Beneath the Ashes, He Rose

Chapter 4: Warehouse Baptism

Like a gnawed beast, the warehouse crouched on the brink of the Anacostia, its corroded steel ribs exposed to the darkness.  Blood-colored pulses flew across the cracked concrete as a lone red exit sign buzzed and flickered above the loading area.  With the Glock lifted in a two-handed grip and the barrel sweeping shadows, Tatiana entered via the side entrance.  The air tasted like old blood and diesel.

"Clear," she shouted in a hushed voice.

Alexander trailed after, his scar glaring in the red light, a silk mask pressed up against his forehead.  With her quilt draped like a shawl, Mira slept against his shoulder.  Cole came up the back, eyes scanning, AR-15 slung.

Broken glass crunched beneath Tatiana's boots.  "The place has a death odor."

Alexander whispered, "Better than prison."

Cole opened a container with a kick.  Inside are C-4 bricks, communications devices, and tactical vests.  "The care package for Grayson."  He has a romantic side.

Tatiana raised a vest and holstered her Glock.  "Make a plan?"

Alexander wrapped the quilt around Mira and placed her on a pallet stack.  Benjamin's gala is scheduled for tomorrow.  Senate donors, live stream, black tie.  We bring it down, reveal the patents, and activate the heir clause.  By dawn, Mira has 51 percent of Whitaker Dynamics.

Tatiana's fingers froze on the straps of her vest.  "What about the sniper?"

"Handled."  Alexander tapped the device in his ear.  "Sitrep, Grayson."

Crane has a cold.  Fish is the body's food.  However, I can see movement (three heat signatures on the east side of the roof).  Armed.

Cole fired a bullet.  "I'll assume the superior position."

Alexander gave a nod.  "With me, Tat."

Boots silent, they made their way farther inside the warehouse.  Silver bars striped the floor as moonlight slanted through damaged skylights.  Tatiana felt her heart pound in her ears.

Alexander halted beneath the exit sign that was flickering.  Silk covered his face like a second skin as he drew the mask down.  The Phantom returned her gaze.

"Seven years," he added in a hushed tone.  "This is what I dreamed of."

Tatiana moved in close.  Through the mask, her fingers followed the scar.  "I ceased having dreams.  began to live.

Pressing her hand to his cheek, he grabbed her wrist.  "No more surviving."

They mixed their breaths.  Her lips brushed the fabric across his mouth as she stood up on her toes.  "Show me."

Crushing his mouth into hers, he pulled the mask up just enough.  The kiss (teeth, tongue, the scrape of stubble) was starving.  He flushed as her hands fisted his coat.  With rough calluses against the soft skin of her waist, his palm crept under her sweatshirt.  She arched against him, shivering.

A gentle thump above.  They dispersed, arms raised.

In their earpieces, Cole said, "The roof team is descending."  Zip lines.  Thirty seconds.

Alexander lowered the mask.  "Positions."

Tatiana hid behind one of the forklifts.  Alexander hid across from him, Glock steady.  Mira muttered as she stirred on the pallets.

The first intruder rappelled quickly and fell through a skylight.  MP5 silenced, black tactical equipment.  Tatiana made a single center mass shot.  The rope tangled as the corpse jerked to the ground.

The second man rolled and landed.  He was struck in the throat by Alexander's round.  The concrete was splashed with blood.

At the edge, the third hesitated, watched his comrades fall, and attempted to get back up.  Through the skylight, Cole's sniper fire struck and captured the top of his skull.  The corpse fell like a bag.

Quiet.

Tatiana let out a breath and dropped her weapon.  "That's all of them?"

Grayson: "Unfavorable.  Outside, the SUV just rolled up.  Four more.  Benjamin's voice on communications (he is present).

Alexander's eyes became crazed.  "He desires the heir."

Tatiana clenched her jaw.  "He wins a war."

The loading bay was where they went.  The large roll-up door squealed up.  With four mercs wearing bulletproof vests on either side of him, Benjamin Whitaker stood in the floodlights in a perfectly fitted tuxedo.

"Good evening, Alex," Benjamin called with a greasy grin.  "Let's keep things simple.  Turn the child over.

With his mask on, Alexander moved into the light.  "My life was stolen by you.  I'll take yours now.

Benjamin laughed.  "It's still dramatic.  I own the patents.  I own the business.  The girl is,

Glock pointed at Benjamin's forehead as Tatiana moved to stand next to Alexander.  Say it.  I challenge you.

Benjamin paused his smile.  "Tatiana.  The wild card is always present.

A merc held up his rifle.  Cole yelled and fell after his knee was struck by Cole's sniper fire.  The others stopped.

Alexander moved forward.  At daybreak, Mira inherits.  You're finished.

Benjamin reached into his jacket with his hand.  "Or I burn everything."  With a detonator, he pulled.  In the foundation, C-4.  This location turns into a crater with a single click.  child included.

On the trigger, Tatiana's finger became white.  "You would murder your own niece?"

"Damage to collateral."  Benjamin hovered his thumb.

Alexander made a lunge.  Clattering across the concrete, the detonator flew.  Benjamin's mercs started shooting.  After rolling, Alexander returned two rounds, both of which were headshots.  Tatiana squashed the detonator beneath her boot after diving in and scooping it up.

Benjamin ran toward the SUV.  The windshield was broken by Cole's subsequent round.  The driver sagged.  Benjamin slammed the door and jumped into the rear seat.  Tires peeled out and spun.

After that, Alexander ran, shooting at the tires.  Rubber tore; the SUV struck a barrier, fishtailed, and its engine died.

When Tatiana got to Mira, she picked her up.  The girl opened her eyes.  "Mom?"

"Be quiet, sweetheart.  Daddy is on his way.

Alexander opened the door of the SUV with a wrench.  Benjamin fumbled for his handgun.  Alexander gave him two punches.  Benjamin's tuxedo shirt was covered in blood.

"You set me up," Alexander growled, his fist up.

Blood was spat out by Benjamin.  "You obstructed the path."

With Mira on her hip, Tatiana emerged.  "Alex."

His fist trembled as he froze.  "Not in front of her," Tatiana replied with her eyes.

Lowering his hand, Alexander took Benjamin by the lapels and pulled him into the warehouse.  Cole secured his wrists with a zip.

Grayson's voice: "Inbound cops.  Five minutes.

Tatiana caught Alexander's eye.  He goes to the gala with us.  Stream the confession live.

Manic laughter escaped Benjamin's lips.  "You will never be admitted."

Tatiana grinned icily.  "We've received invitations."  She took two engraved cards that had been stolen from Benjamin's jacket out of her pocket.

Her forehead was kissed by Alexander.  "That's my girl."

They gagged Benjamin and loaded him into the trawler's hold.  From the pier, Cole hot-wired a panel van.  Mira, quilt and all, was belted in the back by Tatiana.

Alexander got behind the wheel.  With her hand on his thigh, Tatiana snuggled in next to him.

"The world sees the truth tomorrow," she declared.

He put his hand over hers.  "After that, we head home."

Warehouse fires dimmed in the rearview as the vehicle moved into the night.

Through the windshield, Tatiana's heart was illuminated by a red laser (stable, patient).