The city was a spider's web of secrets, each thread glistening with the condensation of deceit. In the heart of this web, Max Hastings moved like a ghost, a shadow among shadows. The neon lights from the storefronts flickered, casting long, broken reflections on the rain-soaked streets. The Syndicate's retaliation had begun; they were a venomous snake, coiled and ready to strike. Max felt the city's pulse quicken with the undercurrent of fear and anticipation.
Max adjusted the collar of his trench coat, feeling the familiar weight of his revolver nestled under his arm. Beside him, Evelyn Fox kept pace, her eyes scanning the darkness with a predator's instinct. She was a tall, statuesque figure, her blonde hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, her eyes cold and calculating. She had once been a part of the Syndicate, but now she was an ally, a partner with a shared goal of dismantling the monster they both despised.
