Chapter 33: Rising From the Ashes

Aidan was staring out the window when the sun was just starting to rise and lengthy shadows covered the safehouse. Early morning the city lay still, but Aidan knew this serenity was false. Time was running through his fingers and forces were under action beneath the surface. Every minute that passed served as a warning that Victor was tightening his hold and gathering strength while Aidan's supplies ran low.

The events of the preceding three days whirled Aidan's head. Though Emily's betrayal had rocked him profoundly, he could not afford to linger on it any more. His mother's safety, his family's legacy, and everything he had worked for all were at too great risk. He had to act quickly as well as fast.

Dominic came into the room, his attitude austere yet deliberate. "The security of the perimeter is good. Not much indication of Victor's soldiers, but it won't last long. Although not much, we have purchased some time for ourselves.

Aidan nodded, dragging himself from his ideas. "We have to act quickly. Victor wants to have everything—my companies, my assets, my friends. We are getting back-off.

Dominic's eyes gleamed with will. "What's the intention?"

Aidan set out a city map on the table, identifying important sites with red dots. We begin with his supply chain. He has off-the-record facilities, money laundering operations, and armament stores loaded. We knock those down and destroy his support system.

Claire joined them; she had been tracking messages. "I have caught some Victor's channels' talk. He is already driving men to guard certain sites. He understands we are on our way.

The eyes of Aidan grew steely. "Excellent. We would want him to be informed. We will pound them one by one. Wear him out and have him pursue us.

Claire locked eyes with Dominic. "It carries danger." We are going to be outnumbered.

Aidan looked at their eyes, the fire of will shining in them. "We have no option. We count every strike as significant. Victor should be reminded he does not rule this city.

Dominic nodded and held his weapon close. "Let's make it happen."

First on the agenda was a warehouse on the outskirts of the city, tucked between abandoned factories and run-down railroads. Aidan's group went stealthily, hiding in the shadows. The structure loomed ahead, its front illuminated just by a handful of flickering security lights. Slouching behind a mound of goods, they looked about.

Dominic went over to inspect his firearm. "Guards on duty at every door. At least a dozen males inside.

Pulling a tiny tablet, Aidan reached the stream from the drone they had set above the warehouse. Dominic's opinion was validated by the live video. We divided up. Dominic, Claire and you adopt the east side. I will come from the west. We clear the guards and set the charges. We detonate and head to the next site after things are set in place.

Claire narrowed her gaze and fixed Aidan. And should Victor's men show up before we're finished?

Aidan spoke with a chilly demeanor. We fight our way out here.

They positioned themselves and started to slink toward the construction. Aidan's pulse accelerated, every sense on full awareness. Although the treachery was still fresh, he made himself concentrate. One target at a time, one triumph at a time—this was the only path forward.

Approaching the west door, he bent down to see two guards on patrol. He waited till they passed then moved quickly to quietly bring them down. Before alerting Claire and Dominic, he charged the base of the door to lock it. Watching from the drone stream, he saw precisely taken out guards moving from the east.

The warehouse was large, and the inside was a tangle of machinery and boxes. Aidan walked slowly, laying explosives along structural points. Tension permeated the air, each metal creak intensifying the suspense with distant whisper of guard voices.

The earpiece hummed Claire's voice as he placed the last charge. Charges defined. We had roughly five minutes before Victor's men took front stage. From your end, how things look?

"almost done," Aidan said in a whisper. "Be ready for extraction."

He turned to depart, then saw motion on the drone feed—an arriving convoy, Victor's reinforcements. Aidan watched the trucks hurtling toward the warehouse and felt his heart hammer. "We have company here." Now, move!

As the first of Victor's men attacked the structure, the three of them dashed into the shadows, dodging between containers. As Aidan and his squad battled their way toward the exit, the sound of gunfire burst, bullets shredding through metal and wood.

Dominic dropped down suppressing fire, Claire covering their flank. "We have to leave here right now!

As they headed toward the rendezvous location, Aidan surged ahead and fired back. One explosion sent off another, shaking the earth as flames sprang from the structure. Aidan kept jogging even though the air smelt like smoke and his eyesight blurred.

