CHAPTER 2 ā The Legend Nobody Recognized
Tyler lunged first.
The knife flashed through the air.
The old man didn't move until the final fraction of a second.
Thenā
Everything happened too fast to understand.
One hand caught Tyler's wrist.
A twist.
CRACK.
The knife hit the pavement.
Before Brandon could react...
The old man's elbow struck Tyler's chest with frightening precision.
The young man collapsed, gasping for air.
Brandon charged in blindly.
One punch.
Missed.
Another.
Blocked.
The old man's movements were economical.
No wasted motion.
No panic.
Only precision.
Within seconds Brandon found himself flat on his back, unable to breathe.
Neither of them understood how a man in his seventies had defeated two healthy young adults without throwing a single wild punch.
The cashier had already called 911.
But the old man didn't leave.
He calmly stood beside the van.
Hands behind his back.
Waiting.
Minutes later...
Police cruisers arrived.
Officers rushed toward the scene with weapons ready.
Then something unexpected happened.
The oldest officer suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened.
He lowered his gun immediately.
"No way..."
The officer walked closer.
Then...
He saluted.
A full military salute.
Every other officer looked confused.
"Colonel..."
The old man nodded politely.
"It has been a long time."
Silence.
The younger officers stared in disbelief.
Their captain quickly approached.
"Sir... is this really Colonel Samuel Hayes?"
The older officer answered before anyone else could.
"Not just any Colonel."
"He commanded one of the most classified hostage rescue units our country ever had."
Another officer whispered...
"The Ghost Battalion..."
Nobody spoke.
Even Tyler forgot about the pain in his broken wrist.
Colonel Samuel Hayes.
A decorated war hero.
Recipient of the nation's highest military honors.
The man whose rescue missions were still taught inside elite military schools.
Brandon's face turned white.
He remembered hearing that name from his grandfather.
"You..."
he whispered.
"...you're him?"
Samuel looked at him quietly.
"I was."
Then he added something neither of them expected.
"But that's not why you're in trouble."
He pointed toward every security camera surrounding the station.
"You threatened an armed forces veteran."
"You attempted armed robbery."
"And you chose the only gas station in this county whose owner happens to be my oldest friend."
Both young men slowly turned toward the convenience store.
The cashier stepped outside.
Holding a remote.
One button.
Every surveillance recording instantly uploaded to police headquarters.
Tyler's knees nearly gave out.
But Samuel wasn't finished.
He stared at both young men for several long seconds.
Then quietly asked...
"Do either of you know who your fathers are?"
The question made both of them freeze.
Because somehow...
May you like
He already knew the answer.
To Be Continued...
