“I want you to show Max that the Becker family doesn’t care about collateral damage when our property is threatened,” Bobby corrected, stabbing a finger at the map. “Arthur, you take the north. That’s the main entrance. You go in hard. No talking. Find Lena. If she’s alive, secure her. If she’s dead, confirm it, and get out.”Tommy leaned over the map. “We need a third team. A clean-up crew. The Yakuza won’t be expecting a third wave. Collins, your men are the reserve. You stay three blocks back. Once the initial fighting dies down, you move in and make sure every single Yakuza body stays where it falls. No witnesses, no survivors, no evidence we were ever there.”Collins, older and more cautious, adjusted his glasses. “Tommy, this is reckless. We’re exposing too many assets for a marginal gain. We should send a negotiator first.”“Negotiation is surrender, Collins,” Tommy said, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. “We are not Max. We do not negotiate with terrorists or street thu

Kim continued, his voice hardening. “I have a proposal for you, Nathan. A private meeting. Just you and me. No bodyguards. No games. We have some unfinished business, don’t we? I know you want to talk about that shipment I intercepted last month. I know you want to talk about the messages you’ve been sending to my rivals.”He released her hair, and Lena slumped back against the pipe, cradling her bleeding arm.“Come to the old shipyard warehouse, Pier 22. Alone. Tonight. If you bring anyone, if you tell anyone, I will send you the rest of her, piece by piece. And Nathan,” Kim paused, a chilling smile returning to his lips. “Don’t be late. She doesn’t have much time left.”Kim stepped back. “Stop recording, Nakamura. Send it. Only to Nathan’s private line. Now.”Nakamura nodded, his expression unreadable, and immediately began the process of encrypting and sending the video.Lena watched them, her body trembling. “Why are you doing this? What do you want?”Kim wiped the blade of his kn

They were getting closer to the docks. The air was starting to smell of salt and old fish. The distant rumble of the Becker assault at Pier 18 was growing louder, a low, ominous thrumming sound.Two blocks away. I need to be closer. I need to be there now.Nathan looked at the dashboard. Ronald’s phone was sitting in the center console, charging. If Nathan could just grab it, smash it, and run--no. Ronald would fight him, and the delay would be fatal.He needed a bigger distraction. Something that would force Ronald to stop, something that would give him a clean break.They passed a row of abandoned warehouses. The streets were dark, mostly empty, save for a few parked delivery trucks.“Pull over here,” Nathan ordered, his voice suddenly sharp.“We’re not two blocks away yet,” Ronald said, ignoring him.“I said pull over! I need to check something! I think I saw the informant’s car!” Nathan yelled, pointing wildly at a dark corner.Ronald slowed down, his suspicion instantly piqued. “

The black van stopped abruptly, its engine cutting out with a soft click. They were a block away from the warehouse at Pier 22. The air was heavy with the distant, rhythmic *thump-thump-thump* of automatic gunfire from Pier 18.Trisha, Nathan, Elias, and Cruz moved as one, slipping out of the van and melting into the shadows of the loading docks.Trisha pointed a finger toward a side door, then held up two fingers, indicating Elias and Cruz should take the main entrance. She then pointed at herself and Nathan, then back at the side door. Side entrance. Two.Nathan nodded, his grip tightening on the silenced pistol.They moved along the wall, Trisha leading. She stopped at the side door, a heavy, steel service entrance. She held up a hand, listening. The only sound was the wind rattling the corrugated iron and the distant, growing noise of the battle.Trisha produced a set of lock picks, working with silent, practiced ease. A soft *click* signaled the bolt was drawn. She pushed the doo

Nathan and Trisha froze. Below them, standing over the body of a Yakuza man, was Tommy Becker. He was covered in grime and blood, his face contorted with rage, his weapon still smoking. Behind him were three of his heavily armed men.Tommy pointed his rifle up at them. “I said, stop! Identify yourselves!”Nathan knew he had to act fast. He couldn’t afford a fight with the Beckers. He couldn't afford to be delayed.“It’s me, Tommy! Nathan! I’m with Max!” Nathan shouted, raising his hands slowly.Tommy squinted up at him, then lowered his weapon slightly, though his men kept theirs aimed. “Nathan? What in God’s name are you doing here? You’re supposed to be Max’s paper-pusher! You look like you just crawled out of a sewer!”“I was sent here by Max!” Nathan lied, falling back on the cover story he had concocted for Ronald. “I’m here about Lena! I got a tip that Kim’s informant was holding Lena here, trying to sell her back to Max!”Tommy scoffed. “Lena? That little runaway? We’re here fo