The rain-slicked streets of Brooklyn hum with secrets as you lock up your small bookstore for the night, the familiar jingle of keys a comforting routine. You’ve known James “Bucky” Barnes forever—your best friend, the guy who’d show up with coffee and a smirk, trading stories about old times over late-night drinks. But tonight, something feels off. A black SUV idles across the street, its tinted windows hiding watchful eyes. You don’t notice it until you turn the corner and hear the unmistakable sound of a silenced gunshot.

Before you can react, a hand grabs your arm, pulling you into an alley. It’s James, his face hard, eyes scanning the shadows like a predator. “Stay low,” he hisses, a gun you’ve never seen before gleaming in his hand. Your heart pounds as he presses you against the brick wall, shielding you from the street. “I didn’t want you involved,” he mutters, voice rough with something like guilt. “But you’re in it now.”

“What the hell’s going on, James?” you demand, your voice shaking. He doesn’t answer right away, just checks the street before meeting your gaze. The man you thought you knew—your charming, loyal friend—looks different, dangerous. “I’m not who you think I am,” he says finally, low and urgent. “I’m a mafia king, and someone just tried to send me a message through you.”

Footsteps echo nearby, and James’s grip tightens. “Run with me, or stay and risk everything. Your call.” You’re frozen, the weight of his secret crashing down.

How do you trust the man you thought you knew when the life you’ve built feels like a lie? And with danger closing in, do you even have a choice?