The hotel inauguration was a grand affair, the atmosphere buzzing with laughter and clinking glasses. However, in the quieter back courtyard, Ryan approached Leo and Mina, who were standing together, the sounds of celebration fading into the background.
“Leo, can I have a word?” Ryan asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as he approached them cautiously.
Leo turned, his expression unreadable. “What is it?”
“I just wanted to thank you for forgiving me,” Ryan said, looking down, the weight of his earlier mistakes heavy on his shoulders. “And for helping to get my son into that prestigious school. I truly appreciate it.”
Leo nodded but remained guarded. “As long as you’re by my side, you don’t need to fear anything. I’ll protect you and your family.” His voice was steady, a promise wrapped in menace.
Ryan hesitated, his brow furrowing with doubt. “There’s something else I need to tell you, Leo. It’s about who was behind the disruption of the project—”
Before he could finish, a sudden crack echoed through the air. A bullet struck Ryan in the chest, and his eyes widened in shock. He stumbled backward, clutching his wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Mina, get down!” Leo shouted, instinctively shoving her behind him as chaos erupted. The tranquil evening was shattered by screams and the sound of chaos.
Mina gasped, her heart racing as she crouched low, peering around Leo’s frame. “What just happened? Ryan!” she cried, but Leo’s focus was solely on the threat.
Ryan collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged. Leo knelt beside him, pressing a hand against Ryan’s chest to stem the bleeding. “Stay with me, Ryan! Who did this?”
With effort, Ryan managed to look up at Leo, his face pale and drenched in sweat. “You have to be careful… it’s someone inside… they’ve been watching you…”
Before he could elaborate, Ryan’s breath hitched, and his body went limp. The light in his eyes faded, and Leo swore under his breath, anger and frustration boiling within him.
“Mina, stay low!” he ordered, gripping her wrist and pulling her toward the side of the building, away from the open courtyard. They needed to find cover before the shooter could take aim again.
“Leo, we can’t just leave him!” Mina protested, her voice trembling.
“He’s gone,” Leo replied, his tone harsh but filled with urgency. “We need to focus on getting to safety. The shooter could be anywhere.”
Leo scanned the area, noting the positions of the guests who had fled in panic. The courtyard was emptying rapidly, and shadows lurked in the corners, heightening his awareness of the impending danger.
As they moved stealthily behind the hotel’s exterior, Leo caught sight of the gunman—a figure perched on a rooftop across the street, taking aim. “There!” he exclaimed, pointing discreetly.
Mina’s eyes widened in horror. “What do we do?”
“We need a distraction,” Leo said, his mind racing. He grabbed a nearby potted plant and hurled it toward the opposite direction. It shattered against the pavement, drawing the gunman’s attention for just a moment.
“Now!” Leo barked, pulling Mina along as they darted toward the side entrance of the hotel.
They burst through the door just as the gunman realized the ruse and redirected his aim. A bullet whizzed past them, narrowly missing Leo’s shoulder. He felt the rush of air and instinctively pulled Mina down, pushing her against the wall for cover.
“Stay here,” he instructed, his voice low but firm. “I’ll handle this.”
“Leo, no!” Mina protested, panic rising in her chest. “You can’t go out there! It’s too dangerous!”
“I have to,” he replied, a steely resolve in his eyes. “I can’t let him get away.”
Before Mina could argue further, Leo dashed toward a nearby stairwell, bolting up the steps two at a time. He reached the rooftop door and paused, listening for any signs of the shooter.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the rooftop, and Leo pushed the door open cautiously. The night air hit him, filled with tension. He scanned the expanse of the rooftop, spotting the gunman crouched low, reloading his weapon.
Without hesitation, Leo charged forward, fueled by adrenaline and fury. “Hey!” he shouted, catching the man’s attention.
The gunman turned, surprise etched on his face, and fired off a shot. Leo ducked, the bullet ricocheting off the metal railing as he lunged forward.
A brief struggle ensued as Leo tackled the gunman, grappling for control of the weapon. The two men rolled across the rooftop, exchanging blows, each trying to gain the upper hand.
“Who sent you?” Leo growled, throwing a punch that landed squarely on the gunman’s jaw.
“Just a job,” the man spat, attempting to wriggle free. “I don’t owe you anything!”
Leo snarled, his patience waning. With a powerful shove, he pinned the man to the ground, pressing his forearm against his throat. “Tell me who it was!”
The gunman gasped for breath, fear flickering in his eyes. “I—”
In that split second, the gunman who had attacked them moments before met a grim fate. The sniper’s bullet struck him squarely in the head, and he crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, lifeless.
Leo watched in horror as the body fell, splattering against the pavement below. The sound of the impact was drowned out by the screams of startled guests who witnessed the gruesome scene from the hotel. “What the hell?!” Mina gasped, her eyes wide in shock.
“Stay low!” Leo ordered, scanning the rooftops for any sign of the sniper. They couldn’t afford to be exposed again.
The chaos erupted further as people ran in all directions, their shouts mingling with the wailing sirens. “We need to move!” Leo urged, gripping Mina’s hand tightly and dragging her toward the stairs and lift.
“Leo, who’s shooting at us? Is it over?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out,” Leo replied, his mind racing as he fumbled for the car keys in his pocket. “Just get in the car fast!”
Mina nodded.