Page 17 of Dirty Empire

The week passes without incident. The calm before the storm hangs in the air, waiting to strike thunder on the ill-prepared. Miles must think he has it in the bag. In his perverted mind, he’s offed a badass arms dealer and is successfully punishing his wayward wife. Not on my watch. I don't have a lion tattooed on me for nothing. I’m a survivor of many things, and if Miles wants a war, then that’s what he would get.

Nobody plays with the lives of my staff. Nobody puts their hands on innocent victims while I’m around. I wouldn’t allow it. I push the negative thoughts about Hazel to the back of my mind. Who knows how she is suffering now.

A surprise informant came to me in the most unusual of ways. My cell phone rang at my office desk. Mike’s name flashed across the screen. I answered and waited for him to speak.

“Hey boss, we got a guy named Miguel who wants to speak to you. Says he’s from Miles’s camp. You game?” I raised my eyebrows. This ought to be interesting. I knew the phones were tapped already by Mike, so I would entertain it.

“Yeah, patch him through. Let’s see what he has to say. You got me covered, right?”

“Yeah, I got it. Don’t worry; we are tracing the call. Plus, we got him tapped.”

“Alright, go ahead.” I heard Mike click off and then heavy breathing on the line.

“Senor! I can’t speak long. I have news.”

“Go ahead. What do you want?”

”I’m Miguel, the pool guy from Miles’s house. I want to tell you; he has Hazel here. She’s here. She is in trouble. Please hurry. He’s loco. This guy is loco!” I sat up then. My spidey senses had me ready for war. I had to get to her. Pronto.

“Ok. Here’s what I need you to do. Get a prepaid phone and only call me on that line. Never call from the house phone again. He’ll be tracing you.”

“Yes. Yes, I understand. Please hurry.”

“Sit tight. Oh, and Miguel, is it?”

“Yes.” I could hear the quiver in his voice. I wanted to know if he was double-crossing me and Miles put him up to it.

“If you’re lying to me, you’re a dead man.”

“No, no! Promise. I would not. I love Hazel. She cares for my family. She loves us. He’s evil. Pure evil. Please help.”

“Ok. You want to help? I need you to keep me posted on everything! Follow my instructions to the letter.”

“Yessir.”

Chapter Six: Execution Time

Maverick

D-day finally arrived. The FBI and I are assembled in Hawaii, ready for the takedown. An hour ago, the intelligence team informed us of Miles’s arrival. We’re camped out in a large van behind a warehouse.

The men that surround me are all FBI agents, but thanks to Dustin, they don't ask questions. To them, I’m just a wealthy man who had an unfortunate run-in with Miles. They don't need to know I’m behind this entire plan. There are hundreds of other men surrounding the warehouse, but they’re out of sight. They’re waiting for the order to attack.

The FBI is running top-of-the-line surveillance in and outside the warehouse building, so I can hear and watch every movement that Miles makes. Satellite gear, high tech stuff. I’m in a secure space peering into Miles’s sick brain.

“Let’s get this money,” I hear Miles say. I watch from the screen as a team of six men, all dressed in black, led Miles to the door. Miles’s hair is greased back away from his pale skin. Just the sight of him has me clenching my teeth together. He has Hazel locked up in his house while he goes along with business as usual. It takes everything in me not to jump out of the van and put a bullet in his head.

Vladimir, my biggest competitor, and five of his men are seated inside the warehouse at a conference table. In front of them are bottles of champagne and plates of caviar. Vladimir is in on the scam. He owes me big, and I’m using today to call in that favor. He’d go to prison after this but because he’s agreed to help the FBI with this whole thing he’ll only be serving five years. It’s a way to wipe his slate clean. After they prosecute him, they can’t go after him again for anything he’s done in the past. I wonder if he’s trying to leave this life too.

Miles approaches the table, saluting Vladimir. Vladimir, dressed in a black suit, stands to greet Miles with a one-handed embrace while patting him across the back with the other hand. Miles sits down across from Vladimir. All the men are armed. Two of Vladimir’s men are actually federal agents, risking their lives to take down Miles.

Vladimir speaks first. “Today, my friend, you become the most powerful arms dealer in the world, and today you will possess more weapon power than anyone has ever seen. Let us toast to this momentous occasion.”

Miles, like a cat lapping up cream, smirks. He raises a glass of champagne to toast with Vladimir.

“I have your goods, Vladimir, but before we do anything, don’t you want to introduce me to your comrades here?”

I watch the whole exchange, shaking my head at Miles’s bravado. He has no idea what’s about to hit him.

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