Chapter 37
the freezing rain lashed against the rusted shipping containers as ryan stalked through the shadows of the shipyard. he was no longer the polished businessman in the tailored suit; he was a phantom, dressed in tactical black, his face hardened by five years of relentless war. silas and his men had already neutralized the perimeter guards. now, it was just ryan and victor. "you can't hide forever, victor!" ryan's voice boomed across the empty docks, echoing off the steel. gunfire erupted from a crane overhead, bullets sparking against the container inches from ryan's face. ryan didn't flinch. he returned fire with deadly accuracy, striking the sniper. a heavy thud sounded a few yards away as victor dropped from a lower catwalk, clutching a bleeding shoulder. he stumbled into the open clearing, his assault rifle empty, his empire in ashes. victor fell to his knees in the mud, laughing bitterly as ryan stepped out of the shadows, aiming his pistol directly at his former friend's chest. "do it," victor spat, blood dripping from his chin. ryan's finger hovered over the trigger, but a sudden sound made him stop. a slow, deliberate clapping echoed from the darkness.
