THE LAST JUDGEMENT

THE LAST JUDGEMENT 6

CHAPTER 6

The sound of the car engine outside sent a jolt of panic through Emily’s body. She moved swiftly, grabbing a small duffel bag from beneath the table, her movements sharp and practiced. Daniel, still gripping the documents, barely had time to process what was happening before she was by the door, listening intently.

"Emily—" he started, but she cut him off with a raised hand.

"Stay quiet," she whispered.

Daniel’s heart pounded as he followed her lead, stepping cautiously toward the window. He parted the curtain just enough to see a dark sedan idling on the street. The headlights dimmed, but the silhouette of a figure inside remained still. Waiting. Watching.

Emily cursed under her breath. "They know we’re here."

Daniel turned to her, his throat tight. "How did they find us so fast?"

"I don’t know. But we can’t stay." She grabbed his wrist, her grip firm. "There’s a back exit. We move now."

Daniel barely had time to process her words before she pulled him toward the rear of the apartment. She unlatched a hidden door that led into a narrow alley. The cold night air wrapped around them as they stepped outside, adrenaline thrumming through Daniel’s veins.

"Where are we going?" he hissed.

"Somewhere safe," Emily muttered. "Somewhere they won’t expect."

They moved quickly, weaving through alleyways and side streets. The city loomed around them, its usual noise feeling distant, drowned out by the heavy silence between them. Daniel’s mind raced with questions, but none of them mattered if they didn’t make it out of this night alive.

After what felt like an eternity, Emily led them into an abandoned parking garage. She finally exhaled, leaning against a concrete pillar. "We should be clear for now."

Daniel wasn’t convinced. "Emily, tell me who they are. No more half-truths. No more running. Who are we dealing with?"

Emily wiped her forehead and nodded. "They call themselves The Concord. A private network of powerful individuals—corporate executives, politicians, military leaders—people who operate in the shadows. They orchestrate events, silence threats, and remove obstacles that could expose them. Your father got too close. And now, so have I."

Daniel let out a shaky breath. "And you think they killed him?"

"I don’t think, Daniel. I know." She reached into her duffel bag and pulled out a small flash drive. "This has everything I’ve gathered. Names, transactions, classified communications. It all leads back to The Concord."

Daniel stared at it. "Why bring this to me?"

Emily met his gaze, her voice softer now. "Because your father left something behind. A final message. And I think you’re the only one who can decipher it."

Daniel’s head spun. "My father left a message?"

Emily nodded. "Before he died, he encrypted a file. I’ve spent years trying to break it, but I think the key isn’t digital. I think it’s something only you would know."

Daniel swallowed hard, his memories of his father feeling both close and impossibly far away. "What kind of message?"

Emily hesitated. "The kind that could bring The Concord down."

Before Daniel could respond, the sound of screeching tires echoed through the garage. Headlights flooded the space as black SUVs skidded to a stop at the entrance.

Emily’s eyes widened. "Run. Now."

But it was too late.

Doors slammed. Footsteps thundered. A voice called out—a deep, commanding voice that sent ice through Daniel’s veins.

"Daniel Calloway. Step forward."

He turned, his breath catching as several figures emerged from the darkness, their guns raised.

The Concord had found them.

And they weren’t leaving without a fight.