CHAPTER 28 - CODES AND CLUES

The safe house they had found after the alleyway ambush was quiet, almost unnervingly so. Rain had ceased, leaving the city glistening with puddles that reflected neon lights like fractured mirrors. Kira sat at the worn wooden table, the flash drive between them like a small, unassuming key to chaos.

Donovan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching her with an intensity that made her stomach tighten. He had saved her countless times, guided her through ambushes, rooftop chases, and betrayals-but the tension between them was palpable. The storm of desire and distrust from recent encounters still lingered in the air.

Kira exhaled sharply. "We need to find a pattern. There has to be something-something they've overlooked." Her fingers danced across the laptop keyboard, pulling files from the flash drive. Financial records, offshore accounts, coded transactions-everything they had uncovered over weeks of danger.

Donovan leaned over, pointing at a string of numbers. "Look at these," he said. "They're too neat. Too systematic. Someone's using a code."

Kira's eyes narrowed. "A code... embedded in financial records? That's brilliant... and dangerous. If we can crack it, we can see the entire operation. But it's going to take time."

He shrugged. "We don't have time."

Kira shot him a sharp glance. "Time? Donovan, we're already behind. If we don't find a lead soon, the empire will be onto us again."

Donovan's expression softened, though a tension lingered. "I know. That's why we need to do this together. We're both good at different things. You see patterns I miss, and I... well, I can handle the unpredictable."

Kira swallowed, trying to steady her nerves. The adrenaline from the alleyway ambush still made her pulse race. But even as fear lingered, she felt the familiar spark when their eyes met-the unspoken connection that had grown in moments of chaos and danger.

They worked in silence for a while, the glow of the laptop casting long shadows on the walls. Kira's fingers moved over spreadsheets and code, muttering calculations under her breath. Donovan leaned closer, pointing out anomalies she might have overlooked.

Hours passed. The room was tense, yet electric. Every time their hands brushed, every time their eyes met over the glowing screen, there was a jolt-an unspoken acknowledgment of the bond forming between them, fragile yet undeniable.

And then, finally, Kira froze. Her eyes widened as she traced a sequence of transactions, dates, and amounts. "Donovan... I think I found it."

He leaned over, eyes sharp. "Found what?"

She pointed at the screen. "These transactions-they aren't random. They're linked to shell companies. And look at this pattern... it's a map. A trail leading to one of the empire's hidden operations. If we follow it, we can expose the network-everything."

Donovan's eyes glinted with excitement. "Finally. A lead. This could be the break we've been waiting for."

Kira nodded, though a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach. "Yes... but it's dangerous. Whoever controls these accounts knows them inside out. If they realize we're onto them, they won't hesitate to finish what they started."

Donovan leaned back, running a hand through his damp hair. "Danger is kind of our specialty, isn't it?"

Kira couldn't help a small, nervous smile. "You mean surviving death by inches and barely making it out alive?"

He grinned, but it was a thin line masking his own tension. "Exactly that. And now... we have a direction."

For the first time in weeks, Kira allowed herself to feel hope. The flash drive, their calculations, the codes-they had a way forward. A chance to strike at the empire that had shadowed their lives, hunted them relentlessly, and betrayed their trust.

But hope came with a price.

From the window, a shadow flitted across the street below-a subtle, deliberate movement that made Kira freeze. Her pulse quickened. "Donovan... someone's outside."

He was on his feet in an instant, weapon drawn, eyes scanning the street. "They've been tracking us again," he muttered. "They never stop."

Kira felt a shiver of fear, but it was mixed with determination. They had codes to crack, a lead to follow, and secrets to uncover. And despite the tension, despite the danger, the bond between them-fragile, burning, and undeniable-kept her grounded.

Donovan grabbed her hand. "We stick together. Whatever happens, we move as one."

She nodded, squeezing his hand back, the weight of their shared survival pressing between them. They had been through betrayal, near-death experiences, and moments of fragile desire-and now, with the codes cracked, they had a path forward.

But from the shadows, another figure watched, unseen. Silent. Calculating. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Kira's eyes flicked to the window, heart hammering. "Donovan... they're coming."

He tightened his grip, jaw set. "Then we better be ready. This is just the beginning."

