Chapter 2 - The Ambush
The blinking red light of the tracker illuminated the dark grease on Daniel's hands.
He had been entirely set up by the man who dropped off the motorcycle two days ago.
Elias Thorne was the most ruthless and powerful crime syndicate boss in the entire state.
Daniel knew that if Elias was involved, this was no longer a simple fight for survival.
The gunman stepped closer to the motorcycle, his heavy boots crunching on the concrete floor.
Daniel frantically looked around for anything he could use as a weapon.
His eyes locked onto a highly pressurized acetylene torch tank resting near the welding station.
He reached out and silently opened the main gas valve to maximum capacity.
The heavy, distinct smell of highly flammable gas quickly filled the suffocating air of the garage.
Daniel grabbed a small metal spark striker from the floor and prepared to make a desperate move.
The gunman rounded the corner of the motorcycle, aiming the suppressed rifle directly at Daniel's head.
Daniel squeezed the spark striker, sending a bright shower of sparks directly into the concentrated gas cloud.
A massive, deafening explosion violently blew the entire roof off the welding station.
The concussive force threw the gunman completely across the garage, slamming him into a brick wall.
Daniel shielded his face from the intense heat and sprinted toward the shattered back window.
He dove through the broken glass, tumbling out into the dark, rain-soaked alleyway.
He did not stop running until his lungs burned and his legs felt like heavy lead.
He navigated the dark, twisting streets of the industrial district to reach the only person he could trust.
Sarah was a disgraced former police detective who had been fired for investigating Elias Thorne.
Daniel pounded frantically on the peeling wooden door of her cheap apartment.
She answered the door holding a silver revolver, her eyes wide with sleep and absolute suspicion.
Daniel pushed past her, completely exhausted and covered in dark soot and fresh blood.
He told her that Elias Thorne had finally found the ledger and was actively trying to kill him.
Sarah locked the heavy deadbolt and quickly pulled the curtains shut across the dirty windows.
She demanded to know why Daniel had kept the dangerous ledger hidden for ten entire years.
Daniel explained that he needed undeniable proof to destroy the men who murdered his father.
Sarah walked over to her computer and plugged in a secure, encrypted police scanner.
The radio traffic was absolutely chaotic, confirming a massive fire at Daniel's repair shop.
But the dispatcher was not calling for the fire department or paramedics.
The dispatcher calmly ordered all corrupt precinct units to shoot Daniel on sight.
Sarah looked at Daniel with absolute, unadulterated terror in her eyes.
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She whispered that they had to leave the city immediately before the police locked down the borders.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door of her apartment splintered violently as a battering ram smashed into it.
