"CONTACT!" one of the men shouted from the rear vehicle, his voice sharp with urgency.
Matteo was already moving, the door of his vehicle swung open before the car had even fully stopped, and he stepped out into the chaos with a calm that felt almost unnatural given the destruction unfolding around him. Smoke curled into the air, thick and suffocating, carrying the scent of burning metal and flesh as the sound of distant ringing filled the ears of those closest to the blast.
For a brief second, everything felt disoriented, then the gunfire began...sharp, rapid, and relentless as bullets tore through the air from concealed positions, striking the remaining vehicles, punching into metal, shattering windows, forcing the men into immediate reaction.
"Take cover!" Mendez shouted as h