The rain had stopped, but the city streets gleamed like polished glass, reflecting neon signs in fractured shards. Kira and Donovan slipped through the alleyways, flash drive in hand, tracing the coded financial trail that might finally expose the empire.

"This way," Donovan whispered, pointing to a nondescript building tucked between towering office blocks. The coordinates from the decoded transactions led here-a shell company, abandoned, but potentially a treasure trove of hidden evidence.

Kira's nerves were taut, every step calculated. "Are you sure this is safe?"

Donovan's grin was lopsided, more daring than reassuring. "Safe? Not really. Necessary? Absolutely."

They entered through a side door, the hinges creaking ominously. Inside, dust and disuse filled the space, but computer terminals and filing cabinets remained, a forgotten archive waiting to be discovered.

Kira dropped to her knees, opening the first cabinet. Files, folders, and hard drives tumbled into her hands. "This is it," she whispered, fingers flying over the contents. "This could be everything."

Donovan joined her, rifling through drawers, occasionally glancing at the windows. "Don't celebrate yet," he warned. "They'll know if we're here soon."

Hours passed as they sifted through documents, decoded messages, and pieced together layers of corruption, bribery, and murder. Every discovery was a revelation, every file a potential bombshell-but also a risk. Whoever had set this up would stop at nothing to protect their empire.

"Look at this," Kira said, holding a ledger open. The numbers revealed secret transfers, offshore accounts, and connections to high-ranking officials. Her heart raced. "If we take this to the authorities... we can bring them down."

Donovan leaned in, eyes narrowing. "Not yet. We need more. We need a smoking gun-a connection that ties the money to the people responsible for the violence."

Kira nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. Each file, each number, each coded message wasn't just evidence-it was a lifeline. And also a target painted on their backs.

Suddenly, a sound made them freeze-a soft click from the stairwell outside. Footsteps. Methodical. Silent. Trained.

"They're here," Donovan whispered, grabbing her hand. "We need to hide. Now."

They ducked behind a row of dusty filing cabinets, breath shallow. Kira's pulse thundered in her ears, adrenaline sharpening every sense. Whoever was coming was not a careless mercenary-they moved with deadly precision.

The door creaked open. A shadow fell across the floor, slowly moving toward the computers. Kira clutched the flash drive tighter, praying they weren't discovered.

Donovan pressed himself against her, whispering, "Stay calm. Trust me."

Her gaze met his, and in that instant, all fear and doubt coiled into something else-a fragile, undeniable bond born from survival and shared danger.

The figure reached for one of the terminals, and a soft curse escaped their lips. They were searching for the same evidence.

Donovan tensed. "We have to move. Follow me."

They bolted, sliding across the wet floor, hearts pounding. The intruder reacted instantly, raising a weapon-but Donovan was faster. He tackled the figure to the ground, wrestling the gun away in a flash of muscle and instinct.

Kira scrambled to grab files, scanning for anything crucial. Her eyes fell on a folder labeled with her worst fear: "Donovan-Family Connections."

Her stomach twisted. This wasn't just evidence of the empire's crimes-it was personal. Donovan's father, his family, the secrets he had hidden... all detailed here.

Donovan rolled off the intruder, breath heaving. "We need to go, now. Take whatever you can!"

Kira snatched the folder, flash drive, and a few hard drives. Their escape was immediate, sprinting into the stormy streets, sirens wailing in the distance.

As they reached a darkened alley to regroup, Kira's hand trembled. "Donovan... this... this changes everything. Your family..."

He looked at her, eyes dark and stormy. "I know. But we use it. Every secret, every lie, every connection-they become weapons against them. That's how we win."

Kira nodded, fear and determination battling within her. They had a lead-a smoking gun-but the danger was escalating faster than ever.

From a rooftop above, a shadow shifted. A sniper. A mercenary. Someone who had been watching them all along.

Kira's heart leapt into her throat. "Donovan... they're here. Again."

He grabbed her hand, voice low and urgent. "Then we move fast. No mistakes. One wrong step and-"

The shot rang out, cutting through the night. Sparks flew from the alley wall beside them. Kira's body jolted. Donovan yanked her down behind a dumpster.

She pressed herself against him, breath ragged. "We're not safe anywhere," she whispered.

"No," he admitted, jaw tight. "But we're closer than ever to ending this. To taking them down. Together."

