Chapter 3 Hunted

Chapter 3:

Jimmy's breath steamed in the air as he sprinted down the alley. Every step pounded with regret. The snow beneath his sneakers was slippery, but adrenaline kept him upright. Behind him, the muffled roar of the Red Vault faded into silence.

Then-

Crack.

A gunshot echoed.

Jimmy ducked instinctively, diving behind a rusted dumpster. Silence followed. No footsteps. No voices.

Too quiet.

He peeked around the corner. The alley was empty. Whoever fired wasn't chasing him-yet. Jimmy pulled out his burner phone, hands trembling, and dialed a number he never thought he'd need again.

"Tunde," he whispered when the line picked up.

Silence.

Then: "Jimmy? What the hell are you doing calling me?"

"Tunde, I need extraction. The Feds are onto me. And Yuri's men too."

"Bro... you were warned. Russia's no joke. Where are you?"

Jimmy scanned the street signs. "Krasny Pereulok. Near the old textile factory."

"I'll call someone. But Jimmy... if they catch you, not even God can get you out."

Click.

Jimmy knew that was as much help as he'd get. He needed a new identity, new papers-fast. And there was only one person in Moscow who could pull that off in twenty-four

ALINA