The men began to close in, their footsteps scraping across the floor. I barely flinched. But I noticed Reynolds shifting beside me, his broad frame stepping slightly in front of mine — like always. He never let me take the first hit if he could help it.
Reynolds was my shield when it counted, and I trusted him with my life. Always had. The guards’ knives glinted under the dim lights. Some of them smirked, others looked hungry for violence. It wasn’t their first time cornering outsiders in this cesspool.
Then suddenly, the heavy door to the VIP lounge slammed open with a dull thud, slicing through the noise like a war drum.
A man stepped out. He was tall. Solid build under a dark tailored suit that strained slightly at the shoulders. His face was sharp — angular jaw, hooked nose, cold, c
