Chapter 3 - The Traitor Among Us
Callum tackled Sadie to the hardwood floor before the glass had even finished falling.
A second bullet tore through the expensive leather couch, ripping the upholstery to shreds.
Callum dragged Sadie behind the heavy marble kitchen island for cover.
He pulled a matte black pistol from his shoulder holster and checked the chamber.
Sadie was trembling violently, pressing her hands over her ears to block out the sound of the gunfire.
Callum pressed a finger to his lips, demanding absolute silence.
He pulled out his encrypted phone and hit a single speed-dial button.
Within seconds, his trusted lieutenant, Dante, answered the line.
Callum barked a sharp command, ordering an immediate extraction team to the north side safe house.
They waited in terrifying silence for five agonizing minutes.
Finally, the heavy reinforced door of the apartment was kicked open.
Dante rushed into the room flanked by three heavily armed men in tactical gear.
Dante shouted that the perimeter was clear and the sniper had fled the adjacent rooftop.
Callum stood up slowly, keeping his body positioned squarely in front of Sadie.
He asked Dante how the Marcanos could have possibly known about a classified safe house.
Dante shook his head, claiming they must have put a tracker on the SUV during the mugging.
He reached his hand out to help Sadie up from the floor.
As Dante’s cuff slid up his wrist, Sadie froze in pure horror.
Strapped to Dante’s wrist was a heavy, custom-made gold Rolex with a scratched face.
It was the exact same watch worn by the man who had shoved her against the brick wall in the alley.
Sadie looked up and locked eyes with Callum, giving him a desperate, almost imperceptible shake of her head.
Callum did not miss the signal.
He smiled coldly and accepted Dante’s hand instead.
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Callum casually mentioned that it was a good thing the Caravaggio sketch was safely locked in his office vault.
Dante’s eyes flickered with a sudden, betraying flash of confusion and anger.