Kira's gaze fell on the folder, the flash drive-evidence that could expose everything. But the realization struck her cold: even with this lead, even with the codes cracked, the empire's reach was vast, and one misstep could destroy them both.

From above, the shadow shifted again, and Kira knew, with a sinking certainty, that the next move wouldn't just test their strategy-it would test their trust, their bond, and their very survival.

CHAPTER 29 - SHADOWS OF THE PAST

The city lights shimmered across rain-soaked streets as Kira and Donovan drove in tense silence. The folder Donovan had clutched from the abandoned office weighed heavily in his lap, each page a reminder of the family he had tried to escape and the empire he had fought against for years.

Kira stole glances at him, noting the tight line of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders, the storm behind his eyes. She knew him-or thought she did-but tonight, Donovan was a man facing ghosts that she couldn't yet touch.

"You've never told me... everything," Kira said cautiously, breaking the silence.

Donovan's hands tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles white. "There are things I wanted to forget. Things I had to hide. You think my father's empire is dangerous? You have no idea what it took to survive growing up in it."

Kira's curiosity pricked, mixed with apprehension. "Then tell me. I need to know. If we're going to survive this, I need to understand the man I'm standing beside."

He exhaled sharply, staring out at the rain-slick streets. "Fine. But this... it's not pretty. My father... he's ruthless. Not just in business. People disappear, records vanish, money moves across continents without a trace. I was raised knowing I could never fully trust anyone-family included."

Kira's chest tightened. "And you trusted me?"

A faint, almost bitter smile tugged at Donovan's lips. "I want to. But trusting is a luxury I never had. And now... we're dealing with the consequences of that life."

He paused, voice dropping. "This folder... it's proof of everything. The transactions, the killings, the political bribes. But there's something else-something personal. Names I hoped I'd never see again. People I thought were gone."

Kira swallowed hard. "Donovan... what are you saying?"

He finally met her gaze, eyes dark with conflicted emotions. "Some of these people... are my family. My father's people. And some... are people I trusted as friends. People who betrayed me. They've been manipulating events around us for years, and I... I didn't even realize it until now."

Kira reached for his hand, placing a reassuring touch. "Then we face it. Together. You don't have to fight alone anymore."

He exhaled, his breath trembling slightly, and nodded. "Together. But there's more. Some of the secrets in this folder... they're about me. About things I've done to survive. Things I'm not proud of."

Her stomach twisted. "Donovan... whatever it is, we deal with it. Right now, we need to focus on the empire. On bringing them down."

He gave a bitter laugh. "It's never just the empire. It's always personal. And the past... the past is catching up."

The car fell silent again, but the weight of the revelation hung between them. Every streetlight cast shadows, every rain-slicked surface reflected memories Donovan had tried to bury. And as they drove deeper into the night, Kira realized the man she was with was both a warrior and a victim-a man haunted by his own history.

Finally, Donovan pulled over to the side of the road. The folder sat on the seat between them, a tangible reminder of the mission and the personal demons it had unleashed.

Kira's heart pounded. "What is it? What's so personal?"

He opened the folder, flipping to a page filled with names, dates, and coded messages. His fingers hovered over a single entry. "This... this is someone I should have stopped years ago. Someone I trusted with my life. And now, they're alive. They're part of the empire. And they know I'm coming for them."

Kira's pulse raced. "Donovan... that's dangerous. If they know you, they'll anticipate every move."

He nodded grimly. "I know. That's why I need to confront this past, but I can't do it alone. Not anymore."

A sudden noise made both of them tense-the unmistakable click of a gun cocking from the shadows. Kira's breath hitched.

"Donovan..." she whispered, pressing against him.

From the darkness of the street, a figure stepped forward, weapon raised. The dim light reflected off a familiar face-someone Donovan had once trusted, someone whose betrayal had been buried in his memories until now.

Donovan froze, recognition flashing across his features. "No... it can't be."

The figure's lips curled into a cold smile. "Oh, but it can," they said. "And now... it's time to settle old scores."

Kira's stomach dropped. Their fragile alliance, their fight against the empire, the personal ghosts Donovan had tried to outrun-all converged in this moment.

She glanced at Donovan, whose expression hardened. "We face it. Together."

