Chapter 6 - THE FIRST STRIKE

Seeing Victor Kane alive changed everything.

Not because he was dangerous.

I had faced dangerous men before.

It changed everything because it meant my entire past was built on a lie.

I spent seventeen years believing one story.

One mission.

One ending.

Now someone had ripped that ending apart.

Ethan watched me carefully.

“You okay?”

I laughed quietly.

“No.”

That surprised him.

Because I was always the calm one.

The one who never showed emotion.

But this was different.

“This isn’t about the mission anymore.”

Ethan nodded.

“It’s about Tyler.”

I looked toward the hospital.

“Yes.”

The next morning, something happened.

Something I never expected.

Sheriff Barnes called me.

I answered.

“Hello?”

His voice sounded different.

Less confident.

“Mr. Irwin.”

“What do you want?”

A pause.

“I think we need to talk.”

I almost laughed.

“Now you want to talk?”

“I made a mistake.”

My eyes narrowed.

“What mistake?”

Silence.

Then:

“I underestimated you.”

That was the first honest thing he had said.

“Where?”

“Old courthouse basement.”

I smiled.

“You’re asking me to meet you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His voice lowered.

“Because someone is controlling both of us.”

That got my attention.

“What?”

“I don’t have much time.”

The call ended.

I looked at Ethan.

He already knew.

“Trap?”

“Probably.”

“Going anyway?”

I nodded.

“Definitely.”

The old courthouse basement smelled exactly like it did seventeen years ago.

Dust.

Concrete.

Secrets.

Barnes stood in the corner.

No badge.

No weapon.

Just a tired man.

“You came.”

“Yes.”

He looked at me.

“You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He swallowed.

“Rick Barnes doesn’t run this county.”

I stepped closer.

“Who does?”

He looked afraid.

Not pretending.

Actually afraid.

“Blackridge.”

I stared.

“Why Tyler?”

Barnes looked down.

“Because of you.”

The room became silent.

“What does that mean?”

He hesitated.

“They know who you are.”

A cold feeling moved through me.

“Who told you?”

Barnes looked behind me.

Then whispered:

“They’re here.”

I turned.

Too late.

The basement lights went out.

A gunshot exploded through the darkness.

Barnes fell.

I moved instantly.

Years of training returned.

I reached him.

Blood spread across his shirt.

He grabbed my arm.

“Listen…”

His voice was weak.

“The man behind this…”

Another breath.

“He’s someone you know.”

I looked around.

“Who?”

Barnes stared at me.

Then said one name.

A name I never expected.

“Marcus Vale.”

My blood froze.

Impossible.

My old commander.

The man who died seventeen years ago.

The man who was supposed to be gone.

The lights came back.

Barnes was gone.

And on the concrete floor was a message written in black ink.

WELCOME BACK, REAPER.

I stared at the words.

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