CHAPTER 9: THE CHASE

  Munich, Germany – 9:00 AM

  Leon Graves sat in the driver’s seat of the black Mercedes S-Class, adjusting the rearview mirror as he waited. The crisp morning air carried the distant hum of city life, but his focus was on the luxurious entrance of Matthias K?nig’s private residence.

  Disguised as Markus Steiner—Matthias K?nig’s personal driver—he played the part effortlessly. The uniform was tailored to fit, the ID in his pocket flawless, and his demeanor matched that of a professional chauffeur: neutral, disciplined, unassuming.

  The grand entrance of the estate swung open, and K?nig stepped out. The businessman was flanked by two bodyguards. One of them, Heinrich Voss—K?nig’s head of security—paused before entering one of the SUVs. “I’ll follow from behind,” he said to K?nig. The other, a younger operative with sharp eyes and a tense posture, stayed close, scanning the surroundings for any threats.

  The younger operative opened the front passenger door and slid inside, his body language tense. As he adjusted his seating, his gaze flicked toward Leon, scrutinizing him.

  “You’re late,” he said coldly.

  Leon didn’t blink. “Traffic.”

  The guard held his gaze for a second longer, then nodded. “Let’s go.”

  K?nig barely acknowledged the exchange as he slid into the backseat, too engrossed in his phone. He was wealthy, powerful, and accustomed to being untouchable. But his arrogance had cost him. He had refused to pay Leon for a completed contract—an insult that sealed his fate.

  “Headquarters,” K?nig muttered.

  Leon gave a short nod, slipping into the driver’s seat.

  The young bodyguard settled into the front passenger seat, his posture rigid, hand resting close to his firearm. The two SUVs fell into position behind them.

  K?nig had no idea he had just stepped into his grave.

  ---

  9:22 AM – The Setup

  The route to K?nig’s company headquarters was straightforward, but Leon had no intention of taking him there.

  He made a slight detour, guiding the car onto a narrower road through Munich’s quieter streets.

  Immediately, the bodyguard tensed. “Where are you going?”

  Leon kept his voice calm. “Traffic ahead. This is faster.”

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  The guard’s eyes narrowed. “Stay on the main road.”

  Leon glanced at him briefly before giving a small, almost indifferent shrug. “Neither did Richard Langley before I put a bullet through his head.”

  The guard barely had time to react—

  Leon’s knife was already slicing across his throat.

  A sharp gasp, then silence. Blood gushed from the wound as the bodyguard twitched violently, his fingers inches from his gun. Leon twisted the blade, ensuring the kill was instant.

  One down.

  K?nig, still engrossed in his phone, finally noticed the stillness beside him. He looked up—

  “You—”

  Leon slammed his foot on the accelerator.

  ---

  9:25 AM – The Chase Begins

  The Mercedes S-Class shot forward.

  Behind them, K?nig’s security detail reacted instantly, the SUVs swerving into pursuit.

  K?nig, now in full panic, reached for the door handle—

  Leon locked the doors with a press of a button.

  "You should have paid me, K?nig."

  K?nig’s face drained of color. "Wait—this is about—"

  Leon didn’t let him finish.

  He veered into incoming traffic, weaving through cars at impossible angles. Horns blared, drivers swerved, chaos erupted in the streets. The SUVs struggled to keep up.

  One of them pulled alongside the Mercedes. A gunman rolled down the window—

  Leon reacted instantly.

  He jerked the wheel, slamming the Mercedes into the SUV’s side.

  The impact sent the vehicle spinning out of control, crashing into a row of parked cars.

  One down. Two to go.

  ---

  9:28 AM – The Highway

  Leon guided the car toward the Autobahn.

  No speed limits. No mercy.

  K?nig, sweating and panicked, realized who he was dealing with.

  "Renzo…" he muttered.

  Leon ignored him. His focus was on the remaining SUVs.

  One pulled in front, trying to block his path, while the other stayed behind.

  A coordinated trap.

  Leon smirked. He had seen this before.

  Behind them, Heinrich Voss, the head of security, pushed his SUV to its limits, determined to close the gap. He was skilled, but Leon was better.

  K?nig, his hands shaking, fumbled for his phone. He desperately called Voss. “Get me out of here!” he shouted.

  Leon suddenly slammed the car into a sharp swerve—

  K?nig was thrown sideways, and his phone slipped from his grasp, tumbling to the car floor. He scrambled to retrieve it, but the momentum of the chase kept knocking it out of reach.

  ---

  9:30 AM – The Trap

  Up ahead, Leon spotted a construction site—an unfinished section of the highway with exposed concrete barriers.

  Perfect.

  He slammed the brakes.

  The SUV behind him had no time to react—

  It crashed straight into a concrete pillar, flipping over.

  One left.

  Voss, still in pursuit, tried to maneuver around the wreckage, but Leon had already anticipated his move. He swerved sharply at the last second, forcing Voss to overcorrect.

  The head of security’s SUV clipped the side of a street-parked car, sending it careening into a row of vehicles. Metal crunched, glass shattered, and Voss’s vehicle skidded to a dead stop, crippled and useless.

  Voss, enraged but undeterred, climbed out of the wreckage. Without hesitation, he flagged down a passing car, yanked the driver out, and commandeered the vehicle. He sped off, resuming the chase.

  But it was too late. Leon was already out of reach.

  Voss immediately contacted the security team. “Find that car. Now.”

  ---

  9:33 AM – The Fear

  Leon pulled the car into a deserted parking lot, away from prying eyes.

  K?nig sat in the backseat, trembling.

  Leon turned slowly, his cold blue eyes locking onto him. "You shouldn't have pushed your luck, K?nig." "Do you know what happens to people who disrespect me, K?nig?"

  K?nig swallowed hard. "Please… I can fix this."

  Leon leaned in closer, his voice a whisper. "You had your chance."

  K?nig flinched as Leon raised his silenced pistol, the muzzle inches from his forehead.

  "There is no ‘more time.’"

  K?nig let out a desperate whimper—

  K?nig squeezed his eyes shut in terror as Leon raised his silenced pistol. But Leon's voice cut through the moment. "Open your eyes."

  Shaking, K?nig obeyed—only to see death staring back at him.

  Leon pulled the trigger.

  One clean shot.

  Matthias K?nig slumped over. Dead.

  Leon walked to the trunk, retrieving a small bomb. He set the timer for one minute, opened the car door, and casually dropped it inside.

  Meanwhile, Voss had been listening the entire time—K?nig's phone, still inside the car, had remained connected to their call, transmitting every terrifying moment. He heard the fear in K?nig's voice, Leon's chilling words, and finally dead silence.

  Voss had finally tracked down the car’s location. He approached cautiously, scanning for signs of K?nig. But before he could get too close—

  The car exploded. "Boom"

  The force sent Voss flying, crashing hard into another vehicle.

  From a safe distance, Leon watched the carnage unfold before slipping away, disappearing into the city.

  Germany was finished.

  It was time to disappear.

  ---

  End of Chapter 9