The figure raised the weapon higher, and Donovan's instincts kicked in. He stepped in front of Kira, every muscle coiled, ready to protect her-but also aware that the past he had run from was now stepping into the present with lethal intent.

The figure in the shadows didn't move, but their presence was heavy, almost suffocating. Donovan's jaw tightened as recognition burned in his eyes. Someone he had trusted-someone who had once called themselves a friend-now held a gun pointed directly at them.

"Kira... stay behind me," Donovan ordered, voice low but unwavering.

Kira's heart pounded. She trusted him-but the fear in her chest was real. The weight of past betrayals, the relentless chase, and now this personal confrontation made her stomach churn. She pressed close to him, feeling the solid reassurance of his presence.

The figure's cold smile didn't waver. "Donovan... it's been a long time," they said, voice dripping with venom. "Funny how the past always catches up. And you... you've been running from me for years."

Donovan's hand tightened around the folder, then slowly shifted toward the flash drive in his pocket. "I didn't run," he said evenly. "I survived. And now, I end this."

The stranger laughed softly. "End it? You have no idea what's coming. The empire isn't just my father's doing-it's ours. And you-" they pointed the gun with precision, "-you've been meddling in things far beyond your reckoning."

Kira swallowed hard, eyes darting between them. "Donovan... what do we do?"

He took a deep breath, weighing the moment. "We fight. We have to. No hesitation. Not now."

Suddenly, the figure lunged, weapon raised. Donovan reacted instantly, pushing Kira behind him and drawing his own gun in a swift, practiced motion. Shots rang out, echoing against the rain-slicked street.

Kira ducked, her pulse racing, adrenaline igniting every nerve. She grabbed a loose pipe from the ground, ready to defend herself, but she knew her only advantage was staying alive and trusting Donovan to guide them through.

The stranger's movements were precise, trained-each step, each shot calculated. Donovan countered with equal skill, the chaos a deadly dance that tested every ounce of his reflexes.

"You've changed," the stranger sneered. "Not enough, though. You're still the same reckless fool."

Donovan's teeth gritted. "And you're still a coward hiding behind your father's empire."

A loud crash rang out as Donovan disarmed the figure, forcing them back against the wall. Kira's heart leapt. But the reprieve was short-lived. The intruder rolled, retrieving a concealed pistol from their coat, and fired again.

Donovan dove, tackling Kira to the ground, the bullet shattering glass inches from them. Rain and debris fell around them as the street became a battlefield.

Kira's breath came in sharp gasps. "Donovan... we can't keep running like this forever."

He pressed a finger to her lips, voice grim. "We're not. But the past... it's catching up. And right now, it's stronger than ever."

The intruder lunged again, and Donovan responded with a precise strike, disarming them once more. Kira felt a surge of fear, awe, and something deeper-a complicated mix of admiration and attraction. They had faced death together countless times, but now, it was personal.

The intruder smirked, blood trickling from a cut on their forehead. "You think you've won? You've only begun. The empire, Donovan... it's bigger than you imagine. And I've been waiting for this moment-your reckoning."

Donovan's gaze hardened, jaw set. "Then we'll finish it tonight. No more running. No more secrets."

Kira's fingers tightened around the folder and flash drive. "We do this... together."

Donovan nodded, their hands brushing instinctively. "Together."

From the shadows, another movement caught Kira's eye-more figures emerging, silhouettes against the dim city lights. Reinforcements. The empire was mobilizing, aware of their presence, ready to strike.

Kira's stomach dropped. "Donovan... there are more of them."

He exhaled sharply. "Then we make our stand. Whatever it takes."

The intruder raised their weapon again, and Donovan stepped forward, shielding Kira, eyes blazing with determination.

In that moment, Kira realized the fight wasn't just about survival. It was about confronting the past, facing betrayals, and trusting each other with everything-even their lives.

And as the first shots rang out into the night, she knew one thing for certain: the shadows of the past weren't done with them yet.

CHAPTER 30 - THE IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE

The city was a labyrinth of shadows, its streets slick with recent rain. Neon reflections flickered across puddles as Kira and Donovan sprinted through alleyways, hearts hammering. The intruder from Donovan's past had been neutralized-for now-but the empire's reach was relentless. Every step forward felt like stepping deeper into a trap.

