The League Of Assassins

Chapter 1: Aftermath

The sun hung high in the cloudless sky, casting a harsh, unyielding light upon the Lee Corps building—a towering monolith of steel and glass that stood alone in the desolate landscape. The air was still, and the distant hum of a solitary breeze was the only sound that dared disturb the silence.

Clint Lee stumbled out of the imposing structure, his hands trembling and stained with the dark consequence of a hasty decision. The weight of his actions bore down on him like an anchor, pulling him deeper into a sea of regret.

He glanced around, his eyes darting anxiously over the barren surroundings. The Lee Corps building seemed to emerge from the earth itself, devoid of any signs of life for miles. It was a place of secrets, hidden in plain sight.

The metallic taste of regret lingered in Clint's mouth as he clutched the keys he had hastily snatched from his brother's lifeless hand. Jacob, his own flesh and blood, lay cold and unmoving behind him—a victim of a violent clash that had forever altered the course of their intertwined destinies.

With a frenzied urgency, Clint approached Jacob's van, parked inconspicuously at the edge of the desolate parking lot. The vehicle, a nondescript white panel van, stood as an unwitting witness to the unspeakable events that had transpired within the cold, sterile walls of the Lee Corps building.

The sun beat down on Clint's back as he fumbled with the keys, the mechanical clicks and clanks echoing in the oppressive stillness. The van's door swung open, revealing an interior that seemed to mock the chaos unfolding in Clint's mind. He shoved Jacob's lifeless form into the back, the once pristine interior now bearing witness to the sins committed in the name of a twisted ambition.

As the engine roared to life, the wheels of the van spun dust into the air, leaving behind the scene of a crime that would soon send shockwaves through the heart of the Lee family empire. Clint Lee, once an heir to a legacy of prosperity, now found himself fleeing the consequences of his own desperate actions.

The asphalt stretched out before him, a desolate ribbon cutting through an unforgiving landscape. Clint gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled determination, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The van sped away from the Lee Corps building, leaving the shattered remnants of brotherhood in its wake.

As the van disappeared into the distance, the sun cast long shadows over the Lee Corps building, the silent witness to a tragedy that would resonate far beyond the confines of its isolated existence. The middle of nowhere held the secrets of the Lee family, and the echoes of a brother's betrayal reverberated through the emptiness, leaving behind a void that could never be filled.

The road stretched out ahead, a seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt leading Clint away from the Lee Corps building. The rhythmic hum of the engine was the only company in the suffocating silence that enveloped the van.

From the back, a sudden stirring caught Clint off guard. Muffled sounds, a struggle against unseen restraints, echoed through the metal confines. Clint's eyes darted to the rearview mirror, heart pounding with a mix of dread and confusion.

As the noise escalated, the cargo area seemed to come alive. A figure, disoriented and groggy, emerged from the shadows. Clint's breath caught in his throat as he strained to see the face in the dim light.

"Who the hell are you?" Clint demanded, tension coursing through his voice.

The figure paused, blinking away the disorientation. "Clint?" A note of recognition colored the voice. "Is that you?"

Clint's eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name?"

The figure, still obscured by shadows, pushed himself upright. "It's me, Bobby. Bobby Kent."

Clint's mind raced, memories of Jacob's tales resurfacing. Bobby Kent, the foster brother from Jacob's past, the one always mentioned in the late-night talks about finding his real brother, Clint. The realization hit Clint like a wave.

"Bobby?" Clint's voice wavered with a mix of disbelief and realization. "You're Bobby Kent?"

The man in the back nodded, his eyes squinting against the sudden light. "Yeah, that's right. Who are you, and where's Jacob?"

Clint's grip on the steering wheel tightened. The weight of the situation pressed down on him as he grappled with the unexpected presence of Bobby Kent, a figure from the past who had suddenly become a part of the unfolding chaos.

"I'm Clint," he admitted reluctantly. "Clint Lee. And as for Jacob..." Clint hesitated, the truth hanging heavy in the air. "Jacob's not coming back."