Chapter4
1908 Words
A CROWN UNDER FIRE
“We can't keep living like this, Crane.”
Moon stood by the bedroom window with her arms folded tightly across her chest.
The previous night's events refused to leave her mind.
The strange vehicle, the armed men and the feeling that someone was watching them.
Crane sighed. “I know, sweetheart, but…"
“But what?”
She turned sharply. “If this is what sitting on that board is going to cost me, then maybe I don't want it.”
Crane studied her face.
Fear, frustration, exhaustion. All three were fighting for dominance.
“You can't quit already.”
“Why not?”
“Because they're counting on that.”
Moon shook her head. “Crane, someone is following us. Someone is threatening us. Someone killed Mr Banks, and somehow I'm being blamed for it.”
Her voice cracked slightly. “And now armed men are showing up out of nowhere.”
Crane walked over and gently held her shoulders.
“Look at me.”
Moon obeyed reluctantly. “We'll figure it out.”
“What if we don't?”
Crane forced a smile. “Then we'll face it together.”
Moon lowered her gaze.
His smile made things worse because she knew he was afraid too. And she knew his condition wasn't improving.
“You always say that.”
“Because it's true.”
A silence settled between them.
Then Crane spoke again. “Joel and Steve are working on it.”
“You trust them that much?”
“With my life.”
Moon exhaled slowly. “I just want this nightmare to end.”
“It will.”
Though even Crane wasn't entirely sure.
Later that night, Joel sat inside a parked vehicle several streets away from a busy clubhouse.
The place was alive with music, alcohol, and criminals trying to look respectable.
His eyes remained fixed on the entrance.
Around midnight, three men emerged. One of them immediately caught Joel's attention.
His eyes narrowed. “No way...”
The man laughed at something one of his companions said.
Joel quickly reached for his phone.
“Hector?”
He zoomed in and took several photographs.
The man certainly looked older, harder, and more dangerous. But Joel was almost certain.
He watched as the men entered a vehicle. Then the car drove away.
Joel followed from a safe distance. Years of experience kept him invisible.
The vehicle eventually stopped at a hotel. Two men got out.
The third remained inside.
Joel continued tracking the car until it arrived at a different location.
He memorised the address before quietly withdrawing.
By morning, he had enough information to make a report.
The following day arrived bright and peaceful.
Unfortunately, peace was the one thing missing inside the Smith mansion.
Joel met Steve outside the compound.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
Steve stretched. “You look like you didn't sleep.”
“I didn't.”
Steve grinned. “Good. That usually means you've found something interesting.”
Joel smiled. “Oh, I found something.”
“Tell me.”
“After I speak with the boss.”
Steve laughed. “Now you're making me curious.”
“You should be.”
A few minutes later, Joel entered Crane's office.
Moon was there as well.
Crane was swallowing his morning medication while Moon handed him a glass of water.
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
“You're welcome.”
Joel waited patiently.
“Sorry to interrupt, sir.”
Crane looked up. “You'd better have news.”
“I do.”
Joel glanced toward Moon. “Something we need to discuss privately.”
Moon immediately noticed the exchange. She didn't like it, not one bit.
Crane stood. “Just a moment, honey.”
Moon nodded reluctantly.
The two men stepped outside.
Once they were alone, Joel handed him the photographs.
“I believe I identified one of the men who followed us.”
Crane stared at the images. A frown appeared on his face.
The man looked familiar – very familiar. But the memory refused to come.
“Who is he?”
“Hector Banks.”
Crane blinked. The name stirred something.
“Hector Banks...” he repeated slowly.
Joel waited.
“You know him?”
“I think so.”
Crane rubbed his forehead. The harder he tried to remember, the more the memory slipped away.
Frustration crept into his expression. “Get me his file.”
Joel nodded. “I already anticipated that.”
Minutes later, Crane sat behind his desk reviewing several documents.
The file painted a clear picture.
Hector Banks, son of Mr Banks and a former gang leader.
Convicted three years earlier for organising violent crimes through multiple criminal networks.
Crane continued reading. By the time he reached the final page, his expression had hardened.
“He's dangerous.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And if he's following us, then this isn't about coincidence anymore.”
“That's what I think too.”
Crane closed the file. “If Hector is involved, then he knows something.”
“Or he believes something.”
“Either way, I want eyes on him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don't engage.”
Joel looked surprised. “Sir?”
“Watch him.”
Crane tapped the file. “Men like this make mistakes when they think they're winning.”
Joel smiled. “Understood.”
When Crane returned to his office, Moon was waiting. And she didn't look happy.
“You were hiding something.”
Crane sighed. “Moon.”
“No.”
She stood. “Don't moon me.”
“Sweetheart…”
“My instincts aren't wrong.”
Crane remained silent. That silence told her everything.
“You know something.”
“Not enough.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Crane hesitated. Partly because he wanted to protect her. Partly because he genuinely didn't have all the answers.
