The abandoned warehouse stood on the outskirts of town, surrounded by overgrown grass and rusting metal containers.
Victor and Julius crouched in the shadows, their team positioned for the two-pronged attack. Anita, stationed in a van nearby, was on comms.
"Front guards spotted. At least five," she reported.
Julius whispered, "More will be inside."
Victor took a breath. "We move in five…four…three…"
Gunfire erupted at the front. Julius' decoy team engaged, drawing Joseph's men into a firefight.
Victor and his team slipped through the back.
Inside, the air was damp with the smell of oil and sweat. Footsteps echoed.
A groan sounded from the far end.
Elijah.
Victor motioned for silence as they moved closer.
Then...
A click.
A voice.
"I was hoping you'd come, Governor."
Joseph's second-in-command, Otieno, stepped out of the shadows.
Behind him, Elijah was bound to a chair, a gun to his head.
"Drop your weapons," Otieno said, grinning. "Or we end this right now."
Victor's mind raced.
They had walked straight into Joseph's hands.
---
Julius' hand hovered near his gun, but Otieno shook his head.
"Don't be stupid. You pull that trigger, Elijah dies first."
Victor locked eyes with Elijah. The man was beaten, weak, but his eyes held a warning.
This was worse than a trap. It was an execution waiting to happen.
Victor raised his hands. "Alright. Let's talk."
Otieno chuckled. "Joseph wanted me to deliver a message. You're poking the wrong beehive."
Victor's mind raced. "What does he want?"
Otieno tilted his head. "You, out of the way. Walk away from this fight, and Elijah lives."
Victor's heartbeat pounded.
Surrender meant letting Joseph win. But pushing forward meant Elijah's life was on the line.
Julius tensed beside him. Anita's voice crackled in his earpiece.
"Victor, you have to stall. We're almost in position."
He had seconds to decide.
And only one chance to get this right.
Victor's mind raced. He needed to buy time just enough for Anita's team to get into position.
He took a slow step forward, keeping his hands raised. "Otieno, you and I both know Joseph doesn't forgive failure. If Elijah dies, he'll see this as your mistake."
Otieno's smirk faltered for a second.
Victor pressed on. "Think about it. You have me right here. If I die, the heat on Joseph doubles. The government will come after him harder."
Otieno's grip on the gun wavered.
That was the opening Victor needed.
A deafening 'bang' shattered the tension.
Julius moved first, tackling Otieno to the ground as Anita's team stormed in. Gunfire erupted, filling the warehouse with chaos.
Victor rushed to Elijah, cutting through his restraints. "Can you walk?"
Elijah coughed. "Just get me out of here."
Julius held down Otieno, his gun pressed against the man's temple. "What do we do with him?"
Victor hesitated. Killing Otieno would send a message, but keeping him alive could expose Joseph.
Before he could decide, Otieno sneered. "It doesn't matter. You'll never touch him."
Victor's jaw tightened. "We'll see about that."
They had won the battle.
But the war was far from over.
---
Back at a safehouse, Elijah drank water like a man who had been starved for days.
Victor watched him closely. "Elijah, we need everything you have on Joseph."
Elijah wiped his mouth. "I have files, bank records, offshore accounts, shell companies." His voice shook. "Joseph isn't just running corruption. He's laundering money for cartels."
Julius whistled. "That explains why he's untouchable."
Anita leaned forward. "Where are the files?"
Elijah hesitated. "Hidden. But I can get them."
Victor's stomach twisted. "How hidden?"
Elijah's eyes darkened. "They're in my old office."
Julius groaned. "You mean the office inside the county headquarters? The one crawling with Joseph's men?"
Elijah nodded.
Victor exhaled. "Then we'll just have to steal them."
The county headquarters was a fortress. Joseph had ensured that.
Victor, Anita, and Julius sat in a parked car across the street, going over their plan.
Julius pointed to a side entrance. "We go in through there. Security is lighter at night."
Anita frowned. "And if we get caught?"
Victor's voice was firm. "Then we fight our way out."
They moved swiftly. Disguised as late-night clerks, they slipped past the guards and into the building.
Elijah's office was on the third floor. Every step felt like walking on a minefield.
As they reached the door, Anita whispered, "Hurry."
Elijah yanked open a drawer, pulling out a flash drive. "Got it."
Julius turned toward the hallway and froze.
Footsteps.
Coming fast.
They were not alone.
---