The city was a living, breathing entity, its neon lights pulsating like a diseased heart as the rain poured down like a dirty secret. Alex Mercer stood at the edge of the rooftop, the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy as he gazed out at the sprawling metropolis below. The smell of wet asphalt and ozone filled his lungs, a familiar scent that did little to calm the turmoil brewing inside him.
He'd received the message an hour ago, the words etched in his mind like a scar: "Meet me at the usual place. We have a problem." The sender had been a ghost, a non-existent entity, and yet Mercer knew exactly who it was. Diane Kruger, his handler, the woman who'd recruited him into the Agency, and the only person he trusted with his life.
Mercer's gut told him something was off, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end like a warning signal. He'd been in this business long enough to know when the walls were closing in. He took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs, and turned to leave.
As he walked to the door, a figure emerged from the shadows, its features obscured by the darkness. Mercer recognized the shape of a Glock 19, the sound of a suppressor being screwed on, and his instincts took over. He spun, his hand closing around the wrist of the assassin, and slammed them into the wall.
The gun went off, the bullet embedding itself in the concrete as Mercer pinned the attacker to the wall. A woman's face contorted in pain and fear, her eyes wide with a mix of adrenaline and terror. Mercer recognized her - Lena, a fellow operative, someone he'd worked with before.
"What the...?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Lena's eyes flickered, her gaze darting to the door, and Mercer knew they weren't alone. He spun, his eyes scanning the rooftop, but it was too late. The second assassin emerged from the shadows, their gun trained on Mercer's head.
"Drop it," a voice commanded, the tone cold and detached.
Mercer hesitated, his mind racing with scenarios and outcomes. He released Lena, who slid to the ground, gasping for air.
"Looks like you're in a bit of a bind, Alex," Lena sneered, rubbing her wrist.
Mercer's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between Lena and the second assassin. "What do you want?"
The second assassin stepped forward, their features still obscured by the shadows. "You're coming with us, Mercer."
Mercer laughed, the sound cold and mirthless. "I'm not going anywhere."
The assassin shrugged, the gesture almost imperceptible. "That's not a request."
The gun went off, the bullet whizzing past Mercer's ear, and he knew he had to act. He lunged, his body a blur of motion, and took down the second assassin. The gun went flying, and Mercer followed it, his fists flying in a deadly dance.
Lena scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide with fear, and made a break for the door. Mercer let her go, his focus on the second assassin, who was struggling to get to their feet.
As he stood over the assassin, his chest heaving with exertion, he realized they were wearing a familiar jacket, one he'd seen before. A jacket with a logo, a logo that read "Blackstone Security".
Mercer's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with implications. Blackstone was a private security firm, one with connections to the highest echelows of power. What were they doing here?
The rooftop phone rang, the sound shrill and jarring in the sudden silence. Mercer knew it was Diane, and he knew he had to answer it.
"Looks like we've got a problem," Diane's voice came through the line, her tone clipped and urgent.
Mercer's grip on the phone tightened. "You're telling me."
"I've got intel that your cover's been blown. You need to get out, now."
Mercer's eyes scanned the rooftop, his gaze lingering on the two assassins. "Too late for that."
The line went dead, and Mercer knew he was on his own.
As he gazed out at the city, the neon lights blurred and distorted, like the truth itself was shifting and morphing before his eyes. He knew he had to get out, to disappear into the shadows, but he also knew he wouldn't rest until he uncovered the truth behind the betrayal.
And when he did, the reckoning would be bloody.
To be continued...
Will Mercer survive the hit, and what secrets will he uncover about Blackstone Security? Find out in Chapter 2: "Ghost in the Machine".