In the heart of New York City, Jacob Daniel leads a seemingly normal life, running a café near Central Park with his closest friends, Sam and Katie. But when Katie's boss is found murdered and the FBI pulls her into a high-stakes investigation, the...
After a short, tense drive, Jake finally arrived at Sam and Katie's apartment. The ride had been silent, but his mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. The sudden appearance of Neil, Alexandra's cryptic instructions, and the bloody encounter with the assassin had left Jake dazed. He stepped out of the taxi, but before he could even process the familiar surroundings, the driver sped away, leaving him alone in the night. For a brief moment, he stood still, the world around him feeling distant and unreal.
Jake shook off the weight of his thoughts and walked towards the building. As he approached the entrance, he heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Jake..." called Lisa.
Jake turned, his heart lightening at the sight of his sister. Despite the chaos swirling around him, seeing Lisa brought a small sense of comfort. But there was hesitation in him-he didn't want her to see the bruises and the exhaustion etched on his face.
"Hi..." Jake responded, his voice softer than usual, as he instinctively tilted his face away.
Lisa's curiosity quickly turned to concern as she moved closer, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh my God, Jake! What happened to you?" Her voice was laced with panic as she stared at his bruised face.
Jake cleared his throat, attempting to play it cool. "Fell down... at the station," he muttered, though even he knew how unconvincing it sounded.
"You fell down at the station?" Lisa's eyes narrowed. She wasn't buying it, and her sharp gaze lingered on him as they climbed the stairs together. Her silence spoke volumes.
When they reached the door, Sam, Katie, and Alexandra were already waiting inside, their faces immediately filled with concern as they saw Jake.
"What happened to your face?" Sam asked, confusion and worry evident in his tone.
Before Jake could answer, Lisa cut him off, her voice dismissive yet protective, "Don't ask." She walked into the apartment, leaving the others perplexed.
Jake exchanged a quick glance with Alexandra, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Whatever had happened earlier, it was understood. But before he could settle into the room, Lisa was back. She grabbed Jake's arm and dragged him out to the balcony, locking the sliding glass door behind them.
"Lisa, what are you doing?" Jake's voice was tense, startled by the sudden move.
Lisa was clearly agitated now. "Jake, something is wrong, and I want to know what it is-right now."
From inside the apartment, Sam, Katie, and Alexandra watched the tense scene unfold, unsure of how to intervene.
"This isn't the time or place, Lisa," Jake said, his voice low and serious.
Lisa's frustration grew. "What does that even mean, Jake? Alexandra, the hotel, the café-none of this is normal. You need to tell me what's going on!"
Jake stared at her, torn between wanting to protect her from the truth and the weight of what he was going through. Without another word, he turned, unlocked the door, and walked back into the living room, ignoring Sam and Katie's attempts to stop him. He grabbed his coat and stormed out of the apartment, leaving the others behind in confusion.
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