Chapter 3 - The Shadow Protocol
Gabriel looked at the four armed men surrounding him. His expression didn't show panic; it showed the terrifying, lethal calm that had earned him his reputation in Chicago two decades ago.
"You always were impatient, Evan," Gabriel said quietly.
"Impatient?" Evan laughed. "I've waited fourteen years!"
"No," Gabriel corrected him. "You were impatient today. You assumed I came here alone."
Gabriel reached into his coat and pressed a small transmitter concealed inside his cuff.
Instantly, the heavy industrial overhead doors at both ends of Warehouse B slammed shut with deafening metallic booms.
The high-intensity halogen floodlights lining the walls clicked on simultaneously, blinding Evan and his men in a surge of white light.
From the high walkways above, Marcus and twelve heavily armed Rowan security operatives lowered their rifles, laser sights dotting the chests of Nolan Pierce and the three mercenaries.
"Drop your weapons!" Marcus’s voice boomed over the warehouse PA system. "Drop them now or you won't leave this floor!"
Nolan Pierce froze, his hands shaking as a red dot centered directly over his heart. He dropped his silenced pistol onto the concrete floor with a heavy clatter.
The three mercenaries immediately raised their hands, dropping their weapons beside Nolan.
Evan stood frozen in the white light, his gun still aimed at Gabriel's chest, his face pale as chalk.
"Put it down, Evan," Gabriel said softly, taking a step toward him.
"I can't do that, Gabriel," Evan whispered, his hand trembling on the grip. "If I put this down, I lose everything."
"You lost everything the moment you traded loyalty for greed," Gabriel said.
Gabriel closed the distance between them in a flash. Before Evan could react, Gabriel slammed his palm against Evan’s wrist, forcing the gun upward as a shot cracked harmlessly into the rafters. In one fluid motion, Gabriel twisted Evan's arm, disarmed him, and forced him to his knees on the cold concrete.
Gabriel stood over his former brother, holding Evan’s gun in his right hand.
Evan looked up, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Shoot me then. Finish it."
Gabriel stared down at him for a long, agonizing moment.
"No," Gabriel said quietly, dropping the gun onto the floor. "Death is too easy for a traitor. You’re going to spend the rest of your life in a federal prison, watching me build the clean legacy you tried so hard to destroy."
Marcus and his men descended the stairs, cuffing Evan, Nolan, and the mercenaries.
As Evan was pulled to his feet, he looked at Gabriel with hollow, defeated eyes. "Who told you? How did you find out about Nolan?"
May you like
Gabriel leaned in close to Evan's ear.
"The maid’s little girl," Gabriel whispered. "The one you never noticed."
