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Chapter 7%
My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest as the guard’s flashlight swept over the inside of the car.
“Papers please,” the guard barked again, his voice sharp and authorative.
Daniel didn’t flinch. He leaned casually across the driver’s seat, pulling a neatly folded set of documents from the glove compartment. “Here you go, officer,” he said, his tone calm.%
I clenched my hands in my lap, trying to keep my face impassive as the guard scanned the papers. Every second felt like an eternity.
The guard squinted at the documents, then back at Daniel. “You’re Andrew Grant?*%
“That’s me,” Daniel said with a faint smile. “Taking my team on a fishing trip. Long night ahead.“%
The guard glanced at the rest of us, his eyes lingering on me for a fraction of a second longer than I liked. I resisted the urge to look away, keeping my expression neutral./
Finally, after what felt like forever, he nodded and handed the papers back. “You’re clear. Next time, make sure you have everything ready before you get to the gate.”
“Will do,” Daniel replied, starting the engine.”
As the car pulled away, I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“That was close, Sue muttered from the backseat./
Daniel smirked. “Relax. They bought it, didn’t they?“%
We parked near the docks and quickly made our way to the yacht Daniel had arranged. The night was still heavy, with only the faintest glow on the horizon hinting at the approaching dawn.”
“We need to move fast,” Daniel said as we boarded. “Morning’s coming, and we don’t want to be out in the open when it does.“%
The yacht was small but sturdy, equipped with enough supplies for a journey across the bay. Once we were all aboard, Calix and Chlyrus worked to untie the boat while Sue started the engine.
As we drifted into the open water, the tension in the air began to ease. For the first time in what felt like days, I let myself breathe. But relief was short–lived.”
“How are we supposed to get into the Netherlands without getting caught?” Sue asked, breaking the silence.%
“Good question,” I said, standing near the navigation panel. “Luckily, I might have a solution.“Z
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
I pulled their laptop and began typing furiously. “If we’re going to make it through security, we need fake identifications–ones that won’t raise any red flags. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll have IDs for all of us.“%
The team watched in silence as I worked, my fingers flying across the keyboard. It wasn’t long before I had created convincing documents for myself, Daniel, Sue, Calix, Chlyrus, and Blake./
“There,” I said, spinning the laptop around to show them. “New names, new faces. These will hold up under most basic scrutiny.“} “Impressive,” Daniel said, a hint of admiration in his voice./
“It’s what I do,” I replied, shutting the laptop. “Now, about this mission of yours–what exactly are we getting into?“?
Daniel leaned against the failing, his gaze distant. “Our main target is a man known only as Mr. M. He’s the one pulling the strings behind Victor Salvani and his entire operation.”
“And what’s his deal?” I asked, crossing my arms.”
Sue’s voice cut through the night. “He’s a monster. Runs one of the largest illegal operations in the world. Exploits the vulnerable, profits off suffering. Healthcare scams, human trafficking–you name it.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “He’s the reason my father’s dead. Took everything from us.”}
I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. For the first time, I saw the pain behind his stoic exterior.2
“That’s why you’re doing this,” I said softly.
He nodded. “It’s personal. But it’s bigger than that. Someone has to stop him.”
Silence fell over the group as the yacht continued its journey across the bay.
Hours later, the faint lights of the Netherlands appeared on the horizon. The tension returned, thicker than before.
“Almost there,” Calix said, his voice low.”
But as we approached the docks, a new problem arose. Guards were stationed at every entrance, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.
“There’s no way we’re getting past them,” Sue muttered, her voice laced with frustration. “They’ll check us all, and our faces are plastered across every wanted list by now.“[
“We need another option,” I said, scanning the shoreline for an alternative.
Daniel frowned. “We don’t have time for detours. The longer we wait, the riskier it gets.”
I squinted at the far end of the bay, where the shoreline dipped into a secluded cove. “What about over there? It’s out of sight, and we can dock without drawing attention.“”
Sue followed my gaze and nodded. “It’s risky, but it might work.“}
Then let’s do it,” Daniel said, taking the wheel.
As the yacht veered toward the cove, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. My unease grew with every passing second, but I kept it to myself.
When we finally reached the cove, we disembarked quickly, moving with practiced efficiency. But just as we stepped onto the shore, a spotlight swept over us.
“Freeze!” a voice shouted, cutting through the darkness.N
I turned to see a group of armed men emerging from the shadows, their faces hidden beneath dark masks.
“Looks like we’ve been expected,” Daniel muttered.N
And just like that, the fragile hope of escape shattered.N
#
