Mina gasped, her breath hitching in her throat. “Leo! They’re shooting at us!”
“I know!” he gritted out, trying to keep his composure. “I’ll get us out of this.”
Leo took a sharp turn, the tires squealing against the pavement as he maneuvered into an alleyway, hoping to shake off their attacker. But the other car was relentless, following closely behind. 
“Mina, do you have your phone? Call for help!” Leo shouted, his eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror.
“Not now! I’m too busy trying not to die!” she replied, her voice laced with fear.
Leo pushed the pedal to the metal, their car speeding through narrow streets. “Just hold on tight. We’re not going to let them take us down!”
Mina squeezed her eyes shut, her mind racing with thoughts of what could happen. “What if they catch us?” 
“They won’t,” Leo said firmly, determination etched on his face. “I won’t let that happen.”
With a sudden burst of speed, Leo took another sharp turn, this time heading into a more deserted area. He could hear the engine of the other car revving up, but he felt a flicker of hope.
 If he could just reach the main road...
But just as he thought that, another round of gunfire erupted, shattering the rear window. “Leo!” Mina cried, feeling a wave of dread wash over her.
“I’m on it!” Leo shouted, adrenaline surging through him. He was determined to protect her at all costs. 
“Where do we go now?” Mina asked, her voice trembling. 
“Just keep your head down,” Leo instructed, his mind racing as he searched for an escape route. “I’ll find a way to lose them.” 
The chase continued, with Leo weaving through streets, desperate to find a way out while keeping Mina safe.
He took a sharp corner, expertly maneuvering through the narrow alleyways, all the while keeping an eye on the enemy vehicle tailing them. The other driver, eager and reckless, tried to follow suit but underestimated the tight turns of the street.
“Leo, what are you doing?” Mina yelled, bracing herself against the seat.
“Just trust me!” Leo replied, his focus unwavering. He could feel the tension in the air, but he kept his cool.
As they approached a particularly tight turn, Leo slammed on the brakes and executed a quick drift, causing the enemy car to skid uncontrollably. The driver panicked, oversteering and crashing into a nearby wall.
“Leo!” Mina gasped, watching the scene unfold.
“Now!” Leo shouted, hitting the accelerator and speeding away as the enemy car spun out, hitting a trash dumpster before careening into a nearby lamppost.
A loud explosion erupted behind them as the car caught fire, sending flames shooting into the night sky.
Mina turned around, wide-eyed with disbelief. “Did that just happen?”
“Looks like they couldn’t handle my driving skills,” Leo said, a grin creeping onto his face despite the adrenaline still coursing through him.
Mina stared at him, her mouth agape. “You killed him, Leo!”
“What? No, I just gave him a one-way ticket to a wall,” Leo said, chuckling. 
She shook her head in disbelief, still processing the chaos. “That was insane! You can’t just—”
Leo pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Mina, her expression frozen in shock. “This is priceless,” he laughed. 
“Are you seriously taking pictures right now?” Mina exclaimed, her shock turning to irritation.
“Hey, it’s a great shot! Look at that face!” He laughed, unable to contain himself. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”
Mina’s cheeks flushed as she realized how ridiculous she must look. “Stop it! Focus, Leo! We just escaped a murder attempt!”
Leo laughed harder, shaking his head. “You’re right, but we’ve gotta celebrate our survival somehow!”
Mina blinked, finally realizing how absurd the situation was. “ You’re a maniac!” 
Leo leaned back in his seat, laughing heartily. “I am!”
“Maybe I’ll just file a complaint to the management,” she retorted.
 
“Go ahead. Just remember who’s driving,” he teased, tapping the steering wheel with a playful grin.
Mina crossed her arms, feigning annoyance. “Fine, but if I get a heart attack from this, you’re paying for my medical bills!”
*
That night, Leo sat in the study of the mansion, focused on his laptop as the light flickered softly against the walls. He was deep in thought when Marco entered, his expression serious.
“Boss, I just heard about the car that was tailing you this afternoon,” Marco said, his tone respectful but concerned.
Leo glanced up, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just some minor annoyances. I can handle it.”
Marco nodded, still looking uneasy. “Are you sure? I can launch an investigation if you think it’s necessary.”
“Not needed,” Leo replied, his voice firm. “They’re just pests trying to make a name for themselves. They’ll regret it soon enough.”
Changing the subject, Leo leaned back slightly in his chair. “By the way, has Mina’s room light gone out yet?”
Marco checked his watch. “Not yet. She’s probably still working or getting lost in a show.”
Leo chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I should go check on her. Just in case she’s plotting a midnight heist.”
“Or dozing off on the job,” Marco added with a smirk. “Just try not to startle her if she’s in the middle of a horror binge, Boss.”
“Good point,” Leo replied, standing up. He stretched to ease the tension from the day. “I’ll be right back.”
As he walked toward Mina’s room, he felt a sense of normalcy returning, a welcome change amid the chaos of the day.
Leo approached Mina's room and paused at the door, watching her intently as she played a racing game on her phone, her fingers flying across the screen and her enthusiasm filling the room. He stood there for a moment, quietly amused, until Mina finally caught sight of him.
“Leo!” she exclaimed, nearly dropping her phone in surprise. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she fumbled to pause the game.
“Nice driving skills you’ve got there,” Leo teased, stepping inside with a smirk.