Chapter 10
1111 Words
CHAPTER 10
Nathan didn't wait for another second.
The moment Alex's location appeared on the screen, he was already moving.
"Prepare the cars."
His voice carried through the warehouse, calm but commanding.
Within seconds, everyone sprang into action.
Phones rang.
Weapons were checked.
Black SUVs rolled into position outside.
Dante walked over with a tablet in one hand.
"Our people confirmed it. They're hiding in an abandoned shipping warehouse near the docks."
Nathan glanced at the screen only once.
"They're still there?"
"For now."
Nathan nodded.
"They won't expect us this fast."
He turned to Ava.
"You stay here."
She frowned immediately.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"I'm not asking for permission."
"And I'm not giving you a choice."
She folded her arms.
"Alex is important to me too."
Nathan's expression softened for only a second.
"I know."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"But this isn't your fight."
"I don't like sitting around while you're risking your life."
"You won't."
He looked toward two men standing nearby.
"Marco."
"Boss."
"Leon."
Both men straightened immediately.
"You stay with Miss Carter."
"Yes, Boss."
Nathan looked back at Ava.
"I'll bring him home."
She searched his face for a moment before giving a small nod.
"You better."
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"I always keep my promises."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
The warehouse doors rolled open.
Cold night air rushed inside.
One after another, black SUVs disappeared into the darkness.
Silence settled over the warehouse.
Ava stood near the entrance long after the convoy had vanished.
She didn't realize she was holding her breath until Marco spoke.
"They'll get him back."
She looked at him.
"You sound certain."
"I've worked for Mr. Walker for nine years."
He smiled faintly.
"I've never seen him lose."
...
The convoy cut through Manhattan like a blade.
Rain hammered against the windshield.
Nathan sat in the front vehicle, his eyes fixed ahead.
No music.
No conversation.
Only the sound of tires slicing through wet roads.
Dante finally broke the silence.
"We've got Romano's men waiting at the docks."
Nathan nodded.
"Good."
"They've blocked every exit."
"They'd better."
The SUV slowed as abandoned warehouses came into view.
Cargo containers towered over the docks like steel walls.
Floodlights illuminated the empty harbor.
More than thirty armed men were already waiting.
As Nathan stepped out, another convoy arrived from the opposite direction.
A tall man in a dark overcoat approached.
Silver streaks ran through his black hair.
A scar crossed one eyebrow.
"Nathan."
"Romano."
The two men shook hands.
Neither smiled.
"I heard they took the boy," Romano said.
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"They made a mistake."
Romano looked toward the warehouse.
"My men counted at least twenty-five inside."
Nathan didn't even blink.
"Not enough."
Romano chuckled.
"I missed working with you."
Nathan ignored the comment.
Instead, he studied the building.
Every entrance.
Every window.
Every possible escape route.
Then he spoke.
"Team One takes the west entrance."
He pointed toward Dante.
"You lead."
Dante nodded.
"Understood."
"Romano."
"My men will cover the east."
"No one leaves."
Romano smiled.
"They won't."
Nathan turned toward the rest of his men.
"If you see Alex..."
His voice grew quieter.
"...you protect him before you protect me."
Every man nodded.
No questions.
No hesitation.
Nathan pulled a pistol from beneath his jacket.
The metallic click echoed through the dock.
"Move."
The teams spread out like shadows.
Within seconds, they had surrounded the warehouse.
Nathan reached the main entrance.
He raised three fingers.
Three.
Two.
One.
The doors exploded inward.
Gunfire erupted instantly.
Bullets slammed into steel containers.
Nathan rolled behind cover before firing twice.
One kidnapper fell.
Another tried to run.
Romano's sniper dropped him before he reached the exit.
Dante and his team pushed deeper inside.
Smoke filled the warehouse.
Crates shattered.
Glass rained onto the concrete floor.
Nathan moved through the chaos with frightening precision.
Every shot counted.
Every movement was deliberate.
A man rushed him with a knife.
Nathan caught his wrist.
Twisted.
The bone snapped.
Before the man could scream, Nathan struck him unconscious.
Another attacker appeared behind him.
Dante fired first.
"Heads up."
Nathan nodded once without looking.
More gunfire echoed through the building.
The kidnappers were losing.
Fast.
One of them shouted.
"They're inside! Fall back!"
Nathan kept advancing.
He reached a staircase leading to the upper level.
Blood stained the metal steps.
Someone had been dragged upstairs.
His heart sank.
"Alex."
He ran.
Dante followed closely behind.
At the top floor, they found three more armed men.
The first fired wildly.
Nathan shot him in the shoulder before he could aim again.
The second tried using Alex as a shield.
Nathan froze.
There he was.
Alex.
His small hands were tied.
A bruise darkened one side of his face.
His eyes widened the moment he saw Nathan.
"Dad!"
Nathan lowered his weapon.
"It's okay."
One kidnapper laughed nervously.
"Take another step and..."
A single gunshot interrupted him.
The man collapsed.
Dante lowered his rifle.
"Clear."
Nathan crossed the room in seconds.
He knelt beside Alex.
"Hey."
Alex threw himself into his father's arms.
Nathan held him tightly.
For the first time that night...
His shoulders relaxed.
"I'm sorry," Alex whispered.
Nathan pulled back immediately.
"For what?"
"I got taken."
Nathan cupped his son's face.
"Listen to me."
His voice remained calm.
"This is not your fault."
Alex nodded weakly.
Nathan untied the ropes around his wrists.
"Did they hurt you anywhere else?"
"My arm."
Nathan checked it carefully.
Just bruising.
Nothing broken.
Relief settled inside him.
Dante stepped closer.
"Boss."
Nathan looked up.
"What?"
"We found something."
Dante handed him a phone recovered from one of the kidnappers.
Nathan opened it.
One message.
One attachment.
A schedule.
Alex's school pickup schedule.
Nathan's expression hardened.
Only a handful of people had access to that information.
Someone had leaked it.
Someone close.
Romano walked into the room.
"The place is secure."
Nathan handed him the phone.
"We've got a traitor."
Romano's expression darkened.
"Inside your organization?"
Nathan nodded once.
"Find every person who knew Alex's route."
His voice had become frighteningly quiet.
"No one leaves the city."
Dante understood immediately.
The rescue wasn't over.
It had only exposed something much worse.
Nathan picked Alex up.
"We're going home."
Alex wrapped his arms around his father's neck.
"I knew you'd come."
Nathan closed his eyes briefly.
"So did I."
As they walked out of the warehouse, dozens of men stepped aside without being told.
No one spoke.
No one celebrated.
Because everyone could see it on Nathan's face.
His son was safe.
But someone had betrayed him.
And in Nathan Walker's world...
Betrayal was never forgiven.
- Writer
