Blood for Power: The Mercenary's Return

Chapter 3: The Enemy Inside

There was a lot of stress in the safe house. Marcus walked back and forth, still trying to process the explosion and the betrayal he had just learned about. Jaxon sat at the table and nervously tapped his fingers on the edge of a folder. He wouldn't look Marcus in the eye.

Marcus said, "Talk to me, Jaxon." His voice was steady but had a hint of anger in it. "What aren't you telling me?"

Finally, Jaxon looked up, and his eyes were full of shame. "The Vultures are bigger than you think, Marcus." Quincy Knight didn't just come back to take over the streets. He has gotten into everything, including the police, the businesses, and the politicians. "They've got everyone in their pocket."

Marcus took in the information. He had always known that the Vultures were trouble, but this situation was far worse than he expected. This empire was much worse than he had ever thought. "And now they're coming for me?"

Jaxon nodded, his hands shaking. "Because you're the danger, Marcus." You have always been the one who could break them down. They can't take the chance that you'll come after them again.

Marcus's stomach got tight. He couldn't argue with the truth Jaxon was telling him. But he couldn't shake the feeling in his gut that something was wrong. Jaxon had always been a man of few words and steady in battle, not like this. "Why didn't you tell me, Jaxon?" Why the lies?

Jaxon rubbed his face, which was clearly hard for him. "I had no choice. I've been spying on them from inside the Vultures." Trying to take them down from the inside."

Marcus froze, and shock hit him like a punch. "An agent? So, all this time you've been giving me information, you've been working for them?

"I never wanted this, Marcus," Jaxon said quickly. "I had to do what I could to stay alive." But it's more complicated than we thought. People at the top, people we thought we could trust, Quincy is responsible for everything now. I was trying to kill him, but,

"But you couldn't do it by yourself?" Marcus cut in with a sharp voice. His faith in Jaxon, which had always been strong, was fading. "So, you lied." "You also betrayed me."

Jaxon looked down and didn't look Marcus in the eye. "I didn't let you down, Marcus. I was trying to hurt him. "You have to believe me."

The words hung in the air, but Marcus couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He had faith in Jaxon. They had fought and bled together. But now, everything seemed like a lie.

"Then why didn't you tell me about Malik?" The name slipped from Marcus's lips like poison. "Why didn't you tell me he was involved?"

Jaxon hesitated, his face showing pain. "Because I couldn't." Malik... he's deeper in than you think. Marcus, he's not just an enemy anymore. He's one of their close friends. He has been working for Quincy since the day he went missing.

The words hit Marcus hard, and he felt his chest tighten with rage and disbelief. Malik. His old friend, who was also his teammate, is now working for the same people who ruined their lives.

"Malik?" Marcus said, his voice hoarse. "He's been working with Quincy?"

"I'm sorry, Marcus." "Yes, it's true," Jaxon said, sounding sorry. "He's not the same man you thought he was. They have his sister. They have been keeping her as a prisoner, and he has had to comply with their demands.

Marcus's mind was racing. Malik, who had to work for the Vultures? This was the same Malik who had fought by Marcus's side in the hardest battles. Marcus's heart sank when he realized what was going on. Quincy used his old friend as a pawn in his game.

Marcus spoke softly. "So, what do you want me to do now? Do you want to kill him? "Let him die?"

Jaxon looked him in the eye, his face serious. "Marcus, we need to act quickly. He won't stop if Malik is really in as deep as we think. We can't afford to take him lightly if he still works for Quincy.

The words were heavy on Marcus's mind. He wanted to believe that there was still a chance to save Malik, but the man he had known was getting further away. He couldn't ignore the fact that Malik was just as dangerous now as the enemies they had fought together.

Marcus said in a cold voice, "I'll take care of Malik." "But we need to target their most vulnerable point." We can't wait any longer. We'll go after one of their big drug shipments, which is part of their supply chain. "We can't keep playing defense."

Jaxon looked at Marcus with clear worry. "We need to be careful. They will be waiting for us. They know we're on our way.

Marcus didn't care. They had been on defense for too long. It was time to fight back. He wasn't going to let Quincy run his city.

A loud crack came before Jaxon could answer. Gunfire from outside broke the windows, and an explosion shook the walls of the safe house. The blast had already taken Marcus's breath away when he instinctively dove for cover.

He looked at Jaxon, who was already getting his gun out. "Stay low," Jaxon said in a loud voice. "Go to the back."

Marcus's mind raced as they hurried to their feet. Someone had found them, and whoever they were, they were here to kill them.

The door slammed open, and a person stepped out, their outline lit up by the streetlights. Marcus got tense and tightened his grip on his gun. Then he saw it: the snake symbol, the emblem.

"Vultures," Marcus said quietly to himself. His heart skipped a beat. He had seen the event coming. He just didn't think it would happen so soon.

The figure moved closer, and his face was cold and difficult to read. "Marcus Carter," the man said, his voice smooth and thought out. "We've been waiting for you."

Marcus's finger was on the trigger, but he couldn't do anything before he heard another shot. The sniper's bullet hit one of his men in the chest, and he fell to the ground.

Marcus's blood ran cold. It was a shot to warn. The sniper was not done yet. He was aware of that.

"Get to safety!" Jaxon yelled and pulled Marcus to the back of the safe house. Marcus, on the other hand, couldn't move. Malik stood in the doorway, and his eyes were fixed on the shadowy figure.

"Malik," Marcus said in a low voice. His old friend was there, with a rifle over his shoulder and a serious look on his face.

"Marcus," Malik said in a low, raspy voice. "I didn't want this." But I don't have a choice.

As Marcus moved forward, he heard the unmistakable sound of another sniper bullet, this time aimed at him.