“Ray, Ray, Ray…” she began as she approached them. “Do you have any idea how much I despise leaving Miami? Can you even begin to imagine in that tiny mind of yours how angry it makes me?”
Collins stepped toward her. “Patty? What are ya doing here? Listen, I—”
“I’ll tell you,” she said, cutting him off. “It makes me almost as angry as I get when I’m betrayed by someone I trust.” She looked past him, toward Silva. “Darius.”
He nodded back. “Patricia.”
“I can’t help but notice how you’re still breathing…” She re-focused on Collins. “Why do you do this to yourself, Ray? Seriously. I knew I couldn’t trust you. I just knew it! That’s why I followed you here. I figured I should keep an eye on you personally. Make sure you didn’t try to run away and hide behind your friends at GlobaTech. Looks like I was right to doubt you.”
Collins sighed. “Look, Patty…”
“No, you look! I tried to be nice about all this. I gave you every opportunity to pay what you owe, but you still took liberties, and now here we are.”
Collins felt an eerie calm wash over him. He felt safe knowing his friends had his back and that Silva had his own protection, which could be useful. But that didn’t matter to him. He didn’t need their help to deal with this. He was simply so angry, it had numbed him.
“I know why ya sent me after this prick,” he said quietly, gesturing over his shoulder to Silva. “Ya want this shipment of his, don’t ya?”
Velasquez shrugged. “Not that it’s any business of yours, but—”
“Did you do it?”
“Do what?” she asked, frowning.
“Pay some piece of shit cartel to kidnap Hyatt’s daughter as leverage.”
She went to speak but stopped herself and simply smiled. “Ray… do you really think I would—”
“Oh, would ya shut ya mouth for one goddamn second! I’ve had it up to here with ya Queen B act, all right?” Collins took another step toward her, forgetting the situation… forgetting himself… thinking only of the courageous young girl he carried out of a gunfight in Mexico. “Don’t bullshit me, Patty! I ain’t playin’, okay? If ya had anything to do with what happened to that little girl, our past be damned and to hell with the consequences, I will shoot ya where ya fucking stand! Now tell me…” He pointed at Hyatt. “Did you have his daughter kidnapped?”
Collins watched her eyes. She looked over his shoulder at Hyatt, then back at him. Her lips curled into a small smile at one side. “I did what I had to.”
Collins balled both hands into fists. His teeth ground together until his jaw ached. He didn’t know how to process the anger currently erupting inside him.
Velasquez took a step toward him, tapping her gun against the outside of her leg. Behind her, the bodyguards followed, their fingers twitching over the triggers of their weapons.
“This is a dog-eat-dog world, Ray,” she explained. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to make it. Darius and I move in the same circles. We know the same people. We know how this works. If you want to get ahead. If you want more… sometimes, you have to do things you don’t want to do. Unpleasant things that serve the greater good.” She leaned to the side, glancing past Collins and looking at Silva. “No hard feelings, Darius. This isn’t personal. I just want what you have. You’ve had your time.”
Silva moved to Collins’ side, wearing a politician’s smile and exuding confidence with each breath. “Patricia, I don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve with all this, but you’ve accomplished nothing. Mr. Hyatt’s daughter is safe. You don’t have my shipment. And you’re surrounded by operatives who work for GlobaTech Industries—who really don’t require any introduction. I suggest you get in your rental and head back to Miami. Go back to topping up your tan and selling weed on street corners like the small-time hooker you really are.”
His words hung in the air, amplified by a heavy silence. It was as if the tension had stopped the very air around them. Behind them, the tide was still. No birds flew overhead. Time itself had frozen.
And then everything changed.
A noise like a thunderclap shattered the silence, as if a whip crack had exploded a grenade. Collins tensed every inch of his body with shock. A whisper of smoke trailed from the barrel of the small gun in Velasquez’s hand. He glanced to his side as Silva dropped to the ground with a muted thud. A small, dark hole in the middle of his forehead slowly began to drip blood onto his face.
He looked back at Velasquez, speechless.
“Well, that was dramatic,” she said with a sigh. She looked beyond Collins at Silva’s bodyguards, who shifted nervously on the spot, hesitating to use their guns. “Would you boys like a job?”
They looked at each other, silently asking themselves what they wanted to do next. After a moment, they walked over to Velasquez, each nodded to her, and then took their places beside her own men, turning to face Collins and raising their weapons.
“Good choice,” said Velasquez. “Now, Ray… regarding your concerns about the little girl. That really wasn’t anything personal. It was a necessary evil. A regrettable one but necessary.”
She strode confidently past him toward the Suburban. Jericho and Julie stood side by side in front of Hyatt. She stopped before them and looked at each one in turn.
“My, my, my… you’re a fine specimen, aren’t you?” she said to Jericho. “I can guarantee you more money than GlobaTech, if you want a career change?”
Jericho raised an eyebrow. “Lady, you need to take a step back.”
She smiled, bemused. “Oh, and why’s that?”
He nodded to the men behind her. “Because you don’t have enough back-up to make it past me and get to Hyatt.”
She threw her head back, laughing. It was loud and exaggerated.
