Chapter 4 - The Ghost from the Past
The man leading the Syndicate cleaners stepped forward into the dim light of the tunnel.
He carried a silver-tipped cane, leaning heavily on it as he walked with a pronounced limp.
My blood turned to absolute ice in my veins.
It was Silas, my former mentor and the man who had taught me everything about the criminal underworld.
I had personally watched him die of a heart attack five years ago in a private hospital room.
You look like you have just seen a ghost, Julian.
Silas smiled, revealing a row of perfectly white, terrifying teeth.
I slowly raised my pistol, keeping myself positioned between the gunmen and the women.
You have been running the Syndicate from the shadows this entire time.
Silas nodded gracefully, completely ignoring the weapon pointed at his chest.
I had to fake my death to ensure the federal government stopped investigating my assets.
I handed the empire over to you because I thought you had the stomach to lead it properly.
He pointed his silver cane directly at Grace.
But you allowed a mere housewife to steal the most valuable asset this organization has ever possessed.
I frowned, completely confused by his statement.
Elena was just my wife, Silas.
She possessed absolutely nothing of value to the Syndicate.
Silas let out a harsh, mocking laugh that echoed terribly through the concrete tunnel.
Elena did not run away because she was afraid of you, you foolish boy.
She ran away because she stole the encrypted ledger containing the identities of every corrupt politician in North America.
She knew we would kill her for it, so she staged the car crash to disappear permanently.
I looked back at Grace, my entire reality fracturing into a million pieces.
Grace refused to meet my eyes, clutching Amara tightly against her chest.
Silas gestured to his heavily armed men.
Kill the traitor and bring the maid and the child to me.
Before the men could raise their weapons, a blinding flashbang grenade rolled directly between their feet.
May you like
The tunnel erupted in a deafening explosion of white light and agonizing sound.
Someone hidden in the dark shadows above us had just declared war on the Syndicate.
