an's face was familiar--one of the dark-suited goons who had chased them at the airport.

pe, did you?" he taunte

ody tight and ready. "Get away from us!" he cried,

outnumbered, Sterling. You and you

gh her veins. "Ethan, we need to do something!

tructed, eyes concentrat

his tone changing from aloof to dominating. "You really don't want

our changing from confidence

to you messing with me," David said, his voice drippin

ond. "You think that scares me? I'm

ccasion. "Jasmine,

toward the alley's exit. But before they could flee, the thug

against the wall, the force pu

She felt a surge of anger and determination, unwillin

can push him?" the thug hissed

ng forward. "You don't have

. "Why should I? You're both in this mess

away too," David said, his voice smooth and controlled

id and Jasmine, hesitation flaring

r time," David said, his tone calm but serious. "We

yes finding Jasmine's. "Don't listen to h

e," she said, her voice shaking (in fear) but firm. "We don'

But suddenly a deep growl resonated from behind him, and Jasmine's h

ttered, his confidence returning as he tightened his grip on Et

!" she yelled, feeling helpless as

us. "You really want to do this? You think your boss will be

oubt, but he didn't release Et

talk about how to solve this without addi

ings that might be lost were bigger than she had assumed. "Ethan, we

full of purpose. "We have to b

ngers. Finally, he released Ethan, thrusting him away with a wa

is balance. "We're not lying," he continued, his voice

ed into darkness. Jasmine stayed close to Ethan, her heart beating in her chest.

g that they were headed into a trap. "Where are we going

back at David. "But we need to keep m

sten closely. I know you're scared, but if we're going to get out of this

ring between them. "Trust you?" she questioned, her

nsisted, his tone frantic. "We're running

cry rang from the alley behind

me out from the shadows, their eyes fastened onto them with e

shed deeper into the maze of alleys. David led the way,

suddenly took a short br

" David shouted, looking

em. Jasmine's pulse pounded as they turned another bend, desperation clutching at h

door that led to a dimly lighted wareho

m. Jasmine placed her back against the wall, her heart thrumm

untenance. "We need to buy some t

he space for anything they could

anging to one of steely determination. "I

claimed, fear flooding

o escape," David insisted, his voice

through the door, followed by shouts. Jasmine fel

of purpose. "We can't let them catch us. We'll fin

y of their difficult situation. But the sound of heavy boots

, pulling them into

titude. They were traveling into the unknown, and as they slipped t