The distant hum of the metropolis had long since drowned out the echoes of gunshots. There was still smoke in the air, circling the remains of the crash. Once a battlefield, the rail yard was now strangely quiet.
With his rifle held firmly in his hand, Ethan stood in the center of everything. His clothing was smeared with blood, some of it his, most of it not. Though his thoughts were racing, his chest rose and fell in calm, controlled breaths.
Moreau, Damien, had gotten away.
Not unharmed. Not winning. Yet still living.
And it presented a challenge.
With her own rifle down but not quite ready, Lily moved to stand next to him. There was a wound along her temple where a bullet had skimmed too near, and dirt smeared her cheeks. She wasn’t looking at the bloodshed, though.
Ethan was their target.
"Now what?" Her voice was soft, almost timid, as she inquired.
With a deep sigh, Ethan combed through his hair. "Now?" With a sardonic grin ghosting his lips, he turned to face her. "We clean up now."
The aftermath
Both of them were absorbed in their thoughts throughout the quiet journey back to the apartment. Exhaustion and the weight of all that had transpired were left behind once the thrill had gone off.
Lily felt the sting of the cut on her forehead and grimaced. Ethan frowned as he looked at her. He took out a little first aid kit from the glove compartment without saying anything.
He turned to her and tipped her chin softly at a red light. "Give me a chance."
She didn’t object when he used an alcohol wipe to carefully and almost tenderly dab at the wound.
She said, "You ought to have let me take the shot."
For a brief moment, Ethan’s hand hesitated before continuing. "The timing wasn’t right."
"He fled."
"He won’t make it very far."
Lily looked at his face. "Are you certain of that?"
Something flickered in Ethan’s eyes as he caught her gaze. "I never repeat the same error twice."
Lily leaned back against the seat and moaned. "I simply want this to end."
Ethan remained silent. Because he didn’t think it would ever be.
Uncertain Ends
Ethan called a few people back at the penthouse.
Jacob was the first to check the safety of their surviving companions. After that, he asked his sources for updates on Damien’s whereabouts.
But there was one call he feared to make.
Lily observed him from across the room. "Who is it?"
Ethan wiped his face with his palm. "A former colleague. Someone who could be aware of Damien’s hiding place.
Lily crossed her arms. "And what’s preventing you?"
He paused. Then, "I can’t go back if I call him." Defense is no longer the only consideration here. It’s war.
Lily took a step forward. "Ethan, we already knew that."
He tightened his jaw. Then he nodded resignedly and called.
Before a deep voice responded, the line rang twice.
"Well, well. Unless it’s Ethan Calloway. Only when things turn bad do you call me.
Ethan didn’t make an effort to be kind. "I need to know where Damien Moreau is."
On the other end, the man laughed. "That request is risky."
Ethan’s tone was cold. "It is also denying me."
There was silence between them. And lastly:
"I’ll try to do something."
The line died.
With stiff shoulders, Ethan put down the phone.
Lily looked at him. "Who was that?"
Ethan let out a sigh. "Someone who shares my admiration for Moreau."
Slowly, she nodded. "What if he discovers him?"
Ethan’s face was inscrutable as he gazed at her. "Then this is over."
Unspoken Phrases
Hours went by. Outside, the city seemed to have remained the same, but within the penthouse, time seemed to have stopped.
Ethan sat on the couch and gazed at a half-empty whiskey glass. Lily sat next to him, and although they were friendly, their quiet was thick with unspoken words.
At last, she spoke something. "At the train yard again... You paused.
Ethan’s fingers gripped the glass more tightly. "I called."
"You had the opportunity to kill him then and there."
He let out a breath. "And how would that have been different?"
Lily’s eyes flickered with frustration as she gazed at him. "Everything."
Ethan looked at her intently. Would it? Or would I have just been like him as a result?
She stopped talking.
Ethan put down his drink. "I have to outperform him. What’s the purpose, if I’m not?
Lily looked at his face. "You are already."
The honest and unvarnished remarks hovered between them.
And Ethan was at a loss for words for the first time in a long time.
A Fresh Danger
Just before daybreak, the phone rang once more.
Ethan responded right away. "Signify that you have something."
It was a somber voice on the other end. "Oh, okay, I have something. However, you won’t enjoy it.
Ethan gripped the phone more tightly. "Speak."
"Something has moved. Though that isn’t the worst of it, Moreau’s people are regrouping.
Ethan scowled. "What is it?"
A pause. Next:
"Calloway, he’s not running. He has a plan. Something significant.
Ethan felt a chill creep down his back. "What sort of thing is it?"
"Let’s just say that he is finished playing defense as well."
Ethan tightened his jaw. "Where is he?"
The informant paused. "He is laying a trap." For you.
Ethan’s face grew serious. "Give him a chance."
After hanging up, he turned to face Lily.
She already had a determined look on her face. "What did he say?"
Ethan let out a breath. "Moreau isn’t running. He is on his way to get me.
Lily’s shoulders went square. "Then we confront him."
Ethan looked at her for a while. Finally, he gave a nod.
"Stop waiting."
There would be no loose ends when everything was said and done this time.
No more second chances.
It was all or nothing this time.