William answered the phone.
Walking fast.
Waiting.
“…So he’s dead.” A tired voice on the other end.
William said nothing.
He sprinted toward the factory exit.
One more minute and he’d be surrounded.
“You’re more capable than I thought.
A pity.” The line went dead.
William checked the screen.
The contact name read “Boss.” Snader himself.
Too quiet on that call.
No gunfire.
The other teams hadn’t fared well either.
He ran faster.
Behind him, the casino erupted in wails.
Any loyalists still alive might come hunting.
Inside the casino, a dozen survivors stared at the wrecked hidden room.
No one spoke.
The boss was dead.
The deputy was dead.
No one was in charge.
Money scattered everywhere.
Eyes met.
No one dared to speak first.
Then someone stepped forward.
“How about…
we split the cash and go?” Excellent idea.
Easy money.
No cameras either.
“Shame on you—” Two shots.
The loyalist dropped.
The rest exchanged glances.
No objections now.
“Anyone who takes money shuts up.
I’ll find a smuggler.
We all go our separate ways.” The mastermind became the leader.
Quick.
Efficient.
William reached the rendezvous point.
Others were already there.
He hung back, scanning.
One woman was badly injured.
No ambush.
He stepped out.
“IT’S HIM!” Guns raised.
William dove for cover.
Two rounds hit him.
Arm.
Left chest.
He ran.
Bullets cracked against his cover.
His arm screamed.
His chest ached.
The vest caught the torso shot.
The arm shot went through.
Not a clean wound.
Bullet’s still in there.
He disappeared into the night.
The Old Cowboy lowered his gun.
He’d hit William.
But he didn’t pursue.
Too many dead already.
He looked at the woman who’d screamed.
Viggins.
Her story checked out.
She was one of their own.
Trust the familiar face.
William was just a newcomer.
William stumbled into a stairwell.
No footsteps behind him.
Sweat poured down his face.
He checked his wounds.
Torso was fine, the vest held.
Arm was bad.
No exit wound.
Bullet still inside.
He couldn’t make sense of it.
They were teammates.
Why ambush him?
Then he remembered.
That woman.
Viggins.
She was from his own group.
She set me up.
He bit down on a rag and wrapped his arm.
Pulled out his phone.
Nearest clinic.
Hotel would sort this out.
He just needed to survive until then.
His eyes narrowed.
He wasn’t a forgiving man.
They’d shot him.
They’d pay.
Hotel leadership was in damage control.
The operation was a disaster.
Three locations.
All traps.
When they reached the boss’s house, the room exploded.
Someone knew everything.
The Manager finally appeared.
Old Cowboy stood before him.
“Viggins said William betrayed us,” the Cowboy reported.
The Manager knew William was innocent.
Three days in town.
No connections.
Impossible.
But someone had to take the blame.
The nobles were angry.
And William was perfect.
An outsider.
No allies.
No voice.
“Post the bounty.
Three hundred thousand.” The Manager’s heart wasn’t in it.
But survival came first.
Old Cowboy’s eyes lit up.
Three hundred grand.
Retirement money.
Finally.
Snader sat in the wrecked construction site.
His men dragged in the cash thieves from the casino.
“You’re telling me one man did all this?” He tapped the recovered money.
Confirmation came.
He laughed.
My men are this useless?
He lit a cigarette.
Watched the smoke spiral.
Then walked away.
Gunshots echoed behind him.
Cleaners moved in.
Losses didn’t matter.
He’d earned his phone call.
Two flashy bodyguards flanked him.
He waited.
The phone rang.
He snatched it up.
“Sir.
Yes, it’s done.” “Everything was worth it.
I hope my loyalty is clear.” “I’ll be there.
Thank you.
Thank you!” He laughed into the empty lot.
And William?
One hundred thousand.
Dead or alive.
He turned to his deputy.
“Your father died tonight.
Killed by that demon.” The deputy’s grief turned to rage.
“I’ll tear him apart.” Across the city, a new bounty shook the underworld.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
William was worth more than most city blocks.
William sat in a basement clinic.
Stitches done.
The doctor was a girl with glasses.
She’d given him some mystery painkillers.
They worked.
“Can’t stay,” she said, pushing open the door.
“You need to leave.” “I paid you.” Two gold coins.
He remembered.
“That’s why you’re alive.” She pushed her glasses up.
“Check your phone.” He opened the app.
Three hundred thousand.
On his head.
Again?!
He’d just cleared his last bounty.
Now this.
Honestly, the number was tempting.
If he turned himself in…
He laughed bitterly.
No.
The doctor watched him go.
His vest was damaged.
His arm hurt.
But he could move.
“Front door’s watched.
Use the back.” He found extra magazines on a shelf.
His model.
He pocketed them.
“Thanks.” He left.
She sighed.
Remembered someone from long ago.
Hope you survive.