Chapter 9
1059 Words
The warehouse fell silent.
Not because Nathan had raised his voice.
Because he hadn't.
His phone was still in his hand as he stared at the bodyguard standing before him.
"Say it again."
The man swallowed.
"We lost contact with Alex's convoy twenty-three minutes ago."
Nathan didn't blink.
"Marcus?"
"His tracker went offline."
"And Alex?"
"We can't locate him."
The room held its breath.
Nathan slowly slipped his phone into his pocket before walking toward the large conference table in the middle of the warehouse.
A massive digital map of the city lit up beneath the glass.
Every district.
Every warehouse.
Every safe house.
Every route under Walker control.
Men began pouring into the room from every entrance.
Some wore tailored suits.
Others wore tactical gear.
None of them spoke unless spoken to.
Ava remained near the doorway, watching everything unfold.
She had followed Nathan without thinking.
Now she wasn't sure she belonged here.
Nathan rested both hands on the table.
"Seal every exit out of the city."
The order spread instantly.
Phones were lifted.
Calls were made.
Within seconds, the room buzzed with controlled urgency.
"Close the airport."
"Alert the docks."
"Lock the eastern highway."
"No vehicle leaves without my approval."
The commands echoed across the room.
Nathan pointed at the glowing map.
"I want every security camera from the south district replayed from one hour ago."
A technician hurried to the screens.
Video after video appeared.
Traffic.
Pedestrians.
Delivery trucks.
Nathan watched silently.
His eyes moved across the screens with frightening focus.
Then he spoke.
"Stop."
The technician froze the footage.
Nathan stepped closer.
A black SUV crossed an intersection.
Two seconds later, a delivery truck blocked the camera.
When the truck moved...
the SUV was gone.
Nathan smiled.
It wasn't a pleasant smile.
"They switched vehicles."
One of his captains frowned.
"How can you tell?"
Nathan pointed at the screen.
"That truck doesn't belong there."
The room turned toward him.
"It's parked in a no-loading zone."
Another man quickly searched the registration.
"It's fake."
Nathan nodded once.
"They planned this weeks ago."
Ava felt a chill.
He had noticed something nobody else had.
Not because he guesse, but because he knew exactly how criminals thought.
One of the older men spoke.
"Should we contact the police?"
Every head turned toward him.
Nathan looked at the man as though he'd suggested something ridiculous.
"No."
The single word ended the conversation.
"We handle our own."
...
Half an hour later...
Reports flooded in.
"Burned SUV found."
"No bodies."
"Marcus has been located."
Nathan looked up.
"Bring him."
The warehouse doors opened.
Two men carried Marcus inside.
His face was swollen.
Blood stained his shirt.
One arm hung limply by his side.
Ava instinctively stepped forward.
Nathan didn't.
Marcus dropped to one knee.
"I'm sorry, Boss."
Nathan looked down at him.
"What happened?"
"They blocked the bridge."
"How many?"
"Eight."
Nathan remained silent.
Marcus continued.
"They used military weapons."
"They knew our route."
"They knew Alex was inside."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Someone talked."
The room became deadly quiet.
Nobody wanted to be the first to speak.
Nathan slowly turned.
His eyes swept across every face.
"If there is a traitor in my organization..."
His voice remained calm.
"I'll bury everyone connected to him."
No one doubted he meant it.
---
A phone rang.
One of Nathan's lieutenants answered before quickly handing it over.
"It's Dante."
Nathan took the phone.
"What?"
A pause.
His expression darkened.
"Are you certain?"
Another pause.
"I'll be there."
He hung up.
"Dante found one of their scouts."
Within minutes, six black SUVs roared out of the warehouse.
Ava barely had time to fasten her seatbelt before the convoy sped through the city.
Nobody spoke.
Nathan sat beside her.
His gaze fixed on the road ahead.
His knuckles were white.
For the first time...
she realized he wasn't acting like a mafia boss.
He was acting like a father.
...
The convoy stopped outside an abandoned shipyard.
Rain had begun falling.
Floodlights illuminated rows of rusting shipping containers.
Nathan stepped out first.
His men spread through the area with military precision.
Weapons drawn.
Communication earpieces crackled constantly.
Ava stayed close behind despite Nathan's earlier warning.
Inside one of the warehouses, a man had been tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
Blood dripped onto the concrete floor.
Dante stood beside him.
"We caught him trying to leave."
Nathan approached slowly.
The captive laughed through split lips.
"So..."
"The famous Nathan Walker."
Nathan pulled up a chair.
Sat down.
Crossed one leg over the other.
"Who sent you?"
The man smiled.
"Go to hell."
Nathan sighed.
"I was hoping we'd do this the easy way."
The captive spat blood onto the floor.
Nathan didn't react.
Instead, he looked toward Dante.
"How long?"
"Forty minutes."
Nathan nodded.
"You have twenty."
The man frowned.
"For what?"
"To change your mind."
Nathan stood and began walking away.
The captive laughed.
"You think I'm scared of you?"
Nathan stopped without turning around.
"No."
"I think you're scared of the man who hired you."
Silence.
Nathan continued walking.
"But by the time Dante finishes..."
He looked back over his shoulder.
"...you'll wish it had been me."
Ava watched the colour drain from the captive's face.
Nathan hadn't threatened him.
He had simply walked away.
Yet somehow...
that was more terrifying.
...
Nathan's phone vibrated.
He answered immediately.
Nobody could hear the voice on the other end.
Then,
Nathan smiled.
A genuine smile.
"They made a mistake."
His men looked confused.
Nathan turned toward the digital map displayed on a nearby tablet.
"They crossed into Black Harbour."
One of the captains frowned.
"That's Romano territory."
Nathan nodded.
"And Romano still owes me a favour."
He dialled another number.
The call lasted less than thirty seconds.
When he ended it, he looked at his men.
"Romano has closed every road."
"They're trapped."
A grin spread across Dante's face.
"So what now?"
Nathan adjusted his cuffs.
"Now..."
He looked toward the convoy waiting outside.
"...we bring my son home."
As his men loaded their weapons and climbed into the SUVs, Ava realized something she hadn't understood before.
Nathan Walker wasn't simply rich.
He wasn't simply dangerous.
He ruled a world hidden beneath the city—a world built on loyalty, fear, favours, and blood.
And tonight...
that world had just gone to war.
- Writer
