At 7:00 AM sharp, Damien stood alone near the red barrel at the Langston quarry.
He wore a dark hoodie, a bag slung over his shoulder. Inside: five million in marked bills.
A drone hovered high above. Leo watched from the surveillance van parked three miles away. Two snipers were hidden in the surrounding terrain.
"We have visual," Leo said over the comm. "No heat signatures yet."
Damien knelt, placing the bag at the base of the barrel.
A beep.
The burner phone in his pocket vibrated.
He answered. "It’s done. Now tell me. Where are they?"
Vince’s voice crackled through. "The kid's safe. But I got something extra for you."
"Amara."
"Yeah. You want her back, you come alone. No tricks. Follow the coordinates I’m sending."
A ping followed. Damien looked at the new message.
Forest r