“Oh, my God, you are just like Ray!” She took a step back, allowing herself room to raise her gun again. She wasn’t small, especially in heels, but Jericho still towered over her. The barrel was aimed high but pointed unwaveringly at his face. Her expression changed. “You’re just as stubborn and just as stupid. Now I want that shipment, and the way things stand, the only person still breathing who knows about it is standing behind you. So, move, or I’ll shoot you.”
Julie rolled her eyes and sighed. “Okay, that’s it. I can’t take it anymore.” She stepped in front of Jericho, squaring up to Velasquez. She was an inch shorter. She stared at her with dead eyes and a set jaw. “Do you know what the problem is with people like you?”
Velasquez glared at her, adjusting her aim so the gun pressed against Julie’s forehead. “Please, enlighten me.”
“You don’t see the big picture. You’re so focused on your own little piece of the pie, you fail to see what really matters, which causes you to miss things that are important.”
“Such as?”
Julie shrugged. “There are three things, actually. The first is loyalty. You would sell your soul to climb another rung on your ladder, desperate for more power. You don’t have anyone except yourself, and you rely on money and fear to keep people in line. Whereas we stick together. Whatever your history with Ray is, it doesn’t matter to us. An attack on him is an attack on us. On GlobaTech. That’s a war you won’t win, but you’re too blind to see it.”
Velasquez stared at her impassively. “Did you work on that little speech, or was it improvised? It was very good…”
“The second—”
“Oh, we’re actually doing your list? Okay, but be quick. I have things to do…”
Julie ignored her. “The second is underestimating your enemy. You think you have some kind of hold over Ray, and that’s fine. Honestly, getting into debt with people like you was pretty stupid, but if you think that man is still the same person you knew way back when, then you’re sorely mistaken. You see, he’s a GlobaTech operative. As am I and the big guy behind me. We’re tasked with protecting Mr. Hyatt. Now that might not mean much to you, but I’ll let you in on a secre
t.”
Velasquez rolled her eyes. “Oh, please do…”
Julie smiled and tapped her ear. “You see these comms units? Not only do they allow operatives like me to communicate with anyone in GlobaTech tuned to the same frequency, but there’s also a distress button on the battery unit that activates a GPS tracker, allowing the nearest GlobaTech site to pinpoint your location and send an extraction team.”
That caused Velasquez’s expression to alter slightly. Her eyes narrowed with concern and doubt. She didn’t know how much of that was a bluff but knew it was a risk not to take it seriously. She knew she had enough firepower behind her to handle this situation. Short-term, she wasn’t worried too much.
“And the third thing?” she asked.
Julie smiled. “The third thing is that you drastically underestimated me.”
With a flash of movement, she ducked to her left and whipped her arm up, knocking Velasquez’s gun high into the air. Then she grabbed her wrist and pushed her, twisting the weapon from her grip as Velasquez staggered backward on her heels. In a heartbeat, Julie had the .22 pointed at Velasquez.
A moment later, the mechanical rustling of six automatic rifles being aimed filled the air. Collins stepped away, joining his friends as they formed a line in front of Hyatt. The scene settled.
“You’re all dead!” screamed Velasquez. She pointed at Hyatt, who had shrunk behind the three operatives with fear. “I want that shipment! Tell me where it is, or I’ll skin your daughter alive and send you her body parts in the mail!”
“Patty!” snapped Collins. “Ain’t no way you’re having that shipment. And I promise ya, if ya even look at that little girl funny, I’m gonna—”
“You’re gonna what, Ray? You don’t have the balls to play in my league, so shut your mouth. I’ll deal with you once I’ve dealt with your friends.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Kill the bitch and the big one.”
Both Jericho and Julie took a breath, standing their ground as they tensed, preparing for whatever might happen next. But Collins didn’t. He relaxed and smiled.
“What are you grinning at?” asked Velasquez angrily.
“Oh, nothing…” he replied.
“Y’know what…” She glanced back again. “Kill him too!”
Collins laughed. “It’s over, Patty. You’re done.”
“What do you mean, it’s over? I have twice as many men as you.” She nodded at Julie. “You think you can take everyone here out with that gun before you’re dropped?”
Collins ignored her and continued laughing. Julie looked over, confused, but quickly realized why and began laughing with him.
“What are you all laughing at?” shouted Velasquez. She growled and stamped her foot with anger. “What is wrong with you people?”
Jericho relaxed and walked toward her, ignoring the armed guards completely.
“Jules was right,” he said to her. “You don’t see the big picture.”
He casually pointed a finger like a gun, aimed it behind her and nodded in the same direction.
She frowned and followed the gesture. After a moment of confusion, she saw it. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened. Panic flooded her entire body.
“No…”
“I’m afraid so,” said Jericho. “You really should’ve paid more attention when Julie was talking.”
The black helicopter grew from a dot on the horizon to a hovering beast above them in a matter of seconds. Rope lines dropped from the sky.
“What are you waiting for?” yelled Velasquez. “Shoot them!”
