Chapter 11
The massive, heavily fortified Roswell estate hummed with a quiet, lethal energy as night fell. The bright, cinematic lighting inside the mansion stood in stark contrast to the darkness gathering outside the perimeter walls. Damon Roswell had activated the full defensive capabilities of his syndicate. Over a hundred heavily armed soldiers, dressed in immaculate, professional suits, secured every entrance and monitored the comprehensive camera network.
Damon sat in his private study, the heavy mahogany desk covered in encrypted tablets and communication devices. Marcus stood across from him, his face tight with tension.
"The blackout protocols are complete, Boss," Marcus reported, his American accent sharp. "The inventory is secured in the secondary locations, and the financial ledgers are off the grid. If the Suttons send the FBI, they will find nothing but empty warehouses."
"They won't send the FBI tonight," Damon said, his deep voice a low, vibrating rumble of absolute certainty. "Judge Sutton is a coward who fights with paperwork. He knows if he strikes officially, he exposes his own corruption. He will use a proxy."
"A proxy?" Marcus asked, frowning.
"He will hire an outside element," Damon calculated, his handsome, fair face carved into a mask of pure, sociopathic detachment. "Someone deniable. He wants me assassinated so he can claim the alliance was broken by a rival syndicate, keeping his hands clean."
Before Marcus could respond, the encrypted satellite phone on Damon's desk buzzed violently. Damon picked it up, noting the caller ID was blank. He answered without speaking.
"Mr. Roswell," a smooth, distorted voice echoed from the speaker. "I represent a coalition of independent contractors. We have just received a very lucrative contract targeting you and your estate."
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Damon’s jaw locked tight. "Who is funding it?"
"The client is irrelevant," the voice replied calmly. "What is relevant is that we are currently surrounding your perimeter. You have an impressive security force, but my men are professionals. If we breach, it will be a bloodbath. However, we are businessmen. We are offering you a counter-proposal."
