BROKEN

Chapter 19: A Race Against Time

After the shocking revelation about Alex's past, Emma and Alex were left reeling. They didn't know what to do or where to turn, but they knew that they had to act fast. Alex's life was in danger, and they had to find a way to protect him.

They spent hours talking and strategizing, trying to come up with a plan. They knew they couldn't do it alone, so they reached out to some old friends who they thought could help.

Their friends arrived the next day, armed with information and resources. They had been doing their own investigation and had found out some crucial information that could help them.

They all sat down together, and Emma's friend, who was a private investigator, laid out everything they had found.

"There's a man who's been after Alex for years," she said. "He's a dangerous criminal with a lot of power, and he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

Emma's heart sank as she listened to the details. It was worse than they thought.

"But why is he after Alex?" Emma asked.

Her friend hesitated before answering. "It's because of something he did a long time ago. Something that could bring down the entire criminal underworld. The man who's after him will stop at nothing to get his hands on that information."

Emma and Alex were stunned. They had no idea that Alex's past was so dark and dangerous.

"So what do we do now?" Alex asked, his voice shaking.

"We have to get you out of here," one of their friends said. "We'll take you to a safe house, and then we'll figure out our next move."

They all agreed to the plan, and they started packing up their things. As they were getting ready to leave, Emma's friend pulled her aside.

"I found something else," she whispered. "Something that could help us bring down this criminal and put an end to all of this."

Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "What is it?"

"It's a file with all the evidence we need to put him away for good. But it's hidden in a secure location, and we'll need someone to go and retrieve it."

Emma knew what she had to do. She volunteered to go, knowing that it was a dangerous mission, but one that could help bring an end to this nightmare.

As she set out on her mission, Emma couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She tried to push the thought out of her mind, but she couldn't ignore the unease that crept up her spine.

Just as she was about to retrieve the file, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around, and her heart stopped.

It was the dangerous criminal they were all trying to avoid.

Emma tried to run, but he was too fast. He caught up to her, and before she could do anything, he grabbed her by the arm.

"Give me the file," he snarled, his eyes burning with fury.

Emma tried to fight back, but he was too strong. She felt a sharp pain in her head, and everything went black.

As Emma lay on the ground, unconscious, the criminal smirked. He had what he came for.