Chapter 8 - THE VIPER WITHIN
The quiet of the study was shattered by the shrill ring of a secure satellite phone on Nathaniel’s desk.
Nathaniel picked it up on the first ring,
his voice dropping into its lethal,
icy register.
“Report,
” Nathaniel commanded.
A frantic voice spilled through the encrypted speaker.
“Boss,
Marcus didn't make it to the freighter,
” the voice gasped.
“He broke away at the pier,
and he’s holding a hostage inside the old fish warehouse.
”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed into slits of pure obsidian.
“Who is the hostage?” Nathaniel asked,
every muscle in his body tensing.
“It’s your accountant,
Mr.
Vance,
” the operative replied,
“Marcus is demanding safe passage out of the country,
or he burns the financial ledgers.
”
Emma watched the expression on Nathaniel’s face shift from gentle calm to terrifying predator.
“I’m handling this myself,
” Nathaniel said coldly into the phone,
slamming the receiver down.
“You’re going after him?” Emma asked,
stepping forward.
“Marcus crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed,
” Nathaniel said,
slipping his heavy leather holster beneath his arm.
“Stay here with Mrs.
Gable.
”
“No,
” Emma said firmly,
surprising even herself.
“I am not staying behind while you walk into a war zone.
”
Nathaniel stopped at the door,
turning back to look at her with disbelief.
“Emma,
this is not a movie,
” Nathaniel snapped.
“There are guns,
blood,
and men who want me dead.
”
“I’ve lived through poverty,
abandonment,
and abuse,
” Emma said,
her eyes flashing with fierce determination.
“Do you really think a cornered rat in a fish warehouse scares me?”
Nathaniel stared at her for three agonizing seconds,
searching her face for fear and finding none.
“Grab your coat,
” Nathaniel ordered sharply.
“If you come with me,
May you like
you stay behind me every single second.
”
