Chapter 38: Victor's Last Stand

The city was still, covered in darkness of midnight. Victor Pierce paced restlessly in his lavish house high above the streets, his thoughts racing as he thought of the crumbling remains of his company. Once perfect, he was a cornered animal with nothing left to lose surrounded by betrayal, mistrust, and rumor. Aidan was the one pushing his hand as his life's work was escaping his control in his empire.

He looked at the clock and his will got more intense. One additional response surfaced: a desperate, violent plan to retake the authority truly hers. Reaching for his phone, he called the only man he knew who could pull off Kincaid, an elderly, cruel friend with a history of success at all cost. Though no businessman would approve of this choice, one that would be bloody, Victor no longer gave a damn. This was close.

"Tomorrow night," Victor murmured, his voice cold and emotionless. Aidan Pierce should be taken out. And torn down everyone dedicated to him. Project the image of an accident, a terrible incident. Just be sure none of everyone lives.

There was a stop on the other side of the line before Kincaid's voice returned—cold and merciless. Imagine it done. You will pay for it though.

Victor's mouth twisting under a nasty smile. Here the object is not money. Just help to bring it about.

As Victor hung, his sensation of satisfaction was icy. Aidan would be nothing but a memory by tomorrow's end; he would rise from the ashes, recovering his empire with a terrible message to everyone who dared against him.

The next evening Aidan's buddies gathered in a quiet, inconspicuous area just outside of the city. Aware that Marcus, Dominic, and the rest of his staff were approaching the closing stages of the plan, they were all nervous. They would confirm their authority over the remaining Victor's major assets tonight. Though perilous, their fixation on success kept them moving.

Aidan went among his coworkers giving last-minute instructions; his voice was steady and quiet. Every detail had been planned, every possible barrier taken into account. Years had gone by for tonight, the chance to undo what Victor had taken from him. Not too far off was victory.

"Is everyone obviously playing their roles?" Aidan asked, his sharp eye flickering across the features of his friends. Marcus nodded, his jaw tensed with expectancy; Dominic grinned, radiating barely controlled energy. Aidan felt the same developing inside him.

The serenity of the night was broken as they were adding the concluding touches by a far-off rumble—that of engines roaring. Aidan's instincts started to kick in, a little pain slink up his spine. Low, tense, he questioned, "Did anyone authorize outside transportation?"

Marcus gave his head a shake. Our supposed to be completely off-grid.

Then the evening was broken by the deafening gunshot sound. Shouts came in, the sound of feet pounding on gravel as shadows flew right at the building. Aidan's pulse shot and he cried to his staff, "We're under attack! Please follow the strategy, everyone!

Bullets tore across the air, smashing windows and hitting metal surfaces as Aidan's crew sought shelter. Aidan retreated behind a pillar, his mind running over the situation. These moved with deadly accuracy that screamed military knowledge, not just hired goons. Soldiers.

Kincaid's crew tore savagely off everyone in their path across the construction. Aidan swore as he was breathing. By outmanuering him in one violent, desperate swing, Victor had brought the fight right to him. Trapped down, his group was scattered under intense fire, and their carefully set plans were already disintegrating.

Aidan turned to face Marcus from behind the pillar, eyes fixed across the room. To signal his friend he should go toward the rear exit, he waved. Marcus nodded sharply, knowing right away. Their final hope now was to regroup, run, and arrange a counteroffensive before it was too late.

Running from his cover, Aidan unleashed a quick blast of bullets that momentarily diverted Marcus and a few others so they can sneak away. The mercenaries responded with a storm of gunfire, pushing Aidan back into cover while his thoughts searched furiously for a chance of escape.

Dominic had his stance dangerously open and was stuck in the front. Aidan sent signals to get him down and crawling toward the rear. Dominic escaped the relentless bullets while inch by inch, the painful slowness of the seconds passed passed.

Aidan felt his shoulder jerked back from a hand grabbing it abruptly. Ready to fight, he spun around then stopped short when he saw Marcus; his face clouded.

Aidan, we cannot occupy this place. We had to regress.

Aidan's jaw dropped. Marcus was right, even though he hated the concept of retreat. Here they could not prevail in their conflict. Very good. At the safe house we gather. Get everyone away.

Moving in unison, they guided the other team members through the mayhem, dodging bullets and, if they could, firing back. While the mercenaries were relentless, Aidan and his crew were motivated by a will resulting from years of betrayal and the need of justice. Every shot they fired acted as a reminder that they wouldn't drop without fight.

As they neared the edge of the structure, an explosion shook the ground beneath them and threw garbage and dust aloft. Aidan staggered, catching himself barely in time, but the blast had turned off their primary escape. His mind whirled, adrenaline coursed through his veins, and he looked about for still another route.

Marcus yelled over the chaos, "There's a side door close to the east wing."

Aidan nodded, helping. "Go, I'll cover you".

Aidan fired in their wake; Marcus and the others rushing for the side entrance kept the mercenaries at distance long enough for his men to evacuate. Once more seeking cover, he saw Kincaid across the smoke—a large, broad-shouldered man with a steely, mechanical look. Kincaid raised his weapon, aiming straight at Aidan; his face lacked sensation.

Aidan fired first; Kincaid dove under cover and the bullets missed inches apart. Men who understood only one would leave this conference locked in a fatal confrontation.

Pierce, you really could just undo it all? Low growling, Kincaid teased from the shadows. "victor greets you."He wanted you to know just how bad you had fallen.

Aidan closed his jaws, ready himself to keep cool under inner conflict. Tell Victor again undervaluation of me. And everyone of you will cover it.

He dashed forward suddenly, firing behind cover from the smoke and rubbish. The mercenaries arrived, Aidan battled with a relentless focus on survival, his thoughts concentrated on one goal.

The struggle persisted, a ferocious, brutal one leaving dead bodies scattered and blood stinging the earth. Their power was dwindling and Aidan's team was getting fewer, but they continued without halting. Another explosion tore across the sky, sending Aidan hurtling to the earth just as they were reaching the exit.

The globe raced around him, his eyesight blurry as suffering tore across his body. He pushed himself to stand, timing his blinking away the mist to see Marcus hauling him half-carrying toward the exit.

"Aidan, we are really near there. Just hang on, Marcus urged, his voice tight with fatigue.

At last exploding into the cool night air, they staggered along the smoke-filled passageways. But as they made their way to the escape cars, a fresh wave of armed guards approached Victor, standing at the edge of the lot.

Aidan stopped, looking at Victor while his heart pounded. His uncle's expression changed to a smug smirk, pleasure gleaming in his eyes. "Did you truly believe Aidan could win?" Victor turned his back on me. "You were always merely a child pretending for a king.

At seeing Victor, so close but so untouchable, Aidan felt a flash of rage. Fist tightened, then he moved forward, but Marcus grabbed him firmly.

Marcus responded, saying furiously, "Not now." We aren't ready.

Aidan, though, couldn stop the searing resentment inside of him. Victor was right there, luring him with every breath—his chance, the moment he had yearned of years.

Victor's smile grew bigger as he raised his hand to signal his guards inside. "Goodbye, Aidan," you ought to have known, better than questioning me.

Head flying, Aidan sought a way out of the trap Victor had set—a plan, anything at all. But as the guards approached he knew he had few options or time. Still the only thing left was battle.

And a flare of headlights appeared on the horizon racing toward the guards as they were getting ready with their weapons. Aidan jumped back from the center. He was not by himself after all.