41
Ryan leaned against the elevator wall, fatigue etched into every line of his face. Two <b>days </b>of rest in this mediocre Venezun hotel hadn’t done much to ease the bone–deep exhaustion guing him. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting harsh shadows across the faces of his <b>team</b>.
“We got Xavier back,” he announced to the three men crowded into the elevator with him. “That’s something at least.”
Zach snorted, adjusting his tactical vest. “Yeah, and we’re burning through our savings <b>just </b>staying in this shithole. Remember when we used to get the presidential suite?”
“Remember when we used to get paid?” Xavier added bitterly, his dark eyes fixed on the descending floor numbers. “It’s been almost a year since we lost a decent contract. Another month like this and
Titan Defense Group will be nothing but a fucking memory.”
Ryan clenched his jaw. “That’s why we’re taking this escort job.”
“Escort job?” Zachughed humorlessly. “You mean babysitting some diplomat’s nephew for pocket
change? We’re worth ten times what they’re offering.”
“We’re worth whatever the market says we’re worth,” Ryan replied sharply. “And right now, this is our
only option to keep the team operational.”
The elevator stopped on the fifth floor, doors sliding open to reveal a slender young woman. Ryan immediately noted her casual stance–too casual, almost deliberately so. Their eyes met briefly, and something about her gaze made the hair on his neck stand up.
She stepped in without hesitation, positioning herself in the corner. Ryan couldn’t shake the feeling
he’d seen her before.
Xavier leaned closer, dropping his voice. “After this job, I’m out, Ryan. I’m not going down with this
sinking ship.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ever since the Commander died, we’ve been nothing in the mercenary market,” Xavier hissed. “We used to be elite. Now we’re cannon fodder taking scraps no one else wants.”
Ryan started to respond when he noticed the young woman watching them with undisguised interest. He fell silent as the elevator reached the lobby.
<b>10:13 </b>Wed<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17
As they exited, the woman followed, maintaining a careful distance but clearly trailing them.
<b>41 </b>
Six hourster, Ryan gripped the steering wheel of an armored transport vehicle<b>, </b>leading a convoy of seven identical vehicles down a winding mountain road. Dust billowed behind them<b>, </b>obscuring the dense Venezun jungle on either side.
The radio crackled. “This is bullshit,” came Zach’s voice. “Fifth time we’ve taken a job below market
rate. We used to have standards.”
“Save theints for after we deliver the package,” Ryan responded tersely
Zach was about to respond when a deafening explosion rocked his vehicle. The front left tire blew out, sending the armored transport into a violent spin. He fought the wheel, managing to bring it to
a stop just before hitting a tree.
“Ambush!” he shouted into the radio, reaching for his weapon.
Gunfire erupted from the surrounding jungle. Ryan counted at least twenty armed men emerging
from the foliage, their weapons trained on the convoy.
“Look what we have here,” a voice called out in ented English. A tall man with a scar running
down his cheek stepped forward. “The famous Titan Defense Group. Not so impressive anymore, are
you<b>?</b>”
Ryan took cover behind his vehicle, assessing their options. They were outnumbered nearly three to
one<b>. </b>
“You can’t even do basic recon,” the man continued, advancing confidently. “This route has been
under our control for weeks.”
Xavier, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead, suddenly broke cover. “I’m fucking sick of being disrespected!” He opened fire, taking down two of the attackers before being forced back by return
fire.
Ryan joined the fight, his training taking over as he moved between positions, trying to even the odds. But it was hopeless. Within minutes, Xavier took a bullet to his leg, copsing with a pained <b>cry</b>. Two more of Ryan’s men were hit, and their position became untenable.
The scarred man approached, stepping deliberately on Ryan’s tactical vest where hey pinned.
10:13 Wed, <b>Sep </b>17
41
“Your Commander died, and Titan Defense Group should have died with her. You can’t even handle a simple escort job.”
With that, the attackers seized their cargo and departed, leaving Ryan and his team bloodied and
defeated in the dirt.
“Just scored another easy win against those Titan Defense losers,” the scarred man gloated into his radio as his convoy sped away. “They’re nothing without their Commander. Complete waste of-”
He never finished the sentence. No one noticed the extra person who had somehow appeared in the convoy. The middle transport suddenly swerved, crashing into the vehicle ahead. The entire convoy ground to a chaotic halt amid screeching metal and shouting.
The scarred man jumped from his vehicle, weapon drawn. “What the hell is happening?”
His answer came when one of his men flew from the driver’s seat of the lead transport,nding in
the dirt with a sickening thud.
“We have to go after them,” Ryan growled, helping Xavier bind his wounded leg. “This has gone on
long enough.”
“Are you insane?” one of his men protested. “We’re outnumbered and outgunned.”
“Ever since the Commander got blown to hell, our reputation’s been in the gutter,” Xavier said through gritted teeth. “Every two–bit outfit thinks they can push us around.”
Ryan checked his weapon. “Then we prove them wrong. Today. We get the cargo back andplete the mission, or Titan Defense Group really is finished.”
Xavier struggled to his feet. “Fuck it. I’d rather go down fighting than live like this. Let’s do it.”
As they prepared to pursue, the rumble of engines caught their attention. Ryan raised his weapon,
then froze in disbelief.
Their stolen transport vehicles were returning.
The lead vehicle stopped twenty yards away. The door opened, and a young woman jumped down-
<b>10:13 </b><b>Wed</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>17 </b>
the same one from the elevator. Behind her, the scarred man stumbled out, <b>his </b><b>face </b>bloodied <b>and </b>
swollen.
1411
Ryan stared, uprehending.
“I heard your Commander is dead,” the woman said casually, walking toward them. “Seems like <b>Titan </b>
Defense Group has been rudderless for a while now.”
Zach stepped forward, his expression incredulous. “And what the fuck do you think you’re going to do about it, little girl? Lead Titan Defense Group yourself?”
The woman smiled, a cold, dangerous curve of her lips that sent a chill down Ryan’s spine.
“Not good enough?” she asked, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable edge of authority.
Ryan couldn’t help the strange sense of familiarity washing over him. Something about her stance, her eyes, the way she held herself…
He knew her. But that was impossible.
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