“We identified one of the men.”
Moon stiffened. “Who?”
“Hector Banks.”
“The son?”
“Yes.”
Moon frowned. “Why would he come after us?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Crane.”
“We don't.”
His voice softened. “But we will.”
Moon studied him for several seconds.
Eventually she sighed. “Fine.”
“Good.”
“Only because today is my first day as CEO.”
A smile appeared on Crane's face. “That's the spirit.”
“Don't push it.”
He laughed.
Moon's first day as CEO was nothing like she imagined.
The office was beautiful.
The view was spectacular.
The respect was nonexistent.
Every file on her desk seemed determined to remind her that she had inherited a battlefield.
By noon she already had three meetings, two complaints, and one board member openly questioning her decisions.
By evening she felt mentally exhausted.
Meanwhile, Crane spent most of his day reviewing information about Hector.
The more he learned, the more concerned he became.
Hector wasn't merely angry.
He was organised. And organised enemies were dangerous.
Throughout the day, Joel and Steve monitored Hector's movements.
They documented every meeting, every location, every face.
By sunset they returned with fresh information.
“He's building something,” Joel reported.
Crane looked up. “What kind of something?”
“People.”
Steve nodded. “He's recruiting.”
“How many?”
“We don't know yet.”
Crane leaned back. “That means he's preparing for war.”
Neither man disagreed.
“What are your orders?” Steve asked.
Crane thought carefully.
Years ago he might have ordered an immediate strike. But things were different now.
“Keep watching.”
Both men looked surprised.
“Sir?”
“He wants us to react.”
Joel understood immediately.
“So we don't.”
“Exactly.”
Crane stood. “Desperate men eventually expose themselves.”
Across town, Moon was having problems of her own.
“Ma'am.”
Lucy appeared at her office door.
“Yes?”
“Your sister is here.”
Moon closed her eyes. “Oh, wonderful.”
Lucy immediately understood the sarcasm.
“Should I send her away?”
Moon considered it, then sighed. “No.”
A few seconds later, Shine entered.
The tension arrived with her.
“You certainly settled in quickly.”
Moon didn't even look up from her documents.
“What do you want?”
Shine laughed. “No hello?”
“No.”
That earned another laugh.
“You really think you're important now.”
Moon finally looked up. “I am important.”
“Because you run two companies?”
“Partly.”
Shine's smile vanished.
“You think you're untouchable.”
“No.”
Moon leaned back. “I think you're jealous.”
The words landed perfectly.
Shine's face hardened. “You won't stay on top forever.”
“Maybe not.”
Moon shrugged. “But today isn't the day I fall.”
Shine stepped closer. “That sick husband of yours won't be around forever.”
Moon's eyes instantly darkened. The room became cold, dangerously cold.
“You should leave.”
“What?”
“Before I forget you're my sister.”
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Shine smiled. “I'll be waiting when everything falls apart.”
She turned and left.
Moon remained frozen long after the door closed.
That same evening, disaster struck.
Joel's surveillance team suddenly stopped responding.
One call, two calls, and the third, yet no response.
His instincts immediately activated. Something was wrong, very wrong.
He and Steve rushed to the last known location.
When they arrived, both men froze. The bodies were waiting for them, dead.
Joel's jaw tightened. “Hector.”
Steve nodded grimly. “He found them.”
Joel immediately pulled out his phone.
"Sir”
Crane answered instantly. “What happened?”
“Our men are dead.”
Crane stilled.
“Find Hector.”
The calmness in Crane's voice was far more frightening than anger.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now.”
The call ended.
Crane lowered the phone slowly. For several seconds, he stood motionless.
Hector had killed his men. That wasn't retaliation; it was a declaration of war.
Joel and Steve moved immediately. Neither realised they were already too late because while they searched the city... Hector had made his move.
Inside the Smith mansion, Moon was preparing for bed when she heard something.
A faint pop. Then another.
She frowned. “What was that?”
Crane looked up from his chair.
Another muffled sound echoed through the house.
His expression changed instantly. The sound wasn't unfamiliar.
Gunfire – silenced gunfire.
“Moon.”
The seriousness in his voice froze her.
“What?”
“Go to the panic room.”
Her heart skipped. “What?”
“Now.”
Another muffled shot echoed downstairs.
Moon's blood turned cold.
“Crane…”
“Go.”
She grabbed her phone. “What about you?”
Crane walked toward a hidden safe.
His expression was calm – far too calm.
“Call Joel.”
The safe door opened. Inside rested a handgun.
Moon stared at it. Then stared at him.
“Crane...”
“Go.”
He picked up the weapon.
The house suddenly felt smaller, darker and dangerous.
And somewhere below them, intruders were already moving through the mansion.
The war had finally arrived.
And before the night was over, someone wasn't making it out alive.
- Writer
