Several men of the Iron Hand crime syndicate were guarding the doors of a docklands warehouse on the Thames that night, armed with rifles and submachine guns. They had gathered to smoke while chatting, so they were oblivious to the figures lurking in the shadows between two other nearby buildings.
- Did you hear about the casino? - one of the thugs asked.
- Yes, some crazies robbed it and kidnapped the organitation's accountant, - another replied.
- Really?! Who would be so fool?
- I don't know, but because of them we are having a lot of problems. It seems that several warehouses and safe houses have been assaulted this week. I bet you anything it's the same bastards.
As they continued talking, Ruslan, Abygaile and Constance moved closer until they were in range. Constance pulled a grenade out of the folds of her coat, pulled the pin and threw it right into the middle of the group of criminals. By the time the first of them realized what had fallen at their feet it was too late. An explosion rocked the warehouse and the adjacent buildings. Pieces of the thugs rained down everywhere. The noise of the explosion sent several more thugs out of the warehouse, disoriented by the sudden blast. Gaile's rifle spat fire and one of them fell with a hole between his eyes, dyeing the man right behind him red. Constance and Ruslan approached as they fired in turns, taking down the other vigilantes. When they had made sure there were no survivors, they approached the door and peered inside the warehouse to check for more guards and went inside.
- We're in, - Ruslan said over the radio.
- Good - Gregory's voice crackled in his headset. - The weapons should be in boxes marked with the army seal, look for them.
The three raiders split up to search through the warehouse. After a few minutes Connie signalled them.
- I've got them.
- Good, - Ruslan said. - Let's destroy them.
Gaile brought a can of gasoline and sprayed the boxes of weapons and ammunition. Then she approached the door, leaving behind her a trail of fuel that would serve as a fuse. Ruslan pointed his pistol at the ground and fired. The sparks from the impact ignited the gasoline. The flames advanced greedily toward the boxes of illegal weapons, igniting them like tinder. After a few seconds the ammunition began to detonate, causing severe damage to the other merchandise in the warehouse. By the time the fire had finished devouring the contraband merchandise, the three attackers had disappeared into the streets of London.
One of the Iron Hand's lieutenants abruptly burst into Vincent Trusk's office. The Duke looked up from the account book he was leafing through, set down his brandy glass on the desk and rested his cigar on the ashtray resting to his right.
- What's the matter? - he said in his raspy voice.
- Mr. Trusk, another one of our warehouses has been attacked. In the Thames harbor.
- Again? - the Duke burst out. - And the men who were guarding it?!
- All dead, chief. Some blown apart by what looks like an explosion and the rest riddled with bullets.
Trusk slammed his fist furiously on the table, spilling the brandy and rolling the cigar out of the ashtray, leaving a trail of ash on the shiny walnut surface of the desk.
- Damn it, that's the fifth time this week! - the Duke vociferated. - I want those guys dead!
- It's just that nobody knows who they are, boss. They never leave survivors.
Vincent Trusk slumped back in his chair, thoughtful.
- They must be the same ones who took the accountant, - he said to himself. - That's why they know so much about our operations.
- From what the surviving men in the casino said, they saw two people fleeing through the garage, one of them a red-haired woman. They got into a truck where a giant white-haired guy was waiting for them.
- Yes, I know, - Trusk mumbled between his teeth. - Apparently, it's true that these Drakes had ex-military personnel among them.
- Do you really think it was the Drakes?
- I'm sure, this Ruslan Drake is a big guy with white hair, and he's usually accompanied by two women, one of them with red hair. Put two and two together - said Trusk to his subordinate. - Okay, I want you to put a price on their heads. And contact our friends in the police and military. We may need their support this time.
- Right away - the lieutenant replied and left the office.
Trusk picked up his cigarette and took a long drag, puffing the smoke out slowly as he tried to calm down. If it took a war to put an end to those nuisances, he would burn the streets of London if necessary.
William Drake walked over to his wife's bedroom window and pulled back the curtains to let in the morning sun. Approaching the bed, he took his beloved Marion's hand between his own, kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear.
- Good morning, my love.