Kira clutched the flash drive tightly, her knuckles white. "Donovan... how do we keep doing this? Every time we think we're safe, they come back stronger."

Donovan's jaw tightened. "Because running isn't an option anymore. The empire won't stop. And neither can we."

They turned a corner, narrowly avoiding a patrol of heavily armed mercenaries. Kira stumbled, adrenaline and exhaustion colliding in a chaotic rush. Donovan grabbed her arm, steadying her, and they pressed against the wall, holding their breath as the patrol passed.

"This isn't just a chase anymore," Kira whispered. "They're hunting us."

He nodded, eyes scanning the streets ahead. "Exactly. And we need to make them think they've lost us completely."

Kira's stomach knotted. "How?"

Donovan's lips curved into a grim smile. "Improvisation. Chaos. The things they won't expect."

They ducked into a narrow side street, shadows enveloping them. Donovan gestured to a fire escape above. "We split up for a minute. Draw attention away from the trail. It's risky, but the only way we escape tonight."

Kira hesitated. "Split? Are you insane? We can't-"

"Trust me," Donovan interrupted. His eyes softened for a moment, the unspoken bond between them palpable. "I'll find you. Always."

Her breath caught, and she nodded reluctantly. They scaled the fire escape, each movement precise but fueled by adrenaline. Donovan provided cover as Kira reached the rooftop, then vanished into the shadows below, drawing pursuers away from her.

Kira crouched on the roof, heart pounding, scanning the streets below. She watched as Donovan moved like a phantom, using the environment to mislead and confuse the mercenaries. The city became their chessboard, each maneuver calculated to stay one step ahead of death.

Minutes felt like hours. Kira's mind raced-not just with strategy, but with fear. Each sound, each shadow, could be the end. She gripped the flash drive tighter, reminding herself why they were risking everything. Exposing the empire, taking down the corruption-it was worth every second of terror.

From below, a sudden explosion erupted. Smoke and fire filled the narrow streets, sending the mercenaries into disarray. Kira's pulse leapt. Donovan had set the distraction. She allowed herself a fleeting surge of hope.

Then she heard it-a soft, deliberate step from behind. She spun, heart in her throat, to find a silhouette moving silently across the roof. Not one of the mercenaries she expected.

Kira's breath caught. "Who-?"

Before she could react, the figure lunged, knocking her off balance. She stumbled dangerously close to the edge, rain-slick tiles making her footing treacherous.

"Hold on!" Donovan's voice rang out from the shadows. In a blur, he grabbed her, pulling her to safety just as she slipped.

Kira's chest heaved, adrenaline and relief mixing in a dizzying rush. "Donovan... you can't keep risking yourself like this!"

He held her close, gaze intense. "I won't let them take you. Not you. Not now. Not ever."

Her stomach tightened, both from fear and something deeper-desire, connection, the unspoken bond forged through danger and survival. But there was no time for sentiment. The shadowed figure on the roof wasn't their only problem.

From the streets below, sirens wailed. Another patrol had been alerted. The empire's reach was tightening, and their escape window was shrinking.

"We need to move-now!" Donovan said, his grip firm.

They leapt across rooftops, slipping through shadows, rain soaking them to the bone. Each jump, each narrow ledge, was a gamble. Kira's muscles screamed with effort, her heart pounding not just from exertion, but from the unrelenting danger surrounding them.

Finally, they reached a narrow alley leading to a hidden passage Donovan had memorized months ago-a secret route used by his father's company, long abandoned but still intact.

"This way," he urged, motioning her forward.

Kira followed, adrenaline keeping her moving despite exhaustion. The passage twisted and turned, dark and claustrophobic, but it offered cover, a brief reprieve from the relentless pursuit.

As they emerged into an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Kira sank to the floor, shaking. "I don't know how we keep surviving this."

Donovan knelt beside her, brushing wet hair from her face. "Because we have to. And because we work together. Always."

She looked into his eyes, seeing not just the fierce determination, but the vulnerability, the weight of secrets, the man behind the hero. For a fleeting moment, the world outside didn't exist-just them, just survival, just trust.

But outside the warehouse, headlights appeared. Too many, too organized. Their pursuers had found the trail again.

Kira's pulse spiked. "Donovan... they're here. They know where we are!"

