Chapter 3 Echoes Of Gunfire

• The chaos in the ballroom hit Lisa like a physical force as she burst through the lounge doors. Screams pierced the air, mingling with the sound of shattering glass and pounding footsteps. Smoke curled lazily from somewhere near the stage, the acrid scent burning Lisa's nostrils.
• Her eyes frantically scanned the panicked crowd for Elena's familiar red curls. "Elena!" she shouted, her voice lost in the cacophony.
• A strong hand gripped her arm, and Lisa's heart leaped to her throat. She whirled, ready to fight, only to find Mark's worried face.
• "Lisa! Thank God," he said, pulling her close to be heard over the din. "We need to get out of here. Now."
• "But Elena—"
• "She's waiting by the service entrance. Come on!"
• As Mark led her through the throng of terrified guests, Lisa caught glimpses of the unfolding scene. Security guards wrestled with masked intruders near the main doors. A chandelier lay shattered on the floor, its crystals glittering like fallen stars amidst the chaos.
• They were halfway across the room when Lisa heard it—Kenneth calling her name. She turned, spotting him push through the crowd, his face a mask of desperation. Their eyes met for a fleeting second before Fiona appeared at his side, clutching his arm possessively.
• "Lisa, we have to go!" Mark's urgent voice snapped her back to reality.
• They reached the service entrance where Elena waited, wide-eyed and pale. "Oh my God, Lisa! Are you okay? What happened in there?"
• Before Lisa could respond, the door burst open behind them. Diego emerged, his eyes locking onto Lisa with a predatory focus.
• "Run!" Mark shouted, shoving both women ahead of him.
• They sprinted down the narrow service corridor, the sound of Diego's heavy footsteps echoing behind them. Lisa's lungs burned as they rounded a corner, bursting out into the warm Miami night.
• A sleek black car idled at the curb, its engine purring. "Get in!" Mark yelled, fumbling with the keys.
• Lisa dove into the backseat with Elena as Mark jumped behind the wheel. The tires squealed as they peeled away from the curb, just as Diego emerged from the building.
• "What the hell is going on?" Elena demanded, her voice shaking. "Who was that guy?"
• Lisa's mind reeled, struggling to process the night's events. "I don't... I'm not sure. It's complicated."
• Mark's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he navigated the city streets, constantly checking the rearview mirror. "Does this have something to do with Kenneth?"
• The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Lisa closed her eyes, memories of her past with Kenneth threatening to overwhelm her.
• A sudden impact rocked the car, sending them lurching forward. Lisa's eyes flew open to see a menacing black SUV filling the rearview mirror.
• "Hold on!" Mark shouted, swerving sharply to avoid another ram.
• The city blurred around them as Mark weaved through traffic, the SUV in hot pursuit. Lisa's heart pounded in her ears, each turn and near-miss sending a fresh surge of adrenaline through her veins.
• "There!" Elena pointed frantically. "The highway on-ramp!"
• Mark nodded grimly, cutting across two lanes of traffic to make the turn. Horns blared as they shot up the ramp, the SUV still on their tail.
• As they merged onto the highway, Lisa's phone buzzed in her purse. With trembling hands, she fished it out, her breath catching as she saw the caller ID.
• Kenneth.
• Her finger hovered over the screen, torn between answering and hurling the device out the window. What could he possibly say to explain this nightmare?
• "Lisa," Elena's voice was low, urgent. "Whatever's going on, whatever happened between you and Kenneth in the past... you need to tell us. Now."
• The phone continued to buzz insistently in her hand, Kenneth's name flashing like an accusation. Behind them, the SUV was gaining ground, its headlights filling the car with a harsh glare.
• Lisa took a deep breath, and her decision was made. She swiped to answer the call, putting it on speaker.
• "Kenneth," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Start talking. And it better be good, because people are trying to kill us, and I'm pretty sure it's because of you."
• The silence on the other end stretched for a heartbeat before Kenneth's voice came through, tight with tension. "Lisa, I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. But you need to listen carefully. Your lives depend on it."
• As Kenneth began to speak, the SUV behind them suddenly swerved, revealing a second vehicle that had been hidden in its shadow. Lisa's blood ran cold as she recognized the sleek sports car.
• Fiona was behind the wheel, her face visible in the glow of the dashboard, twisted with a mixture of rage and determination.
• The night, it seemed, was far from over.