Chapter 5 - The Shipyard Standoff
The fog rolling off the harbor was thick and freezing cold.
Damon's armored SUV crawled slowly through the maze of rusted shipping containers at Pier 40.
Kate sat in the passenger seat, gripping the door handle until her knuckles turned white.
Matteo and ten heavily armed men followed closely behind in the other two vehicles.
They reached a clearing near the edge of the water.
A black town car was parked under the glow of a flickering streetlamp.
Senator Caldwell stood confidently in front of the car, flanked by six armed mercenaries.
Preston was hiding nervously in the backseat, peering through the tinted glass.
Kate's mother was tied to a wheelchair near the edge of the pier, a gag secured tightly over her mouth.
Damon put the SUV in park and looked over at Kate.
"Stay in the car until I give the signal," Damon instructed softly.
He stepped out into the fog, his long black coat billowing in the wind.
"You brought a lot of firepower for a simple exchange, Damon," the Senator shouted over the crashing waves.
"I don't make exchanges, Senator, I collect debts," Damon replied, walking slowly toward the town car.
The mercenaries raised their assault rifles, aiming them directly at Damon's chest.
"Bring the girl out, or I push the wheelchair into the ocean right now," the Senator threatened.
Kate couldn't wait any longer.
She opened the passenger door and stepped out into the freezing wind.
"I am right here," Kate yelled, her broken arm throbbing fiercely in its sling.
Her mother's eyes widened in sheer panic, shaking her head violently against the gag.
Preston finally stepped out of the town car, a cruel, victorious smile spreading across his face.
"I told you she was nothing but a stupid, loyal dog," Preston mocked.
Damon did not even look at Preston.
He stared directly into the Senator's eyes.
"You should have checked the loyalty of your own men before you insulted mine," Damon whispered.
May you like
Before the Senator could process the words, the lead mercenary turned his rifle around.
He pressed the barrel directly against the Senator's temple.
