CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX – BACKSTABBER

Carlos led them through a winding maze of backstreets and alleys, his steps sure and confident despite the oppressive gloom that enveloped the deserted neighborhood. Jasmine's nerves were frayed to their limits, every shadow seeming to conceal a potential threat as they ventured deeper into the heart of the projects. Finally, Carlos slowed his pace, coming to a halt before a dilapidated building that stood like a crumbling sentinel at the end of a deserted cul-de-sac. "This is it," he murmured, his gaze sweeping over the boarded-up windows and graffiti-covered facade. "Last place anyone saw Sebastian before he went to ground." Jasmine exchanged a wary glance with Gordon, her instincts screaming in protest. Something didn't feel right about this situation, but they had come too far to turn back now. Steeling her resolve, she followed Carlos and Gordon as they approached the building's entrance, a rusted metal door that hung precariously on its hinges. Carlos reached out, his finger