CHAPTER 4 — Marcus's Final Card: "Bring Me the Monster"
Marcus sat alone in the segregation unit.
His wrists were chained.
His empire had collapsed overnight.
Half the guards who had once taken his money were now sitting in interrogation rooms.
But Marcus wasn't smiling.
He was laughing.
The FBI agents thought they had won.
They had arrested dozens of corrupt officers.
They had seized betting ledgers, cash, weapons, and secret phones.
Yet Marcus knew one secret no one else did.
Kate had never been the real target.
She was merely standing between him and someone far more dangerous.
As federal investigators searched the prison records, Marcus requested only one thing.
"I'll cooperate."
The lead investigator narrowed his eyes.
"In exchange for what?"
Marcus leaned forward.
"I want to speak to Agent Kate Lawson."
Hours later, Kate entered the interview room.
Marcus smiled as if greeting an old friend.
"I've been wondering when we'd finally meet face-to-face."
Kate remained expressionless.
"You have exactly five minutes."
Marcus placed a worn photograph on the metal table.
It showed six heavily armed men standing beside a cargo plane in South America.
One face had been scratched out.
"You recognize this?"
Kate's eyes hardened.
She did.
It had been taken twelve years earlier during the first failed mission against the Black Falcon Syndicate.
Every member of her unit had been declared dead.
Except her.
Marcus quietly whispered,
"You're still hunting him, aren't you?"
Kate didn't answer.
Marcus leaned closer.
"The man you're looking for..."
"...isn't dead."
For the first time since arriving at the prison, Kate's breathing changed.
Only slightly.
But Marcus noticed.
"He built a new organization."
"He owns politicians."
"He owns judges."
"And he knew you were coming here long before you did."
Kate's voice became icy.
"His name."
Marcus smiled.
"I'll tell you."
"But first..."
"...you have to get me out alive."
Before Kate could respond—
The prison suddenly shook with a violent explosion.
Boom!
Emergency alarms screamed throughout the compound.
Smoke poured from the eastern wall.
Someone had just attacked one of the most secure federal prisons in the country.
Marcus laughed.
"They're here."
"They've come for me."
Outside...
Black SUVs crashed through the outer security gate.
Men wearing military-grade equipment flooded into the prison.
They weren't trying to free every inmate.
They ignored everyone else.
They were searching for one person.
Marcus.
Kate looked through the shattered window.
"They found us."
Marcus smiled wider.
May you like
"No..."
"They found you."
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