The roaring sound of the military helicopter propellers landing at the private airbase on the outskirts of New York sliced through the cold, foggy dawn silence. The pungent smell of aviation fuel mixed with the aroma of wet soil left over from last night's rain, creating a harrowing atmosphere that pierced straight to the bone. However, the situation inside the military hangar's emergency care room was far denser with the scent of blood and the shadows of approaching death hovering ever closer.
Garrick Valentino stood upright in the corridor outside the operating door with his arms folded across his chest. The premium white shirt he wore now appeared rumpled and stained with black streaks of tactical engine oil. His pair of gray eyes, usually calm and radiating absolute dominance, now emi
