Chapter 6 - The Setup
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a graveyard of rusted ship
ping containers and towering cranes, battered by the midnight rain. The fog rolled in thick off the East River, turning the streetlights into hazy, jaundiced halos.
Eleanor stood in the center of Pier 44, the freezing rain slicking her hair to her face. She held a metallic briefcase in her left hand. High above, nestled in the catwalk of a decommissioned crane, Jax was a phantom, his eye pressed to the scope of a high-powered sniper rifle.
“Three SUVs approaching from the south,” Jax whispered in her ear. “He didn’t come alone. I count twelve tangos. Heavily armed. This is an execution squad, El.”
"Hold your fire until I have eyes on Leo," Eleanor replied softly.
The SUVs screeched to a halt, their high beams blinding her. The doors opened in unison, and armed mercenaries fanned out, forming a perimeter.
From the center vehicle stepped Marcus. He held an umbrella over his head, dressed in an immaculate Italian suit, looking entirely out of place in the grim industrial yard.
"Eleanor," Marcus called out, his voice echoing over the sound of the rain. "I'm so glad you're safe. Give me the briefcase with the offshore transfer codes, and we can make this whole Senator Hayes misunderstanding go away."
"Cut the act, Marcus," Eleanor shouted back. "I know about Red Velvet LLC. I know about Richard. And I know about my son. Where is he?"
Marcus stopped. The facade of the dutiful assistant melted away, replaced by a cold, arrogant smirk. He snapped his fingers.
May you like
The trunk of the third SUV opened. Two mercenaries dragged out a figure with a black hood over his head. The figure was small, clearly a teenager, his hands bound with zip ties.
Eleanor’s breath hitched. Seven years. Leo.
