandise is genuine. You can verify it yourself."
Cassie nodded, her fingers deftly opening the package. Inside were small, translucent vials filled with a shimmering liquid. She uncapped one, took a cautious sniff, and nodded. This was it. The formula she had been hunting for, the key to everything.
"Good," she said, recapping the vial and securing the package. "Now, for your payment."
She pulled a thick envelope from her coat and handed it to him. Jaxon took it, his eyes never leaving hers as he counted the bills inside. Satisfied, he slipped the envelope into his pocket.
"Miss Delaney," Jaxon's voice crackled through the dimly lit room, his tone both mocking and impressed. "I must say, you handled tonight's transaction brilliantly. Far better than your sister ever would."
Cassie's heart pounded in her chest. How did Jaxon know about her sister? Her mind drifted back to memories of Monbilt. Monbilt, the golden child, the law-abiding, by-the-book agent who had never once crossed the line. She was everything Cassie was not.
"What do you know about my sister?" Cassie demanded, her voice trembling despite her attempt to stay calm.
Jaxon chuckled, a cold, sinister sound. "More than you think," he replied, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "Monbilt is an agent who believes in strict adherence to the law. Admirable, but ultimately naive in our world. Unlike you, Cassie, she doesn't understand the grey areas."
"Why are you telling me this, Jaxon?"
Cassie couldn't help but notice Jaxon's frequent glances at his watch. The minutes seemed to stretch into eternity, each tick of the clock amplifying the sense of urgency in the room. Suddenly, Jaxon leaned in closer, his expression darkening with a menacing intensity.
"You know, Cassie," he began, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "I've always wondered how it feels to be betrayed by someone close."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jaxon's smirk widened into a malevolent grin. "Your sister, she’s been a thorn in my side for too long. Ruining my operations, always one step ahead. And now, it's time to repay the favor."
Before Cassie could react, Jaxon pulled out a gun, the cold metal glinting ominously in the dim light. He aimed it directly at her, his eyes filled with a vengeful fury.
"This deal was never about the money, Cassie," Jaxon said, "It was about revenge."
Cassie's mind raced. She had to think fast. The room seemed to close in around her, the weight of her choices pressing down. She had stepped into a world of shadows and deceit, and now, it seemed, there was no way out.
"You don't have to do this, Jaxon. Killing me won't solve anything."
"Oh, but it will send a message," Jaxon said, finger tightening on the trigger.
Cassie's heart pounded in her chest as Mr. Jaxon’s finger tightened on the trigger. She had seconds to act. With a burst of adrenaline, she kicked out, her foot connecting with Jaxon's wrist. The gun flew from his hand, skidding across the floor.
Jaxon's face twisted with rage. "You think you can take me down?" he snarled, lunging at her.
Cassie dodged his initial attack, but Jaxon was quick, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back. Pain shot through her shoulder, but she grit her teeth, refusing to cry out. She had to keep her wits about her.
"You're tougher than I thought," Jaxon growled, tightening his grip.
Cassie slammed her heel into his shin, causing him to stumble. She twisted free, aiming a punch at his jaw. It landed, staggering him momentarily, but his anger fueled a swift recovery. He charged at her, and they both went crashing to the floor.
Jaxon’s weight pressed down on her, his strength overpowering. "This is for your sister," he hissed, wrapping his hands around her throat.
Cassie clawed at his hands, gasping for air. Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to focus. Summoning every ounce of strength, she drove her knee into his groin. Jaxon groaned, loosening his grip just enough for her to break free.
"Damn you," Cassie coughed, scrambling to her feet. She spotted a metal pipe nearby and snatched it up, wielding it like a weapon.
"It's over, Jaxon," she rasped, her voice strained.
"Not until you're dead," he spat, charging at her once more.
Cassie swung the pipe, but Jaxon ducked, tackling her to the ground again. The pipe clattered away as they struggled. Jaxon’s hands found her throat once more, but this time, Cassie didn’t panic. 
With practiced precision, she withdrew a switchblade from her pocket and swiftly drove it into Jaxon’s side. He screamed in agony, releasing her immediately. Cassie pushed him away, scrambling to safety as he writhed on the ground, clutching his wound.
With a quick flick, the blade was out. She stabbed it into Jaxon’s side, twisting it. He howled in pain, releasing her immediately. Cassie shoved him off.
"What a shame," Jaxon smirked, pulling another gun from his leather jacket pocket and aiming it at her.
Cassie barely had time to react as Jaxon fired the gun. The shot rang out, and a searing pain exploded in her side. She cried out, collapsing to the floor as blood began to soak her shirt.
Jaxon stood over her, a satisfied smirk on his face as he watched her struggle. "This is what happens when you cross me. Fighting spirit huh?" he said, his voice dripping with venom. 
He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Cassie gasping for breath, clutching her wound.
Outside, the sleek black car waited, its engine idling. Jaxon slid into the back seat gently as he has a  wound on his side, closing the door with a sense of finality. His driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "All taken care of, Mr. Jaxon?" he asked.
Jaxon nodded, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Yes, it's done. Let's go."
The driver put the car into gear and pulled away, the tires crunching on the gravel as they left the scene. Jaxon leaned back in his seat, the tension slowly draining from his body. He relished the feeling of control, the knowledge that he had silenced another threat.
Back inside, Cassie lay on the cold floor, her breaths shallow and making slow. 
She felt the darkness closing in, but she refused to give in. Summoning the last of her strength, she dragged herself towards her phone, which had fallen out of her pocket during the struggle. Each movement sent waves of agony through her, but she gritted her teeth and kept going.
Reaching the phone, she fumbled with it, her vision blurry. She managed to dial a number and pressed the phone to her ear, hoping someone would answer. 
Finally, a voice came through the line. "Hello?"
Cassie tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. "Help... I need help..."
"Who is this? Cassie, is that you?" The voice on the other end was filled with concern. "Hang on, we're coming. Just hold on. Where are you?"