CHAPTER 17: The Trap
Marcus tracked the signal to an abandoned factory on the edge of town—a place Julian had once used for storage. Victor ordered teams to surround it, but told everyone to hold back until he gave the word.
“He wants a shootout,” Victor said. “He wants bodies. He wants to say we’re just like him.”
We approached the factory on foot, moving quiet through the tall grass. Voices carried through the broken windows—Cole and three others, angry and shouting.
“Julian was right!” Cole yelled. “They don’t care about us! They only care about looking good!”
Victor stepped into the open, hands empty. “Julian used you. He threw you into danger and hid behind his money. I’m not here to fight you. I’m here to ask you what you really want.”
Cole stepped out, gun raised. “I want what was promised! Respect! A place that’s ours!”
“You can have that,” I said, stepping up beside Victor. “But not by burning things down. Not by hurting people who’ve done nothing to you.”
For a heartbeat, nothing moved. Then one of the men behind Cole lowered his weapon. “I just wanted a steady job. A place to send my kid to school.”
“Then we give you that,” Victor said. “But you have to put the gun down first.”
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