Page 92 of Abundance of Obsession

“Everyone’s in position,” Theo confirms.

“What time is it?” Ryker asks.

“Almost ten. Which container?”

“We don’t know,” I say. “Just that it has to be seized before it sails.”

“Let’s go,” Ryker says, and the three of us get out.

Before I set off, I grab the sniper rifle and machine gun from the back seat. Better to have too much than to regret it. We enter the maze of containers, each going a different way. We set our positions earlier, as well as the positions of each of our men.

From now on, we’ll communicate only through our headsets.

I find my container, climb onto it, and crawl to the edge.

Something’s wrong here.

I feel it.

It’s quiet. Too quiet. Not a soul in sight.

As soon as that thought crosses my mind, the sound of engines reaches my ears.

The lights of black SUVs pierce the night entering the compound. One… two… three… They move in perfect unison, according to the plan.

SUVs come to a stop in the middle of the open area in front of the containers. No one opens the doors or gets out. Then four military trucks drive in behind them.

“Veirix,” Ryker whispers. I can see his smile in my mind.

The trucks stop too and Veirix’s men pour out of them, one after another. They turn the area black as they scatter across the square.

“Eight from each.” Ryker counts the enemies. “Thirty-two total, plus the SUVs.”

Holy shit.

The extent of their numerical advantage isn’t something I have time to ponder. The first car empties out…

“Estrada is mine,” I whisper.

Theo chuckles. “I’ll take Ortega.”

Ricardo Ortega gets out of the third car. He pulls out his gun and reloads. But he doesn’t move from the spot. With great attention to detail, he observes the area, noting everything.

It seems like he senses something’s up.

Damien Estrada is the complete opposite. Approaching the middle car, he opens the door.

From inside, he emerges. Calm. Unhurried. As if time had no power over him. As if nobody could harm him.

“Fuck. Nico Ruiz,” says Ryker.

I’m tempted to curse too.

Veirix’s head? Here? That can only mean one thing: this isn’t a routine operation. Something big is about to happen.

Damien says something to him, and Nico nods. He looks relaxed. Hands in his pants pockets. Small smile. Not one soul is guarding him directly.

A confident bastard. He thinks he’s untouchable.