Dangerous Attention

Chapter 12: The Calm Before Chaos

The next morning came too quickly. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Daou sat up on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, lost in thought. Offroad stirred beside him, slowly waking up, still groggy from the emotional and physical intensity of the night before.

The quiet moments they shared felt fragile, like the calm before a storm. The reality of their situation had not changed—they were still on the run, still hunted, and the walls were closing in faster than either of them wanted to admit.

Offroad sat up, rubbing his eyes before glancing over at Daou. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked softly, his voice still thick with sleep.

Daou didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood up and walked to the window, pushing the curtain aside to look out at the streets below. His jaw tightened as he spotted a familiar black sedan parked across the street. They were still being watched.

“They’re not going to stop,” Daou said quietly, more to himself than to Offroad. “As long as we have what they want, they’ll keep coming.”

Offroad followed Daou’s gaze, his eyes narrowing as he saw the car too. “Then we give them what they want,” he said, his voice firm. “Or we find a way to turn the tables.”

Daou turned to face him, the tension between them almost palpable. “And how do you suggest we do that?” His tone was sharp, but it wasn’t directed at Offroad. It was the frustration of a man who was running out of options.

Offroad stood up, running a hand through his hair as he thought. “There’s got to be something—some weakness we can exploit, some leverage we can use.”

Daou sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t a game, Offroad. These people are dangerous. One wrong move, and they’ll kill us both.”

“I know that,” Offroad snapped back, his voice louder than he intended. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. “But we can’t keep running forever. At some point, we have to fight back.”

Daou stared at him for a long moment, his eyes searching Offroad’s face. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained grim. “You’re right. We can’t run forever.”

The decision hung heavy in the air between them. It was a turning point, one they both knew would change everything. For better or worse, they were done running.

“We need to go after the person at the top,” Daou finally said. “The one pulling all the strings.”

Offroad’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean…?”

Daou nodded. “My uncle.”

Offroad felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of Daou’s uncle. He had heard stories—whispers, really—about the man’s ruthless rise to power, how he had built an empire on fear and violence. Going after him wasn’t just dangerous; it was suicidal.

“But he’s family,” Offroad said, his voice laced with concern. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Family doesn’t mean anything when blood has already been spilled,” Daou replied coldly. His eyes darkened as he thought of the years of betrayal and secrets his uncle had kept from him. “He betrayed us. He betrayed me. And now it’s time he pays for that.”

Offroad could see the fire in Daou’s eyes, the determination that had driven him to survive in this brutal world. There was no changing his mind now. They were committed, and there was no turning back.

“So what’s the plan?” Offroad asked, his voice steady. He was ready to follow Daou wherever this path led, no matter how dangerous it was.

Daou walked over to a small chest in the corner of the room. Inside was a hidden compartment, and from it, he pulled out a sleek, black gun. “We gather intel, find out where my uncle is keeping his operations, and then we strike.”

Offroad nodded, though the sight of the weapon made his heart race. He wasn’t a fighter. That was Daou’s world, not his. But if he was going to survive this, if they were going to make it out alive, he had to be ready for anything.

Just then, Daou’s phone buzzed. He glanced down at the screen, his expression hardening.

“It’s from one of our informants,” Daou said, showing Offroad the message. “They have a lead on where my uncle’s operation is located.”

Offroad’s pulse quickened. “Where?”

Daou handed him the phone. “An old warehouse by the docks. It’s heavily guarded, but there’s a small window tonight when the security will be light.”

Offroad swallowed hard, the reality of what they were about to do sinking in. “So, we hit them tonight?”

Daou nodded. “We hit them tonight.”

The plan was set. They would gather what they needed and make their move when the time was right. But the weight of the coming hours hung heavy in the room, and Offroad could feel the tension creeping back into his body.

“Daou,” he said quietly, stepping closer to him. “Whatever happens tonight… we face it together, okay?”

Daou’s gaze softened as he looked at Offroad, and for a moment, the hardness in his eyes melted away. He reached out, pulling Offroad into his arms, holding him close. “Together,” Daou murmured against his hair, the promise clear in his voice.

They stood there in the quiet, holding onto each other as the world outside continued to spin, their fates intertwined, their hearts beating as one.

And though the night ahead was filled with uncertainty and danger, they both knew one thing for sure: whatever came next, they would face it side by side.