The air inside the building felt tight.
Like it was closing in.
Amara's hands trembled slightly—
But the gun stayed up.
Locked.
Focused.
"Don't move."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
The two men in front of her didn't rush.
Didn't push.
Because they could see it—
She might actually pull the trigger.
More footsteps.
More voices.
More coming in.
"You can't hold this," one of them said calmly.
"You're outnumbered."
"Then don't make me try."
From the ground—
Vision blurred—
Body heavy—
He saw everything.
And hated it.
She shouldn't be the one doing this-
Footsteps.
Different.
Slower.
Heavier.
The room shifted instantly.
Even the other men moved slightly aside.
Making space.
Amara's eyes locked on him.
Recognition.
Shock.
Anger.
"You."
Dre didn't raise his weapon.
Didn't rush.
Just looked at her—
Then past her—
At Jayden.
"Took you long enough."
His voice was weak—
But sharp.
"You're still alive."
"That disappoint you?" Jayden replied.
Her eyes moved between them.
"You know him?"
Jayden didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
"Drop the gun," he said calmly.
To Amara.
"No."
Simple.
Final.
Dre stopped walking.
Studying her.
"You don't want to do this."
"You don't know what I want," she shot back.
For a moment—
No one moved.
No one spoke.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
Jayden was supposed to be finished.
Quick.
Clean.
He was still here.
And she was standing in front of him.
Armed.
Unpredictable.
From behind—
One of the men spoke.
"End it."
Because now—
It wasn't a suggestion.
It was an order.
Direct.
Unblinking.
"This what you chose?" Jayden said quietly.
Not immediately.
For a split second—
Something passed through his eyes.
On the trigger.
Everyone knew it.
One shot—
Everything explodes.
"Last chance," Dre said.
Low.
Serious.
"No."
Dre exhaled slowly.
Then—
He moved.
A shout—
A step—
A gun raised
The sound ripped through the room.
For a second—
No one moved.
Amara's eyes widened.
Jayden's head lifted slightly.
One of the men dropped.
Not Jayden.
Not Amara.
Dre stood there.
Gun still raised.
"You—" one of them started.
Another one dropped.
"What are you doing?!"
Dre stepped back.
Now facing them.
Not Jayden.
"I told you…" Dre said coldly.
"…I didn't have a choice."
He did.
Even weak—
He saw it.
Understood it.
"Don't think this fixes anything," Jayden said.
"It's not supposed to."
"Go," Dre said quickly.
To Amara.
Just for a second.
"Move."
Helping him up again.
Jayden looked at Dre.
One last time.
Because now—
The line between enemy and ally wasn't just crossed…
It was broken.