Agent X didn't waste time. He wiped down the sedan's interior, ensuring no fingerprints remained, then stepped out, disappearing into the shadows of the alley. He needed a safe house—somewhere to regroup before Whisper got back to him with intel on Jonathan Reynolds.
But he had barely taken five steps before his instincts screamed at him.
He was being watched.
Years of training had honed his senses to near perfection. The way the city breathed, the way the air shifted—something was off.
Someone was here.
And they weren't amateurs.
He kept walking, forcing his heartbeat to stay steady. Running would confirm suspicion. Acting natural was his only advantage.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted them.
Three men. Dressed in civilian clothing but moving with purpose.
Echelon.
They weren't making their move yet, but he knew how this played out. They'd follow him. Track him. Wait for an opening.
His first test as a rogue agent had already begun.
X turned a corner and entered a small café—nothing but an empty counter and an old man brewing tea. He walked straight to the restroom, locking the door behind him.
He pulled out his phone, activated a second burner line, and dialed a number.
Whisper picked up instantly. "That was fast."
"I need an exit plan. Now."
A sigh. "Already? What the hell did you do?"
"Echelon's hunting me. Three-man team, trained. I need a distraction."
Silence. Then, Whisper's voice turned amused.
"Oh, X… you're really in trouble, aren't you?"
"Can you do it or not?"
A chuckle. "Relax. Give me five minutes."
X didn't wait inside. He climbed out through the restroom window, dropping into the alley behind the café. He crouched low, scanning his surroundings.
One of them was already there.
The operative had taken position near a dumpster, gun holstered but within reach. Waiting. Watching.
They were good. But not good enough.
X moved fast. He darted forward, his hand snapping around the man's throat before he could react. A quick twist, a muffled gasp—then silence.
One down.
The second operative was moving in from the street, weapon drawn.
Too slow.
X lunged, striking his wrist and twisting the gun away. A single, brutal elbow to the throat sent the man to the ground. X grabbed his weapon and silenced him with one final blow.
Two down.
The third? Nowhere to be seen.
His instincts flared. Where—
Then he felt it.
A gun barrel pressing against the back of his skull.
"You should've stayed loyal, X," a familiar voice said.
Echelon had sent someone he knew.