But her men didn’t move. They stood watching, craning their necks to see ten armed GlobaTech operatives, dressed in full combat gear and armed with weapons that made their rifles look prehistoric, descend at a rapid pace. They landed expertly and moved with swift and practiced efficiency to form a tight perimeter around the scene.
Velasquez’s men all dropped their weapons and held their hands up without being asked.
She watched in disgust. “What are you doing? Kill them! Kill them all!”
Julie stepped forward, pushing through the group in front of her. She tilted her head slightly to one side, smiled, and then planted a right cross firmly on Velasquez’s jaw. She tumbled to the ground, stunned.
Julie loomed over her, smiling. “I did try to tell you.”
Velasquez glared back but said nothing. A moment later, Jericho and Collins joined their colleague, looking down at the woman who had caused all the troubles they each had experienced in the last few days.
“And you!” she screamed at Collins. “You still owe me fifty thousand dollars. I swear, I’ll—”
“Ah, give it a rest, would ya?” replied Collins.
Just then, Hyatt pushed his way through to join them. He crouched in front of Velasquez.
“How did you know?” he asked her.
She frowned. “What?”
“How did you know I knew anything about what Darius was doing?” he continued. “How did you know I even had a daughter?”
Jericho, Julie, and Collins exchanged glances and shrugged.
“That’s a good question,” said Jericho.
Velasquez went to speak, stopped herself, then sighed, resigning to the fact she had no move to make.
“Once I heard what Darius was doing, it was obvious he would need the help of someone like you. I asked around, found out who he paid to manage his books, and then…”
“Then what?” urged Hyatt.
“Then I bought somebody in your office. Put them on my payroll to spy on you.”
Hyatt was shocked. His jaw hung loose as he processed what she had said. He almost fell backward but took a moment to compose himself.
“Who?” he asked.
Velasquez thought for a moment. “Ah, what’s her name…? Sophie something.”
“Sophie?”
He stepped away and placed a hand on his forehead.
“You know her?” asked Julie.
Hyatt nodded. “That’s my secretary.”
“The tall, attractive one who kept giving me the eye?” asked Jericho.
Hyatt nodded again.
Collins looked over and smiled. “Jerry… my man!”
Julie shot Jericho a look that could’ve turned him to stone. He swallowed hard and looked away.
“She is so fired,” muttered Hyatt, moving to the back of the group.
Jericho stepped toward the leader of the GlobaTech unit now surrounding the scene, identified by the different-colored logo on his chest.
“Captain, thank you for coming so quickly.”
The man nodded. “No problem, sir.”
Jericho pointed to the six bodyguards. “Round them up and detain them. Then put in a call to the FBI and the RCMP. Then secure the shipment once it arrives.”
“Copy that.”
He turned back to Hyatt. “You should come with me. I’ll need to speak to the foreman and anyone else who works at the port who knew about what Silva was doing here.”
“Then we can arrange for your little girl to fly up here to see you,” added Julie.
“Th-thank you,” said Hyatt. “Thank you both.”
They left, leaving Velasquez staring up at Collins, nursing her aching jaw.
“So, where does this leave us?” she asked him.
Collins held her gaze. “It doesn’t leave us anywhere. We’re done, Patty. And so are you.”
Her face was twisted with rage. She glared at him with dark eyes filled with a renewed hatred. “You’ll pay for this, you sonofabitch!”
He placed a hand over his gunshot wound and sighed heavily. Now it was over, he didn’t have enough energy left to hate her for what she had done.
“No, Patty, I won’t.”
Two members of the GlobaTech extraction team appeared beside him.
“Everything okay here, sir?” one of them asked.
“Aye, ya can take her,” replied Collins. “Secure her with the others. I’m sure the FBI will want to talk to her.�
�
The men scooped her up and frog-marched her to the other side of the port, to join the others.
Collins felt a hand on his good shoulder. He turned to see Julie standing there, smiling at him.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Aye, pet. Thanks. Ya kicked ass back there.”
She stepped close and kissed his cheek. “You’re family. Don’t mention it.”
With that, she walked over to join Jericho and the unit leader by the chopper. He smiled to himself as he watched her walk away the way a little brother would at his older sister—feeling proud and grateful to know her. As she joined up with Jericho, he saw her say something to someone and then point over at him. A moment later, a man in green coveralls came running toward him, holding what looked like a toolbox. As he drew nearer, Collins recognized the uniform. He was a GlobaTech field medic. He was tall and well-built, with short brown hair and a thin beard. Collins thought he looked more like a soldier than a doctor.
“What say we take a look at that arm of yours?” he said as he approached, nodding at Collins’ shoulder. He was well-spoken and friendly; calm, despite the chaos surrounding them.
Collins smiled. “Aye, that’d be grand, if ya wouldn’t mind?”
The medic ushered him over to the wall of a nearby building, out of the way, and gestured for him to sit on the ground. He then crouched beside him.
“It’s just a flesh wound,” he said. “You’ll live.”
Collins rolled his eyes. “That’s a real shame—I was kinda lookin’ forward to the rest.”
The medic smiled. “Rough day?”
Collins let out a long sigh. “Buddy, ya have no idea…”
THE END
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