Chapter 8 - The Extraction
Money can buy many things, but above all, it buys information.
Julian didn't negotiate. He didn't call the police. He placed a ten-million-dollar bounty on the heads of the mercenaries on the dark web, payable to anyone who gave him a location within one hour.
Forty-five minutes later, an anonymous tip came through. The ping was traced to an abandoned shipping facility on the outskirts of the industrial district.
Julian didn't stay in his penthouse to wait for updates. He rode in the lead SUV, wearing a tactical Kevlar vest over his dress shirt, a customized Glock 19 strapped to his thigh. Silas sat beside him, his head bandaged, his eyes burning with a need for vengeance.
"No survivors," Julian commanded as the facility came into view. "Except Richard. Save him for me."
The assault was swift and brutal. Silas and a team of twenty elite private military contractors breached the warehouse. Flashbangs shattered the freezing night air. Gunfire echoed through the rusted shipping containers.
Julian moved with the tactical team, ignoring the chaos, his eyes scanning for one thing only.
He kicked down the door to a makeshift office in the center of the warehouse. Inside, Richard was scrambling backward, clutching a pistol, while Marcus tried to climb out a window. Lily was huddled in the corner, her hands covering her ears.
"Papa!" she screamed.
Richard aimed his gun at Julian. "Don't take another step!"
Julian didn't even flinch. He raised his weapon and fired two shots. The first shattered Richard’s kneecap. The second shattered his shoulder. Richard collapsed, screaming in agony, dropping his weapon.
Marcus froze at the window, raising his hands in terror as Silas and the tactical team swarmed the room, pinning him to the floor.
Julian ignored the bleeding men. He holstered his weapon and fell to his knees, sliding across the concrete to scoop Lily into his arms.
"I've got you," Julian choked out, tears finally breaking through his iron facade, burying his face in her hair. "I've got you, baby. You're safe."
Lily clung to him, sobbing into his neck. "I knew you would come, Papa. I knew it."
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Julian stood up, carrying her tight against his chest. He stopped over Richard, who was whimpering on the blood-stained floor.
"You're going to a supermax prison, Richard," Julian said coldly. "And I will pay the guards to make sure you live a very long, very painful life."
