Opening Scene – Montego Bay, Jamaica – 5:14 AMThe air was thick with dread.
In a run-down apartment above a tire shop in Flanker, Ruel zipped his bag shut. Inside:
Two burner phones
A forged American passport
$10,000 USD in wrinkled bills
A loaded .38 snub-nose pistol
His taxi waited outside.
He lit a cigarette, looked out over the sleeping city.
"Last time I smell this place," he muttered.
His eyes drifted to a grainy photo on the wall—Kyle Wilson, 14, holding a basketball, standing beside Chino.
"Your little light burned too bright, starboy."
Meanwhile – Boston, Same TimeKyle lay awake in his apartment.
No lights. Just silence.
He stared at his phone.
Still no new threats. No strange numbers.
Just peace.
But peace scared him more than war.
Ari stirred beside him.
"You okay?"
"I don't know," he whispered.
"It's too quiet. Like the storm forgot to come."
