Page 51 of Azrael

Samurai stepped forward then, his footfalls nearly silent on the grimy floor.“This will put the club at risk,” he said, voice low and even.His dark eyes locked with Eli’s.“We’re not mercenaries.”

“The club isn’t involved,” I said sharply, turning to look at him.“This is on me.”

Samurai’s eyes narrowed slightly.“You wear the Boneyard patch, Azrael.There is no ‘just you’ anymore.”

I knew he was right, but I wasn’t backing down.Not with Mazida’s life on the line.Not with Zara counting on me.

“Details,” I said to Eli, turning back to face him.“Or we walk.”

Eli nodded once, then motioned to Stripes.“Your man already has what you need.I sent it when you entered the building.”

Stripes pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers tapping the screen.“Da, it’s here,” he confirmed.He moved to stand beside me, turning the phone so I could see.

Three photographs appeared on the screen.Three men, all middle-aged, all wealthy-looking.Below each photo was a name, an address, and a brief profile.

“First target is Javier Mendoza,” Stripes said, enlarging the first photo.“Arms dealer who expanded into trafficking five years ago and moved into this country a year ago.Compound outside Jerusalem.Heavy security, twelve men minimum.”He swiped to the next.“Second is Boris Kerensky.Russian national with diplomatic immunity.Operates from a hotel penthouse in Jerusalem.”Another swipe.“Third is Hassan Al-Bahir.Saudi businessman.Currently on his yacht in the Mediterranean.Moves every few days, never docks for long.But it looks like he’ll be attending meetings over the next three days in Gaza.”

I studied each face, memorizing details.“Timeline?”

“One week,” Eli replied.“All three, confirmed dead, or Mazida joins them.”

“And the proof she’s alive?”I wasn’t making deals without verification.

Eli removed a phone from his jacket, tapped the screen, and slid it across the table.A video played, showing a woman in a sparse but clean room.She looked tired but unharmed, reading aloud from today’s newspaper.Mazida Quadir -- Zara’s mother -- with her distinctive features she’d passed to her daughter.

I watched the video twice before sliding the phone back.“If she’s harmed --”

“She won’t be,” Eli interrupted.“Not if you do your job.But understand this: these men have protection.Governments look the other way because they’re useful.If you’re caught, no one will claim you.”

“I’ve been a ghost my whole life,” I replied.“Being disavowed won’t be anything new.”

Samurai moved closer to the table.“We need assurances.Devil’s Boneyard stays clear of this.No blowback.”

Eli studied him.“Your club has its own reputation, Samurai.Don’t pretend your hands are clean.”

“We protect our own,” Samurai replied, unflinching.“We don’t assassinate for hire.”

“Even to save an innocent woman?”Eli asked, raising an eyebrow.

I’d had enough.“The club stays out of it.This is between you and me.”I leaned forward.“But I want daily proof of life, and when the job is done, you deliver Mazida to a location of my choosing, personally.”

Eli considered this, then nodded slowly.“Acceptable.But understand this -- fail to eliminate even one target, and our deal is void.”

“And understand this,” I countered.“If Mazida isn’t returned exactly as she appears in that video, I’ll find you.No matter where you hide.”

The threat hung in the air between us.

“Three men who deserve to die,” Eli said finally.“For the life of one innocent woman.It seems a fair exchange.”

I stood up, signaling the end of our meeting.“Nothing about this is fair.”

As we prepared to leave, Stripes showed me more intel on his phone -- building layouts, security rotations, daily routines.The old Russian had mapped everything with military precision, his eyes hard as he pointed out potential entry points and escape routes.

“These men, they are careful,” he said quietly.“They have many guards, many eyes.It won’t be easy.”

“Nothing worth doing ever is,” I replied.

Samurai remained silent as we left, but I could feel his disapproval.Once we were outside in the warm Tel Aviv night, he finally spoke.“Phantom won’t be happy about this,” he said, referring to his cousin, another club member.“We hunt predators, yes, but not like this.”

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