Chapter 3 - The Ghost of RavenportThe black SUV screeched to a halt right in front of The Blue Lantern, mounting the curb and slamming onto the sidewalk. Before the tires had even finished spinning, the driver's door flew open.
Adrian Vale stepped out into the freezing downpour.
He didn't bother with an umbrella. The rain plastered his dark hair across his forehead, and his long wool coat whipped around his ankles like the wings of a predatory bird. He looked less like a businessman and more like an executioner stepping out of a nightmare.
Owen emerged from the passenger side, weapon drawn, sweeping the dim street with practiced efficiency. "Street's clear, boss. But the back alley looks compromised. They might have a getaway vehicle waiting."
"Let them try," Adrian said.
He strode toward the entrance of The Blue Lantern. The neon sign above the door flickered, casting a sickly green and red glow over his impassive face.
Inside the bar, the atmosphere was dead silent. The music had been cut off. The bouncers and patrons had long since fled, cleared out by Hawthorne's men.
Adrian kicked the front door open. The heavy wood splintered inward, crashing against the interior wall with a deafening bang.
Two Hawthorne thugs, standing guard near the bar with baseball bats, whirled around in shock.
"What the—"
Before the first thug could finish his sentence, Adrian was already across the room. He didn't slow down. He caught the man by the throat, slamming his head against the wooden bar counter with a sickening crunch. The thug collapsed instantly, limp and unconscious.
The second thug raised his bat, but Owen stepped out of the shadows, bringing the butt of his pistol down hard across the man's temple. The man dropped like a stone.
Adrian didn't even break stride. He headed straight for the hallway leading to the back restrooms, his eyes fixed on the splintered door at the end of the corridor.
"Claire!" Adrian shouted, his voice echoing through the empty club.
May you like
From the end of the hall, a mocking voice replied.
"Ah, the great Adrian Vale has arrived. Right on time."
