Chapter 14 - Blood in the Breakers
Clara burst through the heavy iron exit doors of the prison, the cold autumn rain lashing against her face. She sprinted toward the black SUV idling near the perimeter fence, tearing the passenger door open.
"Drive!" she screamed at Marcus. "We need to get back to the boys right now!"
Marcus slammed his foot on the accelerator, sending gravel spraying across the perimeter road. "What did she say?"
"It wasn't Eleanor!" Clara gasped, fighting for breath as the rain battered the windshield. "There’s someone else—a syndicate called the Kraken Consortium. Julian stole something called the Black Ledger. They think I have it! Marcus, who was Julian’s naval mentor? Who trained him?"
Marcus’s face instantly drained of all color. The SUV swerved slightly before he jerked the wheel straight. "No. That's impossible. He died five years ago in an explosion off the coast of Tripoli."
"Who, Marcus?!"
"Captain Vance senior's former commander... Admiral Victor Reyes," Marcus choked out. "The man who practically built the Navy SEAL tactical maritime division before disappearing into private corporate contracting. If Reyes is alive... and working for the Consortium..."
Marcus didn't finish the sentence. He slammed his hand against the dashboard console, dialing the encrypted satellite phone connected to the safehouse where Toby was guarding his baby brother under the watch of Marcus’s most trusted private security contractor.
The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.
Then, a harsh click.
A heavy, calm breathing echoed over the speaker. It wasn't the security guard.
"Marcus," a low, gravelly voice resonated through the car, carrying the chilling cadence of a seasoned executioner. "You always were slow on the draw. You left two very valuable assets unprotected in the woods."
"Reyes!" Marcus roared, his veins bulging in his neck. "Touch those kids and I swear to God I will skin you alive!"
"The boy is resilient," Reyes replied calmly, over the sound of wind and breaking surf. "He fought back. Stabbed my lead scout in the thigh with a kitchen paring knife. Quite the little warrior Julian raised. But they belong to the Consortium now."
"Where are they?!" Clara screamed, lunging across the console toward the speaker. "Give me my babies! Take me! Take whatever Julian hid, just don't hurt them!"
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"The offshore coordinates in the wax seal, Clara," Reyes said coldly. "You have three hours before high tide. Bring the cryptographic key Julian gave you to the decommissioned lighthouse at Dead Man’s Shoal. Come alone with Marcus. If I see a single federal cutter or helicopter in the sky... I toss the baby into the Atlantic, and let the nine-year-old watch him sink."
The line went dead.