Marion's lips curved into a smile, as she opened her eyes heavily.
- Good morning, - she said, still sleepy.
It had been several days since Marion had been out of the coma she had been in since the explosion at the Drake Foundation two weeks ago. However, William had decided to keep her under observation at the Drake Industries clinic to make sure her new artificial heart was working properly before she even returned to the mansion.
- How are you feeling today, my dear? - he asked, as he reviewed that night's EKG chart.
- Fine - she replied. - Still a little tired, but fine.
- It's normal, you've been unconscious for more than a week, and we've only been able to give you serum and vitamins. But don't worry, today you will finally be able to eat something - William told her as he helped her to sit up a little in bed.
- Are you all right? You look a little thinner - his wife replied.
It was true that William looked a little worse for wear. The dark marks under his eyes and the poorly shaved beard on his face denoted a great lack of rest and grooming. He had been spending his days in the lab preparing prosthetics for those injured in the Burke Building incident and when he wasn't working, he was always at his wife's side.
- I'm fine, just a little tired from work - William tried to play it down.
- Promise me you will take care of yourself - Marion asked him, putting her hand on his cheek.
- Of course, you know Catherine wouldn't let me overdo it.
Marion smiled at the mention of her eldest daughter. She always received a visit from at least one of her children every day. Constance, Abygaile and Gregory had also been to see her. Patrice and Stanley had made her room more homelike. Even her parents had returned to London from their villa in Brighton to be by her side, despite their advanced age. Marion had never felt so tucked in and loved as she did in those days. There was only one thing that tormented her and kept her awake at night.
- How are the people who were injured in the explosion? - she asked, as she had every morning since she had regained consciousness.
- Well, we are producing prostheses for all of them, and our medical staff is making sure they lack nothing, - William answered, reassuring his wife.
Marion looked at him gratefully. Her husband smiled at her and headed for the door.
- Well, it's time for me to get back to work. If you need anything, don't hesitate to use the bell to let the nurse know, okay?
William walked out of the room, leaving Marion deep in thought as she looked out the window at the Drake Industries garden as employees began to arrive at their workstations.
William returned to the lab, where he sat back down at his workbench. Frances suddenly appeared behind him, startling him.
- Please, Frances, do you want me to have a heart attack? - William said still trying to regain his composure.
- Well, it would be one way to have another heart prosthesis test subject, - Frances replied humorously.
- Franni, that's not funny.
- You look tired - Frances seemed genuinely worried.
- I have been better - William admitted. - These weeks have taken their toll on me.
- And how have your children been taking it? - the doctor asked.
- Well, Catherine is very busy trying to keep the Foundation on track until Marion is ready to return. Jack is buried in paperwork because of lawsuits from the families of those injured in the explosion. And Ruslan... well I'd at least like to know what he's up to - William Drake let out a deep sigh of exhaustion.
- Wait, you don't know where Ruslan is? - Frannie asked curiously.
- No, I know he comes here from time to time to see his mother, when no one sees him. But he's been missing for almost two weeks now, just like Constance, Abygaile and Gregory. They haven't even been by the mansion in all that time. They are starting to worry me.
- I understand, but what are they doing?
- From what Jack and Cathe have told me, it seems that they have decided to declare war on those who planted the bomb at the Foundation - William answered. - But I don't know anything else. They said goodbye days ago and said it would be a while before they came back.
Frances put a comforting hand on the shoulder of her friend and boss.
- Take it easy, Will, - she said. - I'm sure they're fine.
- I just hope they don't get hurt in this madness.
- You know, - replied Frannie. - I think it's more likely that the one who regrets starting this is the one who planted that damn bomb. If I know Ruslan and Constance well, they are very dangerous when angered.
William turned to his subordinate. Frances seemed absolutely sure of her statement. And he was actually sure of one thing too. Given his son's temperament and professional experience, anyone involved in the attack on the Foundation was going to suffer the utter despair of defeat. Add Constance Perry to the mix. Chances are that by that time a new war would have broken out, this time on the streets of London. And given their military record, anyone who stood up to them was going to pay for it in spades.