A BLOODY ENCOUNTERDoctor Fernandez had made a quick stopover at the hospital to carry her first aid box, a drip stick and a pint of blood from the blood bank. She gave Caleb the blood to smear some on his face, head and part of his upper body.It was Caleb who remembered the stunt he and Pedro had pulled when they embarked on the planned trip to El-Zaki's mansion before their mission was aborted due to the ambush that led to the first bloody clash.Caleb did a perfect job and it wasn't difficult to fool the security guy. He let the doctor drive in after seeing Caleb's messy body and the drip infused into his forearm. His head was bandaged with a bloody gauze. As soon as they passed the gate, Mr Ramirez put a call to Caleb. "How do you plan on getting him out with just the two of you?" Caleb didn't know what Adriana was planning. It was shameful to imagine that the same person he didn't want to be in their team happened to be their only shot at succeeding on this mission. But it was
PLEASE DON'T DIE"Can't you hear me?" Caleb shook Adriana by the shoulder but she didn't stir."We have to go, Dezani, otherwise the police will round us up." Mr Ramirez repeated impatiently.Caleb didn't pay him any mind. He kept trying to rouse the doctor. "Is this how you easily abandon one of your own?" His tone was laced with accusation and bitterness.Another gunshot thundered forcing Dragon to yell at them. "They're coming. Let's leave, now!"Caleb went down on both knees and scooped Adriana into his arms. Then in a swift motion, stood up and ran towards his car. Mr Ramirez was behind to help get the door. He lay her on the backseat and closed the door. Just then a bullet flew past his ear by a hair's breath. "Fucking bastards!" he cursed and shunted to his side. Then crawled on all fours to the driver's seat and got in.Mr Ramirez wanted to make a run for his car where Dragon had already started the engine but bullets were flying everywhere. He wouldn't make it without being h
HE SUSPECTS FOUL PLAY"How is that possible?" roared El-Zaki. "That a man well-guarded is snatched right under the noses of the police?" "They came heavily armed with sophisticated weapons. We lost two of our men during the attack while three others are severely injured," the deputy inspector explained. "I don't know how I will explain this to the commissioner by morning." "That is your kettle of fish, deputy inspector Brown. I've got a much bigger problem at hand." "Do you know how many of my men have been killed tonight? All of them! They've all been slaughtered like chickens." El-Zaki continued to lash out at the man without any consideration. He was so enraged that his explanations fell on deaf ears. "Well, there's only one course of action that can save your ass: and that is for you to find out those responsible and hint at me. I want to know who they are. Whom they're working for. And lastly, how they got wind of the extraction plan because no one else except you, and maybe
TAKEN BY SURPRISEEl-Zaki secretly arrived in Spain and checked into Ley Roy Hotel. At the airport, he told Nathan he wanted to travel alone. "I will need you to stay back at home to keep the place running while I'm gone," he stated. "But, boss, Mr Hart..." "My son will be busy at the company as usual," he reminded him when he brought up the subject of Hart being around, "so I will need someone to be my watchdog at home." Nathan at first thought it was a calculated attempt to keep him at bay. But after the Don left and he spoke with Barrister Crusoe via his new private phone, the old lawyer told him it was a perfect time to carry out their assignment. "No, this is just perfect," he said gleefully. "Now that he's gone, the house will be less guarded. And we will make our move to find the document. "Don't you think, as you stated before, this might as well be a trap?" reasoned Nathan. "Perhaps he has hidden cameras installed in strategic places and might catch us red-handed." The
BEATING THE CLOCK"Father, someone broke into your chamber. I think they were searching for something." El-Zaki thought he didn't hear his son well. He asked, "Do you mind repeating what you just said?" His eyes were glittery in the hotel's chandelier light; like a cornered tiger on sighting its prey in the jungle. "We had a general power outage within the estate. It was announced that it would only take about fifteen minutes. Fortunately, the light was restored a little after ten minutes." The Don was grunting, his breathing awkward and uneven. "So what happened?" "I started hearing noises up. At first, I thought it was Nathan going up to do something because he wasn't home when I got back. I had returned to the house earlier than expected." "Did you see who they were?" he impulsively questioned. The Don was getting impatient. Then he remembered he was talking with his son and mellowed down a bit. "Because before anyone would dare to enter my chamber, it must be someone who kno
YOU DON'T PLAY FAIR "You have to make appearances at the conference if you must establish contact with the high and mighty in the Mafia world," emphasized Mr Ramirez to Caleb. They were together at the training center after the close of work that evening. "I cannot do it alone," he argued for the umpteenth time. "At least go with me this first time and maybe subsequently, I can go alone," Caleb pleaded. "You are braver than you give yourself credit for. And you will make a good leader someday - that much I can tell. All you have to do is believe in yourself." Caleb did not know the part of making a good leader. What he however knew was his determination to see to the end of his number one enemy - Don El-Zaki. The thought of revenge had overtaken him lately, like a cancerous cell, spreading rapidly into every fabric of his being. "I will be like a fish out of water," he gabbled and then stood up to stand behind his chair. "What you're asking me to do is walk into a hall filled wi
THE JOKE IS ON YOU El-Zaki got a call from Mr Ramirez. He was going to schedule their meeting to hold on the day El-Zaki had set to meet with him. But not without giving him a good dose of his bitter medicine. "Mr John told me you wanted an audience with me," he said. "Yes, please. There are urgent matters I feel only you can help me to sort out," the Don replied eagerly. "You know I am a businessman and I'm usually busy during morning hours till late in the afternoon..."El-Zaki didn't wait for him to finish, he chipped in, "I do not intend to take your time. Perhaps thirty minutes or thereabouts.""If that is the case, why don't you go ahead and say what you want over the phone?" Antonio said in a clipped tone, baiting him in. He knew what El-Zaki was trying to do. What he didn't realise was that he had his own plans. "That's not possible. A matter of this magnitude cannot be casually discussed over the phone," countered El-Zaki. "I crave your presence by all means." "Five o'
THE PENALTY Mr Ramirez turned to El-Zaki, his eyes shooting daggers at him. "What have you done to my family?" he roared. El-Zaki chuckled in a tone that mimicked Antonio's own. "Now it seems the tables have turned." Mr Ramirez narrowed his gaze quizzically. El-Zaki jerked his head prompting him to sit down but the puzzled man remained standing. "I haven't done anything - yet," he said slowly, then paused to let the warning in the last part of his word sink in. "You can trust that I have no intention of hurting them. Although that much will depend on you; if you're willing to oblige to my request."Antonio became crestfallen. He could easily work out of the room and order his men standing outside to manhandle the Don until he gives off the location his family is being held. But that might further endanger their lives. Especially his precious Katherine. She was his only daughter. The bright spot in the dark water of his chaotic world. He sat down again and tried to compose himse