Chapter 16
Pier 42 was a desolate, freezing expanse of rusted metal and shipping containers. The dark, oily water of the harbor lapped aggressively against the concrete pilings. Richard paced nervously inside a dimly lit warehouse, shivering in his expensive, ruined overcoat.
"They should have called by now," Richard muttered, checking his burner phone for the dozenth time. "Heloise said the deed was signed. Why haven't they called?"
A heavily armed cartel lieutenant stepped out from the shadows, his face scarred and impatient. "Your sister is a liability, Richard. And if your hitmen failed, Don Roman will not be pleased. You owe us fifty million dollars."
"They didn't fail!" Richard squeaked, his rosy skin pale with terror. "Aldric is soft! He’s just a CEO! They probably already have the deed!"
Suddenly, the heavy steel rolling doors of the warehouse blew inward with a catastrophic, deafening explosion.
Smoke and fire billowed into the cavernous space. Richard screamed, diving behind a wooden crate. The cartel lieutenant raised his automatic weapon, but before he could fire a single round, a specialized sniper shot from the darkness outside dropped him instantly to the concrete floor.
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Aldric stepped through the smoke, flanked by six of his elite tactical operators. He looked like a god of war, his face completely devoid of mercy.
"Richard," Aldric’s voice boomed through the warehouse, echoing off the metal walls with terrifying authority. "Did you really think you could send armed men into the house where my daughter sleeps, and live to see the sunrise?"
