Chapter 16 - The Deck of The Black SwanI scaled the hull of The Black Swan with effortless, practiced agility, pulling myself over the teak-wood railing of the aft deck without making a single sound.

The salty sea breeze carried the low murmur of voices from the main salon ahead.
"...the girl thinks she can run the entire operation," a harsh, guttural voice sneered inside the cabin. It was Victor Vance, speaking in heavily accented English. "She ruined months of planning in twenty-four hours. I want her head on a spike by tomorrow morning."
"Consider it done, boss," another mercenary replied.
I didn't wait for them to finish their briefing. In close-quarters combat, initiative is everything.
I kicked the heavy mahogany cabin door open with an explosive crash that rattled the glass windows.
The two mercenaries standing closest to the door instinctively reached for their sidearms. They were dead before their fingers cleared their holsters. I closed the distance instantly, driving my elbow into the first guard's temple and sweeping the second's legs out from under him with a brutal low kick.
Victor Vance spun around from the navigation desk, his eyes widening in shock as he stared down the barrel of the service pistol I had lifted off the guard outside.
"Who the hell are you?" Victor snarled, his hand hovering near his shoulder holster.
"I'm the bride," I smiled coldly, stepping into the bright light of the cabin.
Before Victor could draw his weapon, a heavy shadow loomed behind him. Marcus stepped out from the galley entrance, bringing the butt of his tactical shotgun down hard across Victor’s shoulder, dropping the Russian arms dealer instantly to his knees.
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Victor gasped for air, clutching his shoulder, glaring up at us with pure venom. "You think killing me solves anything? My organization is global. You'll never be safe."
"Safe?" I laughed, kneeling down until my face was inches from his. "Victor, I spent four years hunting ghosts in the desert and jungles. You're just a glorified accountant with a gun."
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