He rose, scanning the perimeter, weapon ready. "Then it's not over. Not by a long shot."

From the shadows, a new figure emerged-one they hadn't seen before, and whose presence sent a chill down Kira's spine. Someone with authority, someone with the power to change everything.

Donovan's eyes narrowed. "This... this changes everything."

Kira's breath caught. Their impossible escape was only the beginning.

The abandoned warehouse was silent except for the sound of dripping water and their ragged breaths. Kira pressed herself against the cold concrete wall, heart hammering, adrenaline still roaring in her veins. Donovan scanned every shadow, every corner, his gun drawn, senses stretched to the limit.

"They brought someone new," he muttered, voice low but tense. "Someone in charge. Whoever this is... they're not here to play games."

Kira swallowed hard. "Do we run? Or fight?"

Donovan's eyes narrowed. "We survive. By any means necessary. That's step one. Step two... take the fight to them."

Before they could plan further, a heavy metallic clatter echoed from the roof. Kira's heart leapt. Footsteps. They were closing in-from above.

"Rooftop exit," Donovan whispered, pointing toward a rickety stairwell leading to the top. "We go up. Fast."

They sprinted, water-slick floors threatening to betray every step. Kira's shoes slipped once, twice, but Donovan's steadying hand kept her upright. The warehouse seemed to stretch on endlessly, a maze of shadows, debris, and hidden danger.

At the rooftop, rain lashed against their faces, cold and blinding. The city below sprawled like a sea of lights, but their focus was narrow: escape.

"Here," Donovan said, pointing toward an adjacent roof, lower but reachable with a leap. "One jump. We can do this."

Kira's stomach churned. "It's impossible!"

"Impossible is my specialty," Donovan shot back, a flicker of his usual smirk cutting through the tension. "Now-on my mark. Three... two... one..."

They leapt together, hearts in their throats, landing hard on the lower rooftop. Kira stumbled but caught herself, Donovan steadying her instantly.

From above, gunfire erupted. Bullets ricocheted off the rooftop near their feet, sending shards of stone flying. Donovan pushed Kira behind a low wall. "We're not done yet. Follow me!"

They darted across rooftops, each jump more perilous than the last. Below, city traffic blurred by; above, the storm continued to roar. But the danger wasn't just the environment-it was the relentless empire forces, closing in from all sides.

Finally, they reached a narrow fire escape leading down to a dimly lit street. Donovan hesitated, eyes scanning the road. "We make it to that alley. It's narrow enough they can't flank us all at once. That's our best shot."

Kira nodded, trying to steady her racing heart. "Let's go."

As they descended, a shadow detached itself from the darkness-a figure tall, imposing, moving with lethal precision. Kira's breath caught. This wasn't just a mercenary. This was someone orchestrating everything: the empire's enforcer, the one whose arrival changed the rules of survival.

Donovan's jaw tightened. "We can't let them catch us now. Not after everything."

They raced down the alley, footsteps splashing through puddles. Behind them, heavy boots followed, relentless.

Suddenly, a truck screeched into the alley, blocking their path. Kira froze. Donovan grabbed her arm. "Jump!"

Without hesitation, they vaulted over the hood, sliding under the truck just as bullets tore through the metal above. Sparks rained down around them, and Kira pressed herself flat, lungs burning, body trembling.

"This... this is insane," she gasped.

Donovan's eyes blazed with determination. "Insane is how we survive. Now move!"

They crawled under the truck to the other side, emerging into the narrow side street. But as they looked back, they saw it: the shadowed figure atop the alley roof, watching, waiting, calculating.

Kira's stomach dropped. "They're still following. They're everywhere."

Donovan reached for her hand, gripping it tight. "Then we keep moving. We'll disappear... but we'll come back stronger. Together."

The city lights flickered as thunder rolled above. Kira felt the weight of exhaustion, fear, and the unspoken attraction that had grown between them over weeks of chaos. Survival was no longer enough-they had to win. And to win, they had to risk everything.

From the shadows, the figure made a slow, deliberate move, disappearing into the night-but leaving a chilling message: the empire knew exactly where they were, and their hunt had only just begun.

Kira's heart pounded. "Donovan... what do we do now?"

He squeezed her hand, voice grim and steady. "Now... we prepare for the impossible. Because this isn't over. Not by a long shot."