“Open the door, or my men will kick it in.”

Alexander’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he looked toward the narrow entryway.

“We have to go,” I whispered, grabbing the hard drive and shoving it deep into my coat pocket.

I grabbed Alexander’s wrist and pulled him toward the back window.

The glass was freezing against my palm as I pushed the frame upward.

Rain poured into the room, instantly soaking the wooden windowsill.

“The fire escape,” I said, gesturing to the black iron platform outside.

Alexander went first, his long legs swinging over the metal ledge.

The iron stairs were slick with grease and cold rainwater.

I climbed out behind him, pulling the window shut just as the front door splintered open inside.

I heard the heavy thud of wood hitting the floorboards.

“Find them!” Marcus yelled from inside the apartment.

A flashlight beam cut through the dark glass of my window, sweeping across the empty kitchen.

“They’re on the fire escape!” a man’s voice shouted from the window.

We scrambled down the wet metal steps, our hands slipping on the cold railings.

My foot slipped on the second landing, but Alexander caught my arm.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered, his grip tight and steady.

The rain blinded me as we reached the bottom ladder.

It was rusted solid, hanging six feet above the dark, trash-filled alleyway.

“Jump,” Alexander said, dropping down into the puddle below.

I let go of the wet iron and fell, landing hard on my knees in the cold water.

Pain shot up my shins, but I stood up anyway and ignored the sting.

We ran down the narrow alley, the sound of shouting voices echoing from the fire escape above us.

The streetlights of the main avenue ahead were dim and blurry through the downpour.

“Where are we going?” Alexander panted, his breath fogging in the cold night air.