The city blurred past the windows as the black SUV cut through the traffic like a knife. Maria sat rigid in the back seat, her knuckles white as she gripped Alexander's hand.
"He's with Junior," she whispered, barely able to breathe. "He's in our home."
Alexander's jaw was clenched tight. "He won't touch our son. I swear on everything."
The agent in the front seat turned back. "We have tactical teams heading to the building. ETA—five minutes."
Maria shook her head. "That's too long. He won't wait."
The Penthouse
The lights inside the luxurious penthouse flickered like a bad omen. In the living room, Junior sat quietly on the couch—eyes wide, watching the man in the shadows.
Chuka.
His shirt was stained, his eyes sunken, hair longer than Maria remembered. He looked like a man frayed at the edges—torn between vengeance and madness.
"You know, kid," he said softly, walking around the room, "your mom… she ruined everything."
Junior didn't speak.
"She was supposed to be just another job. Just a girl. But she survived. She remembered. And because of that… I lost it all."
He turned and stared at the boy.
"And now… she's going to lose you."
Outside the Building
Alexander and Maria didn't wait for backup.
As soon as they reached the lobby, they bolted up the stairs. The elevator would take too long.
Every step felt like fire under Maria's feet.
"He can't hurt him," she kept repeating. "He can't."
Inside the Apartment
Chuka raised a pistol slowly.
Junior's lips trembled.
"You're going to send your mommy a message for me."
He pressed a red button on a burner phone—activating a video call.
Maria's face appeared on the screen just as she and Alexander burst through the apartment door.
Her scream echoed.
"JUNIOR!"
Chuka turned too late.
Alexander tackled him to the ground with a roar, the pistol sliding across the floor. Maria dove for it, grabbing it just as Chuka rolled over and tried to lunge at Alexander's back with a blade pulled from his boot.
She didn't hesitate.
BANG!
The sound rang through the room like thunder.
Chuka collapsed, blood pooling beneath him, eyes wide in shock… then still.
Later That Night…
The police swarmed the building. Maria sat on the floor, holding Junior tightly in her arms, rocking him as he cried into her chest.
Alexander stood beside them, blood on his shirt, silent but breathing.
It was over.
Chuka was gone.
But so was the last piece of the nightmare that had haunted them for years.