The aftermath of the fire left a scar on Neon Shadows, its streets simmering with a tension palpable enough to taste. Max paced the cramped confines of their makeshift headquarters, the charred remains of the ledger spread out on the table before him like a puzzle missing vital pieces.
"We need to know what was in that ledger," Max muttered, frustration gnawing at the edges of his resolve.
Elena sat opposite him, her gaze fixed on the ashes of their hopes. "It's gone, Max. Burnt to nothing."
"But there has to be something," Max insisted, his hands clenching into fists. "A clue, a name—anything that could lead us to the ones responsible for this mess."
Elena shook her head, her voice hollow. "All we have is Rico."
Max's jaw tightened at the mention of their reluctant ally. Rico had vanished in the chaos of the fire, his loyalty now a precarious thread they clung to in the darkness.
"We need to find him," Max said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Elena nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "I'll start digging. See if I can track down any leads."
As Elena gathered her things and prepared to leave, a knock sounded at the door—a hesitant tap against the heavy silence that had settled over them like a shroud.
Max's hand went to his gun instinctively as he approached the door, his heart pounding in anticipation. He pulled it open, revealing a figure shrouded in the dim light of the hallway.
"Rico," Max breathed, his surprise tempered by a simmering distrust.
Rico stepped inside, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting an ambush. "I need your help," he said, his voice low, tinged with desperation.
Max's eyebrows rose in skepticism. "You disappeared after the fire. What happened?"
Rico hesitated, his gaze flickering towards Elena before returning to Max. "I was being watched. They knew I was helping you."
Max's grip tightened on his gun, suspicion clouding his features. "Who knew?"
Rico's eyes darted away, a guilty flicker betraying his unease. "I can't say," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Elena stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "We need answers, Rico. If you're not willing to give them, then—"
"I'm not the enemy here!" Rico cut her off, his voice rising with a raw edge of desperation. "I came to you because I'm in over my head. They're closing in on me, and I don't have anywhere else to turn."
Max's gaze softened slightly, the weight of Rico's words sinking in. "Alright," he said, his tone cautious. "But you better start talking. We need to know everything."
Rico nodded, his shoulders sagging with relief. "I'll tell you everything I know. But you have to promise me one thing—you'll protect me. No matter what."
Max exchanged a glance with Elena, the unspoken understanding passing between them like a silent vow. In Neon Shadows, promises were as fragile as glass, but for now, they were all they had to hold onto in the swirling chaos of betrayal and deceit.