Chapter 11 - THE MAN WHO SHOULDN’T BE ALIVE

Denver looked different at night.

The city was full of lights.

Cars.

People laughing.

Everyone living normal lives.

Nobody knew a war was starting in the shadows.

Ethan and I sat inside an old truck parked three blocks away from the location.

A warehouse.

Abandoned on paper.

Very active in reality.

Lisa’s voice came through the radio.

“Two guards at the entrance.”

Ethan looked at me.

“Still think you’re retired?”

I ignored him.

“Any cameras?”

“Already handled.”

I smiled.

“Good.”

Ethan shook his head.

“There he is.”

I looked through the window.

A man stepped outside.

Older.

Gray hair.

But the same walk.

The same confidence.

Victor Kane.

The man who was supposed to be dead.

My hands tightened.

“Stay here.”

Ethan looked at me.

“No.”

“That wasn’t a suggestion.”

He laughed quietly.

“There he is.”

“What?”

“The old Dennis.”

I opened the door.

“I’m not him.”

Ethan looked at me.

“Maybe.”

A pause.

“But you’re close.”

I walked toward the warehouse.

Inside, the building was dark.

Too quiet.

That bothered me.

People who have something to hide usually make noise.

Machines.

Voices.

Movement.

Silence means preparation.

I stepped forward.

Then a voice came from behind me.

“You’re slower than I remember.”

I turned.

Victor Kane stood there.

Calm.

Almost smiling.

I stared at him.

“You died.”

He laughed.

“People die when someone wants them dead.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Why my son?”

Kane looked confused.

Then smiled.

“Ah.”

He nodded.

“That’s why you came.”

I moved closer.

“Answer me.”

“You still don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

He looked around.

“This was never about Tyler.”

My blood went cold.

“What does that mean?”

“It means your son was never the target.”

I froze.

“Then who was?”

Kane smiled.

“You.”

The word hit the room.

I stepped closer.

“You could have contacted me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you would have ignored me.”

I stared at him.

“So you destroyed my family?”

His expression changed slightly.

Almost regret.

“Rick Barnes was supposed to scare you.”

“Scare me?”

“Yes.”

“He shot my son.”

Kane looked away.

“Barnes went too far.”

That sentence told me everything.

Rick Barnes wasn’t in control.

He was just a tool.

I grabbed Kane’s jacket.

“Who gave the order?”

He looked at me.

“You really think you’re ready for that answer?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

His eyes became serious.

“Because once you know who is behind this, you can’t go back.”

I released him.

“I already can’t go back.”

Kane stared at me.

Then whispered:

“General Marcus Vale.”

My entire body froze.

No.

That name was impossible.

“Vale is dead.”

Kane smiled.

“Everyone important is dead, Dennis.”

A pause.

“Until they aren’t.”

Suddenly, the lights went out.

Darkness.

Then gunfire.

Kane disappeared.

I moved automatically.

Old instincts.

Old training.

The sound of bullets.

The smell of smoke.

The world became simple.

Survive.

Protect.

Move.

When the lights came back...

Victor Kane was gone.

But something was left behind.

A small envelope.

My name written on it.

I opened it.

Inside was one photograph.

A picture of my last mission.

And on the back...

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