The Crimson Silence

Jake arrived at the charred remains of his café, his gaze sweeping over every blackened corner, each ruined inch stirring a deep nostalgia within him. The memories, once vibrant and full of life, now lingered in the ashes. He stood there in silence, allowing the weight of the moment to settle before turning toward the back.

In the storage room, he found an old sledgehammer and a shovel, the tools heavy in his hands. Returning to the area where the counter once stood, Jake raised the sledgehammer, each swing crashing down with brutal force. Hit after hit, he let his rage pour out, the cracks spidering across the floor as the concrete gave way beneath him. Finally, when he'd broken through the foundation, he dropped the hammer and grabbed the shovel, digging methodically to widen the hole, long and deep, until it was exactly what he intended.

Exhausted but resolved, Jake slid into one of the burned-up booths, the charred cushions crumbling slightly under his weight. He pulled out his phone and typed a brief message to Cynthia:

"It ends today. Where my dreams burnt."

With that, he put his phone away, settled in the eerie silence of the ruins, and waited for Neil to arrive with Alexandra.

Neil and his men were stationed, the tension thick as they waited for the Albanians and Alexandra. Snipers held their positions on nearby rooftops, while Neil and a few others stayed hidden inside the building, watching the street. When the clock hit 10:30, one of Neil's men signaled-11 SUVs were approaching.

The convoy rolled to a stop, and Alexandra emerged from the middle vehicle, flanked by nearly 25 heavily armed men. Before they could even reach the building's entrance, Neil's snipers struck, precise shots picking off 10 of the men instantly. The Albanians responded with gunfire, chaos erupting as bullets ricocheted through the night.

"Mais qu'est-ce qui se passe ?" Alexandra cried, panicked as she ducked behind a nearby car for cover.

"Keep your head down and follow me," Neil shouted, motioning urgently.

He led her to a nearby van, his voice low and tense as he urged, "Dépêche-toi ! Entre!"

"Où est Jacob?" Alexandra's voice trembled, equal parts curiosity and fear.

"Your safety is my priority now," Neil replied, his tone sharp with urgency.

The sounds of gunfire and shouting from the Albanians filled the air, pressing Alexandra to take a shaky breath and climb into the van. As she settled in, two of Neil's men climbed in through the side door, grabbing her swiftly. Before she could scream, they pulled a black cloth over her head, pressing a chloroform-soaked cloth to her face until she slumped unconscious.

Neil jumped into the driver's seat, speeding out of the compound. But as he turned onto the main road, he caught sight of multiple NYPD patrol cars and a SWAT team racing past him, heading for the compound. In a state of shock but keeping his composure, Neil tightened his grip on the wheel and drove toward Jake's café, the plan still in motion.

Inside the compound, Lieutenant Mathew led his Major Crimes unit alongside SWAT, methodically taking down the remaining Albanians. Gunfire echoed through the night as officers swept each corner, subduing the syndicate members. Unbeknownst to the Albanians, Jake had uncovered critical intel from Katie's laptop, revealing Oizys's secret support for their arms operations to expand as an international syndicate. Before heading to his café, Jake had tipped off the 34th precinct with an anonymous call, providing the location and details of the Albanians' operations.

The raid proved to be one of the biggest busts for Mathew and his team. By the end of the night, over a dozen Albanians were in custody, along with a cache of weapons, drugs hidden in the SUVs, and documents hinting at other syndicate hideouts. The bust exposed deep layers of the criminal network, marking a significant victory for law enforcement and a decisive blow to an already collapsed Oizys and the Albanians' ambitions.