Beneath the Ashes, He Rose

Chapter 3: Blood Envelope

The moment the red dot kissed Tatiana's sternum, her spine went into lockstep.  The rusty, cordite-tasting air in the warehouse thickened.  Mira whimpered as she felt Alexander's arms tighten around her.

He yelled, "Down!" and shoved Tatiana to the side.

Behind a pallet stack, they struck the concrete.  As the first round punched through corrugated iron, wood splintered over their heads.  Another came next, gnawing on the crate next to Mira's foot.

Alexander's earpiece exploded with Grayson's voice.  Two hundred yards to the north, sniper on the crane.  The wind still has five knots.  I have eyes.

Alexander yanked Tatiana flush against his chest and commanded, "Take the shot."  Her heart pounded on his ribs.

"Unfavorable.  The splash zone has too many civilians.  I need you to start a fire.

The fingers of Tatiana sunk inside Alexander's coat.  "People?"

He responded sadly, "Mira."  "And you."

Another round bounced off a steel beam and whined by.  It showered sparks.  Alexander's neck was where Mira buried her face.

Glock raised, and Tatiana crawled to the edge of cover.  "I count one flash of the muzzle.  crane cab.

Alexander's gaze grew strained.  "Smoke on the riverbank, Grayson.  Give us 30 seconds.

"Replicate.  Quit smoking.

Hissing gray, a canister rattled through a shattered skylight.  Choking fog covered the warehouse.  Alexander took Tatiana's wrist and snatched Mira.  "Dock loading."  Proceed.

They ran.  Concrete was battered by boots.  Dust was kicked up as bullets stitched the floor behind them.  Tatiana fired three rapid blasts into the fog, blindly.  From the crane came a grunt.

They stormed onto the pier through a side door.  The smell of dead fish and oil filled the Anacostia.  Engine idling, a rusting fishing vessel bobbed against the pilings.  From the helm, Cole waved.

"Get on board!"  Alexander let out a shout.

Tatiana leaped the opening and landed forcefully.  Cole caught Mira like a football after Alexander threw her across.  Alexander flailed his coat and followed.  The water where they had stood was struck by the sniper's subsequent bullet.

Cole pushed the accelerator.  The bow rose as the trawler lurched.  Tatiana whipped her hair and braced herself against the rail.  Mira gripped her leg tightly.

Alexander looked around the crane.  Hunting, the red dot scoured the dock.  “Light him up, Grayson.”

"Drones are moving."  Ten seconds.

Tatiana buzzed her burner.  Unknown figure.  "Speaker on," she said.

The voice of Benjamin Whitaker was as seductive as poison.  "Good evening, my love.  Having fun at the reunion?

The phone was grabbed by Alexander.  "Where are you, bitch of a son?"

"Nearer than you may imagine."  A laugh.  "Alex, turn over the girl.  The secret to everything is her.

Tatiana had fire in her eyes.  "Over my corpse."

"That can be set up."

The call went dead.

Armed with hellfire, the drone sped across the sky.  Metal twisted as orange fire burst from the crane cab.  The sniper's body fell and splashed into the river.

Cole steered into the center lane of the river and banked hard.  The water was splattered with D.C. lights.  Alexander shielded Mira between them and drew Tatiana closer.

With a trembling voice, Tatiana begged, "Explain."  "Everything."

Alexander let out a breath.  I submitted patent applications for quantum encryption seven years ago.  billions of dollars.  Benjamin claimed the technology was Whitaker Dynamics, faked my signature, and buried me in Blackridge.  I am listed as the primary shareholder on Mira's birth certificate.  If I die, she will inherit.  To activate the provision, they declared me dead tonight.

Tatiana's cheeks turned pale.  "They want her dead."

"Or under control."  He combed Mira's hair.  "She's leverage in any case."

Cole turned out the lights.  "We're not alone.  Two speedboats are rapidly approaching.

Tatiana looked off into the night.  Searchlights sweep across the river as twin wakes slash it.

Alexander reached into his pocket and took out the silk mask.  "Take Mira below, Tat.  Secure the hatch.

She paused.  "I won't abandon you."

"You're not.  You are preserving her life.  He gave her a passionate kiss and tasted gunpowder and terror.  "Go."

After grabbing Mira, Tatiana vanished down the companionway.  Cole and Alexander ascended to the flybridge.

"Armory?"

Cole's chin jerked in the direction of a locker.  Alexander opened it (flashgun, grenades, AR-15).  A magazine was slapped home by him.

Alongside, the first speedboat roared, chattering machine guns.  The trawler's hull was patched by bullets.  The boat trembled as Cole swerved.  Alexander returned fire, muzzle flash strobing.  The shooter fell.

In an attempt to flank, the second boat circled.  A grenade was thrown by Alexander.  It landed in the cockpit after arcing.  explosion.  Shredded fiberglass.  Sinking, the boat listed.

The only sound to break the silence was the roar of the engine.  Alexander descended to the cabin.  Mira slept on Tatiana's chest as she sat on the bunk.

He got down on his knees.  "We are clear."

She put her hand on his scar.  "This concludes tonight?"

"Starts tonight."

She reached for his neck and yanked him down.  They kissed more slowly now, purposefully.  She tasted of river water and salt.  His palm cradled her jaw, thumb tracing the pulse at her throat.

Over the intercom, Cole's voice cracked.  In five minutes, we will dock at Navy Yard.  Grayson has a safe haven.

Tatiana pressed Alexander's forehead to her own.  “What’s the plan?”

"We strike Benjamin in the tender spot.  His Senate gala.  Tomorrow evening.

Her eyes became stony.  "I'm on board."

For the first time in years, Alexander grinned.  I anticipated you would be.

A concealed pier was approached by the trawler.  With his tablet glowing, Grayson waited on the dock.  "Greetings from the war room."

With Mira in her arms, Tatiana left.  With his mask hidden, Alexander trailed behind.

Tatiana received a new burner from Grayson. "Isabella ping-ed me."  At dawn, Benjamin is relocating Mira's trust fund.  We own him, thus we halt the transfer.

Tatiana’s grip tightened.  "How?"

Alexander had a steely voice.  "We show up at the party."

Flames licked the sky as the warehouse behind them continued to burn.

Headlights off, a black SUV sat at the end of the pier.  The driver rolled down the window.  Lucy Martin grinned as she leaned out.  "Require a ride?"

The Glock was reared by Tatiana.  "You let us down."

Lucy gave a shrug.  Benjamin makes the payment.  But I'm aware of his sleeping quarters.  Are you interested?

Tatiana and Alexander looked at each other.  She brought the gun down.  “Get in.”

Lucy moved to the side.  Alexander got behind the wheel.  With its tires smoking, the SUV pulled out.

Mira was buckled in the back by Tatiana.  "Next stop?"

"Georgetown," said Alexander.  "We prepare.  After that, we destroy Whitaker's empire with fire.

The lights of the metropolis flickered by.  On the gearshift, Tatiana's hand touched his.  Their knuckles were white, their fingers interlaced.

In the earpiece, Grayson said: "Heat signatures were just picked up by the satellite.  At Dulles, Benjamin's private jet is refueling.  He's sprinting.

Alexander blew it away.  "Not far enough."

With taillights that winked like dying stars, the SUV disappeared into the night.