Reaching their car, they dove inside and the engine roared to life as they drove off. Flames tore throughout the warehouse, and the anarchy left Victor's men scattered—some fleeing the heat, others trying to gather.

"First target down," Dominic remarked, his voice steady yet tight. But we have further to go.

Aidan nodded; the thrill still coursed through him. And we are just starting here.

They proceeded from target to target over the next several hours, every operation a deliberate attack against Victor's kingdom. Each attack reduces Victor's resources as they strike safe homes, wrecked weapon depots, and stopped money laundering operations. But the pressure built with every action. Victor's troops were unrelenting, their forces getting more synchronized with every attack.

Aidan understood they were running out of time by the time they arrived at their third target, a high-security office building in the center of the city. Claire grimaced as she reviewed the drone feed. Victor is forwarding all he owns. One opportunity exists for us to pull this down and evacuate.

Aidan's eyes contracted. "Then we make it count."

They broke up, each entering to plant the charges from another direction. The office was under close security, and cameras ran along the hallways. As Aidan proceeded, he moved quickly disconnecting the cameras and removing guards. There was obvious stress, every shadow a possible hazard.

His earpiece cracked with Dominic's words as he adjusted the final charge. We have problems here. There are reinforcements here, heavy artillery. They are travelling quickly.

The pulse of Aidan sped up. "Claire, how do you find yourself?

Her voice tight, "charges are set, but we're pinned down on the second floor," she said. "His men are all over the place, Victor."

Aidan started to grind his teeth. "Keep your stance." I'm here for you.

He negotiated the maze-like hallways, sprinting across the building avoiding bullets. Battle rang around him, the tension rising as he approached Claire's location. He discovered her behind a pillar launching an attack on the advancing guards.

Pulling her up as they hurried for the exit, he said, "Let's move!

Fighting their way through the structure, the explosions from their charges rocked it as they went. Dominic covered their escape as the support timbers of the structure groaned under strain at the stairway.

"Go, go, go!" he cried out.

As they emerged, the structure collapsed behind them, the flames roaring into the nighttime heavens. Their car sprang forward as the building collapsed in a rain of rubble.

Claire turned to look at Aidan as they negotiated pursuit cars throughout the city. "We are running out of tools. This is not something we can maintain permanently.

Aidan nodded, his face fixed in will. "We simply have to strike one more, a major one. Something going to compel Victor's hand.

Dominic looked down. "Our information is lacking sufficient quality We have to know his next action if we are going to move like that.

Aidan's eyes go to his phone, the encrypted texts blazing on the screen. "I have someone that might be able to assist with that."

Claire arched her eyebrows. " Emily?"

Aidan's tone grew firm. "She says she want to right things. This is her chance."

They gathered at an inconspicuous structure buried in the industrial area—a secondary safehouse. Aidan opened his laptop, feeling weighty in his hands, then reached for the safe line Emily had used. Though they had no option, it was a gamble, a large one. Emily's decent intelligence could be the edge they require.

He sent the note: Now is the chance to prove yourself. What action will Victor take next?

For a few brief seconds, all that was audible. Aidan's head whirled, doubt filling every second. Had he erumbled? Was she guiding him toward yet another trap?

Then her answer lighted the screen. Victor intends to relocate his most private records and valuables to a secret site outside of the city. Though you will have to go quickly, I can provide you the coordinates.

Aidan's eyes squeezed. "She claims to have Victor's most valuable assets' location. If it is real, this presents our opportunity.

Claire and Dominic looked at one other. You truly do think we should trust her?

Aidan spoke with a reserved attitude. "I'm unsure. Still, the best lead we have is this one.

He quickly responded with a brief note: Send the particulars. We are on our way in.

Aidan felt his heart hammer as the coordinates arrived a moment later. Victor had maintained off-grid, hence this was a remote establishment. Should Emily be speaking the truth, this could be the breakthrough required. But if she was lying, then...

He raised his eyes to his colleagues. "We travel at dawn." Everything we have battled comes down to this.

Aidan was feeling the weight of the choice hovering over him as they got ready. Emily's intelligence can prove their undoing or help the tide to shift. He understood the hazards, but he also understood that he could not go back.

He said, his voice firm, "Get ready." "We are dragging Victor down."