The sports car screeched to a stop in Eldoria's Red District, a neon-soaked maze of vice and violence where the city's underbelly thrived. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and cheap liquor, and the streets pulsed with danger. Elena and Sophia stepped out, their faces grim but focused, while Alex gripped the black katana, his knuckles white.
Elena turned to him, her emerald eyes catching the glow of a flickering sign. "This place—the Crimson Veil—is a club run by assassins and hitmen. It's a neutral ground, but neutrality's fragile. We're here to send a message."
Sophia smirked, checking her twin blades. "And to find out who's bankrolling this bounty. Stay sharp, Alex. These people don't play nice."
Alex's aura shifted, his blue eyes darkening with a cold intensity that made Elena's breath catch. He stepped closer to her, his voice low and lethal. "If anyone tries to hurt you, Elena, they'll die. I promise you that."
Her heart raced, a flush creeping up her neck. This new darkness in him—raw, protective, unyielding—stirred something deep within her. She liked it, maybe too much. Sophia caught the exchange, her smirk faltering with a flicker of jealousy, but she said nothing, leading the way toward the club.
The Crimson Veil loomed ahead, its facade a gaudy mix of red velvet and black steel. Alex drew his katana, its blade gleaming under the streetlights. Without hesitation, he approached the doorman—a burly figure with a scar across his lips. The man reached for a concealed pistol, but Alex was faster. A single slash, and the doorman crumpled, blood pooling beneath him.
Elena and Sophia exchanged a glance, then followed Alex inside, their weapons ready.