The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 9: Cops
Chapter 49
The night was colder than expected.
Elijah adjusted his mask, glancing over at Lucas, who sat beside him on a rooftop overlooking the orphanage.
From this height, the place looked the same as it always did—worn down, its once-bright walls faded with time, the gate rusting, and the swings creaking slightly with the wind.
It was supposed to be a home, a sanctuary, but tonight, it was a battleground in waiting.
Lucas exhaled sharply, his breath visible in the night air. "You didn’t have to do all this, you know."
Elijah turned his gaze toward him. "You already know my answer."
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. ’We look out for each other.’ But still... this place means everything to me. I don’t know if I ever told you that."
Elijah leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "You did. Maybe not with words, but I always knew."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
They both watched the orphanage below, where dim lights flickered from the windows.
The kids inside had no idea of the storm that was brewing just beyond those doors.
Lucas sighed. "I thought I had more time.
I thought I could fix things before it got this bad.
But they came fast—too fast.
And now, my mom is in the hospital, the police are ready to take the kids away, and a damn gang is circling like vultures.
I keep thinking... what if I had been stronger? What if I had more money? What if I—"
"What ifs don’t matter." Elijah cut him off. "We deal with what’s in front of us. And right now, what’s in front of us are those fake cops and those bastards lurking around."
Lucas’s hands tightened into fists. "Yeah... you’re right. And I mean it, Elijah. Thank you. If I make it through this, I owe you everything."
Elijah smirked behind his mask. "Then you better make it through. Because if you die, who am I supposed to call an idiot?"
Lucas let out a dry laugh, nodding as he cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Let’s do this."
Down below, two police officers stood beside a sleek black car, parked casually near the entrance of the run-down orphanage.
The streetlights flickered, casting long shadows that stretched across the cracked pavement.
Their eyes constantly scanned the area, waiting.
Watching.
A truck was supposed to arrive soon. One that would take the kids away.
But their stance—the way they leaned against the vehicle, the lack of real tension in their posture—gave them away.
They weren’t real cops.
They were gangsters in uniform.
Across the street, barely visible under the dim glow of a flickering neon sign, a group of shadowy figures loitered near an alleyway.
They pretended to be nothing more than drunks or lowlifes hanging around, but Kai, Jack, and Tristan knew better.
They had been in this game long enough to recognize that kind of patience.
Those were gang scouts.
They weren’t just here for fun.
They were waiting—for something.
Kai adjusted his gloves, taking a slow breath.
His blue eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered to Jack and Tristan.
They didn’t need words. They already knew what needed to be done.
The three of them moved.
They strode toward the officers, their footsteps light but purposeful.
Kai reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick envelope, tapping it lightly against his palm. His approach was smooth, his voice even smoother.
"Evening, officers," he said, offering an easygoing smirk. "Seems like a cold night to be standing around doing nothing."
One of the fake cops turned, his dark eyes narrowing as they landed on Kai. "Move along."
Kai smirked, shaking the envelope. "Come on, no need to act all official. We both know you’re not here because you care about the kids inside." His tone dropped just slightly, hinting at the unspoken truth. "So why don’t we make this easy? You take this..." He wiggled the envelope, his smirk widening. "...and you forget this place exists for the next few hours."
The officer stared at the envelope. His fingers twitched, just slightly. But he didn’t reach for it.
"We don’t take bribes," he said.
Jack scoffed, crossing his arms. "You don’t take bribes, but you do take orders from the Stray Dogs."
The moment the words left Jack’s mouth, the air changed.
The so-called officers went rigid, their bodies tensing in an instant. Their hands shifted subtly, creeping toward their belts.
Where their weapons were holstered.
Tristan muttered under his breath. "They’re not just gang members. They’re from the Stray Dogs."
Kai’s smirk faded. His mind raced.
This wasn’t just a problem—it was a disaster.
Kai just wanted to see if these guys were Stray Dogs,
They weren’t watching.
They were waiting.
A long, tense silence stretched between them.
Then, Kai moved.
Fast.
He lunged, aiming to knock out the first officer before he could react.
But the officer was faster.
The fake cop twisted out of the way, his movements sharp—too sharp for someone pretending to be a cop.
His grip locked around Kai’s wrist mid-strike, yanking him forward as he slammed a sharp knee toward Kai’s stomach.
Kai barely dodged to the side, twisting free, but the second officer had already shifted into a stance.
Jack and Tristan moved instantly.
Tristan lunged at the second cop, his fist flying forward in a brutal hook.
The officer reacted on instinct, raising his arm to block, but Tristan’s strength sent him stumbling back, boots skidding against the pavement.
Jack was already on the first officer, his movements precise.
A quick feint left, then a sharp elbow aimed at the man’s ribs.
But these weren’t just gang members.
They were trained.
The officer took the hit but recovered fast, retaliating with a sharp punch that grazed Jack’s cheek.
The fight was escalating.
Fast.
And the worst part?
From the rooftop, Elijah and Lucas watched in silence. Hidden in the darkness.
They had the high ground, the advantage of surprise.
But right now, that advantage was slipping away.
Lucas exhaled sharply, his fists clenched. "They called backup."
Elijah’s red eyes glowed faintly under the moonlight, a quiet, controlled fury burning within them.
He knew what that meant.
The plan was ruined.
They had minutes.
Maybe less.
Elijah didn’t hesitate. "We move now. Get the kids out before this turns into a full-on war."
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. But we’re not leaving without Kai and the others."
Elijah didn’t argue.
They couldn’t fight the Stray Dogs head-on—not yet.
But they didn’t need to fight.
They just needed to survive.
