Chapter 3 - The Hostage
Clara stared at the phone in absolute horror.
Preston Hale laughed softly before disconnecting the call.
The line went dead, leaving a suffocating silence in the small apartment.
"He has Walter," Clara gasped, dropping the phone onto the counter.
She turned to Damian, her eyes wide with panic.
"I have to go to that warehouse," she said, grabbing her coat.
Damian stepped in front of the door, blocking her path.
"If you walk into that warehouse, you will both die," Damian stated coldly.
"I can't just let an innocent man be murdered because of me," Clara argued, pushing against his chest.
It was like trying to push a stone wall.
"You don't even know who I am," Damian pointed out.
"I don't care who you are, I just need my flash drive back," she demanded.
"My name is Damian Vetti," he said slowly, letting the words hang in the air.
Clara froze, the color draining entirely from her face.
Every person in Chicago knew the Vetti name.
"You're the head of the Italian syndicate," she whispered, taking a step backward.
"Which is why you should listen to me when I tell you how criminals operate," Damian replied.
He pulled his phone out and sent a rapid text message to his tactical team.
"We are going to get your friend back, but we are doing it my way," Damian promised.
He led her down to the armored SUV and drove toward the industrial district.
They parked two blocks away from the abandoned warehouse on 5th Street.
Damian handed Clara a bulletproof vest.
"Put this on and stay in the car," he ordered.
"No, he wants to see me," Clara insisted.
"He wants to kill you," Damian corrected, loading a fresh magazine into his weapon.
Suddenly, the warehouse doors burst open, and bright halogen lights flooded the street.
Walter Bennett was pushed out onto the loading dock, bound to a wooden chair.
Preston Hale stood behind him, pressing a gun to the old man's head.
"I know you're out there, Clara!" Preston yelled into the darkness.
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"Bring me the drive, or I blow his brains out right now!"
Damian raised his gun to take a sniper shot, but a laser sight suddenly danced across his own chest.
