It was a hauntingly quiet night, the sort of quiet that comes before a storm. Ethan stood outside the safe house window, looking down at the darkening streets with keen eyes. He had a gut feeling that they were running out of time. The game had altered with the sudden reappearance of a ghost from his past, and Moreau was drawing closer.
Lily was sitting on the couch, carefully and methodically putting rounds into a magazine. She had always understood that Ethan lived in a dangerous world, but now she was also a part of it. And she was not going to back down.
She broke the stillness by saying, "We must attack first."
Ethan turned and stared at her for a while. "That’s the strategy."
"So let’s not wait any longer." She clicked the magazine into position after sliding it into the rifle. "Let’s get this done."
A little grin of approval brushed Ethan’s lips. She had no fear. Powerful. In every important aspect, he was his equal.
He walked up to the table with the surveillance images and drawings, and stated, "Moreau has a shipment coming in tonight." "Cash, weapons, and a list of politicians who work for him." We expose his network and impair his operations if we accept it.
Leaning closer, Lily traced the chart with her fingertips. "Where?"
Dock 17. Midnight. They won’t expect us to strike aggressively, but he will have security.
Lily looked up at him. "After that, we ensure they don’t leave."
Ethan’s smile turned into a stern one. "Lily, this isn’t just another job. The endgame is this. There is no turning back if we take this action.
She touched him with her fingertips. "I never intended to return."
Ethan sighed and nodded. "So let’s get this over with."
A Perilous Partnership
Ethan called Jacob one last time before they left.
Jacob’s strong voice rang out, "You better not be wasting my time, Calloway."
"I require verification," Ethan stated. "Will Moreau be at Dock 17 this evening?"
A pause. Then, "Yes. He alone will be in charge of the cargo. He will be present, but security will be strict.
Ethan gripped the phone more tightly. "All right. I want you prepared.
Jacob paused. "Are you certain of this, Calloway? This photo cannot be undone after it is taken.
"As soon as Moreau made this personal, I knew."
A low laugh. "All well, then. I’ll be observing.
After hanging up, Ethan faced Lily. "We have confirmation. Moreau is scheduled to attend.
"So he won’t be going," she said icily.
Strapping his weapons to his belt, Ethan grabbed for them. "Leave now."
Dock 17: The Last Position
When Ethan and Lily arrived, the docks were still, but they could feel the tension in the air. They saw Moreau’s men unloading goods from an unmarked truck from a rooftop with a view of the port. Under the glaring floodlights, armed guards patrolled the perimeter, their rifles shining.
Moreau himself was standing close to the middle, chatting with one of his high-ranking connections, a man in a suit.
With a sigh, Ethan adjusted the sniper rifle he was holding. "We move in after removing the guards."
Lily clutched her pistol and nodded. "I’ll take care of you."
"Remain near," Ethan whispered. "No dangers."
Lily grinned. "No assurances."
Ethan fired the first shot with exact motions. Before he could utter a word, a guard fell. Lily trailed behind, dispatching another with a single blow to the skull.
There was panic. Moreau’s troops were too sluggish and scurried around yelling commands. Like shadows, Ethan and Lily glided through the tumult with deadly efficiency.
When Moreau realized he was the target of the attack, he turned to run.
"Not now," Ethan snarled.
With his heartbeat calm and his gaze razor-sharp, he followed Moreau into the tangle of shipping containers. Lily was guarding his flank just behind him.
A motorboat was waiting for Moreau when he arrived at the dock’s edge. With his gun lifted, he turned. "Calloway, you should have remained dead."
Ethan did not recoil. "You shouldn’t have come to find me."
Through the darkness came the sound of a gunshot.
Blood blossomed over Moreau’s chest, causing his eyes to widen. He gasped and stumbled, then fell to the dock.
As Ethan lowered his weapon, he observed Moreau’s corpse go still.
It was done.
Uncertain Ends
Ethan and Lily stood side by side, observing the battlefield while the other guards ran away or gave up. Even if the fight was won, one question remained unsolved.
Lily gave him a quick look. "What about your former ghost?"
Ethan tightened his jaw. "He’s not gone yet."
However, Moreau has passed away. Isn’t that the end of it?
Ethan gave a headshake. "No. He was waiting, not only observing. I’m not sure yet for what.
Lily let out a breath. "Then we learn."
Ethan’s eyes flickered with appreciation as he turned to face her. "You’re not really scared of anything, are you?"
She grinned. "Not with you around."
Ethan drew her in close and kissed her forehead. "Then let’s complete the task at hand."
An Unexpected Betrayal
A slow clapping reverberated through the air before they could depart the dock.
Lily and Ethan both turned with their weapons up. A man in a fitted suit emerged from the darkness, his face beaming with laughter.
"Well done, Calloway," he sneered. "I nearly believed you wouldn’t succeed."
Ethan gripped his rifle more tightly. "What are you looking for?"
The man laughed. "Now, now. Is it a proper way to welcome an old friend?
Lily looked between them and scowled. "Who is he?"
Ethan had a fixed jaw. "Someone I once trusted."
The man grinned. "Oh, Ethan, stop being so angry. It was always going to end like this. Someone else takes Moreau’s position once you defeat him.
But then Lily realized. "This was set up by you."
He opened his arms. Naturally, I did. The issue was Moreau. You were the ideal answer.
Ethan’s hands tightened. "If you believe that I will allow you to inherit his empire—"
The man chuckled. "Oh, Ethan. You have no other option.
Lily gripped her revolver more tightly. "We have a choice at all times."
Ethan stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "You have a war if you want one."
The man grinned more broadly. "I hoped you would say that."
And suddenly—
The match was far from done.
It was just getting started.